Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-22
His Difficulties.

Another writer relates:
washington was soon in the midst
of the principal difficulties of this sec
ond administration. The troubles in
France had reached a very acute stage.
French sympathizers in America, Of
whom there were many left over the
war. were reinforced by agitators and
emigres lately come across the sea-
They pleaded that Frances noble serv-
go unrewarded . So this revolu
ton. which shook Europe from end to
end. almost broke us loose from our
new-found mornings Washington kept
enraged mighty party. which tried to
turn him from his purpose"
John Adams writes: Ten thousand
people in the streets of Philadelphia
house and effect a revolution in the
government or compel 1T to declare in
favor of France and against England"
To Jefferson. his Secretary Of State.
Of this country to use every. means
in its power to prevent the citizens of
France and Great Britain from embrofl-
ing US with either Of those powers by
endeavoring to maintain a strict neu-
trality. l. therefore, require that you
will give the subject mature consid-
Grafton, that such measures as shall be
deemed most likely to effect this de-
sirable purpose may be adopted with
ant times. but they must be met with
firmness."
1t is to his eternal glory that he did
meet them with firmness; that he kept
straight upon his way to the end of his
administration unmoved by tho-ravings
of angry factions; that he appreciated
the weight of his responsibilities and
duties and the sacredness Of the inau-
guration oath.
At the centennial anniversary of his
death, December IA, 1899. the PhiIa-
delphia papers were filled with eulogies.
1 quote one:
Every year millions of Americans
greet with constant enthusiasm the en-
niversary of the day on which the
greatest figure in American history
was born; every year from the surf
beat shores of Maine to the rugged
Olympian range in the state that bears
his name; from the splendid sweep of
inland seas to the surging tides of the
gulf. millions of earnest hearts swell
with patriotic fervor as the glorious
deeds of Washington are set forth in
glowing prose and verse: every year
the character of Washington grows
greater. rising majestic, ROTARY and
sublime above that Of those whom
other nations have cherished as their
idols and ideals: never a breath of
SANDER. never line of suspicion. never
doubt of honor. never q trace of
wrong during all these years against
the splendid fame of him whose care.
whose courage. whose foresight and
whose genius wrought out of thirteen
disunited colonies the greatest of ma
ions-the United States OF America ~
John Barrett's Tribute.
At a Fourth of July celebration held
at the beautiful American build
ing, under the auspices of the District
(Srr1 ,fuei
merce and the Board of Trade, an inter-
national aspect was given to 1t be-
cause many South American diplomats
were present when John Barrett, the
director-genera1 of the Pan-American
Union, gave an address on the meaning
of the day to all Americans, and said
1--WE are celebrating an event which
brought about the existence of twenty
other nations besides the United States
OF America. 1t is an interesting fact,
one of the greatest facts Of history,
that every one Of the twenty republics
lying to the south of the United States
in their struggles for freedom, was led
by generals and inspired by orators
who say they were moved to what they
attempted by the example of the i'm
mortal George Washington,
Senior Calderon, minister from Bo-
livia, on another occasion uttered this
soul-stirring sentiment: Liberty and
right are not empty words, to be pla-
carded on the highways and byways
or to adorn the headlines of the news
papers. They are and must be a living
and active force way deep in our con
science and the guiding force Of our
actions. The United States is to me a
unique nation in the family of nations
of the world. Born under the inspira :
tions of the spirit of freedom of the
Pilgrims, educated in. the practice of
self-government and finally organized
as the greatest democracy that ever
existed: endowed with a territory that
is almost a continent. rich. fertile, well
watered and opened, developed by the
concourse of men of almost every ma
tionality, 1t stands today as the beacon
light of freedom. Great and materially
powerful. it's mission ~ to be yet great-
er as the leader in the noblest ideals
that mankind strives to attain ever
since the martyrdom at the Mount of
Calvary flooded the world with the
| Hight of peace and justice. The heavy
war ornaments that burden today the