The daily commonwealth., 1917-04-03
AN APPROPOS LETTER.
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washington WrltteH W duHIiIcIS III AcHHcoSce WIN
desired that he take command OF the armies o.
the United States in 1898 when rights of Amer
leans on high seas were being denied by foreign
nations in quite as distasteful fashion as they
have been in recent years. Washington had agair
been called to the command of the army under
the title of lieutenant general. The reply of Gen
era Washington, quite appropos to the present
situation, was as follows:
To the Inhabitants of Greene County, in the State
i of Tennessee:
Gentlemen-Having once more engaged in the
arduous duties of public life latter had retired
therefrom, with the most ardent wishes and
pleasing hopes that no circumstances would oc-
cur to call me from my peaceful abode during the
few remaining years of my life), cannot be in
sensible to the appreciation of my felow-ctizens
and while thank you gentlemen, for your warm
and friendly address, permit me to observe that
can take no merit to myself for any personal
sacrifice may make. in accepting the import
ant trust with which have been honored for
when the property of our citizens has been spoiled,
our sovereignty encroached upon, our constitut-
ed upon, our constituted authorities threatened,
can that man be deserving appellation of en- Amer
ican citizen who would suffer any motives of per-
,onal consideration to withhold his exertions at
such an eventfu crisis? 1t certainly appears,
gentlemen as you observe, that the mild and
pacific policy Of America has been mistaken for
cowardice and a base desertion Of our rights:
But l trust that the injured spirit of our
country will now be reused, and we shall show
to the world that we can and will support our
rights and the government of our choice, against
all aggressions, and that we will yield our inde-
pendence only with our lives To do this, requires
spirit Of unanimity, which, / presume will
shortly prevail in every part of the Unit
ed States, and that every virtuous citizen will see
the necessity af bis exertons to preserve the in
valuable blessing which we have yet in our power.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Mount Vernon, September 8, 1798.
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EASTER AT HAND AGAIN.
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Very few people stop to realize that Easter
has been observed with great solemnity since the
days Of the early Christian era, and that it marks
the joyous mood Of the believers over the resur-
rection of Christ.
The proper time for the celebration Of this
great day has occasioned much controversy and
even as early as the second century dispute arose
on this point between the churches. At this day
while all disputes between the churches are not
settled yet the day is accepted as one for all Chris
tians to enjoy in common celebration in spirit
over the sseyrrection of their Redeemer
The popular obssryances, past and present,
connected with the day are ipngmerable. The use
OF eggs in this connection is Of the highest an
tiquity, the egg having been considered in pre-
Christian mythologes as symbol OF resurrection.
1t is possible that the olden churches adopted and
consecrated an earlier custom.
While the egg seems to bring home Easter
Joys to the heart of childhood the older part of
the community seem to take the day as an occa-
sion to bring into life the new fnery for spring,
and a systematic abandonment of the old and the
use Of new apparel, has q tendency to convey the
idea of new BIRTH, or resurrection:
At any rate, whatever may be the custom,
and however the observance may be held, all rec
ognize that behind the worship and the way is the
spirit of the day. In this is the real Easter, and
it matters not whether there are special services,
eggs. or new clothes-the real Easter must be OBJ
served within.
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FIGHT ON THE EQUALIZATION BOARD
THREATENED,
The following Jackson news item promises
legislative fight upon the socalled tax equalization
act the legislature passed in the 1916 session: