The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-02-27
I.AUDS WASHINGTON
FOR HIS GREATNESS
Says His Record Stands As
A Challenge To The
University

The speech delivered By Charles
West of Mt. Vernon NJ the Ohio wes-
leyan university ceeoration of Wash
ington's Birthday was fired with patri-
,otism. A mammoth crowd gathered in
Edwards gymnasium for the event
Mr.. West WAS the junior class orator.
The Delaware Journal-Hersld reports
his speech as follows:
We are met today 10 honor the
memory of George Washington. Just
one hundred and twenty-five years ago
today the Congress Of the Thirteen
United States was n session in the
city Of Philadelphia and to many OF
the members of that congress. there
came the impulse to send birthday
greeting to the President. According
" a resolution was offered that con
gress should adjourn for a half hour
and send greetings TO George Wash
ington Of his sixty-frst birthday. I'm
mediateIy great opposition arose and
so great~as the protest against this
resolution that it was turned down as
a dangerous step toward idolatry and
monarchy. That was IN the 18th cen
later, on each recurrence of the 22nd
OF February not only congress. but
people everywhere in the United
States adjourn for 8 day to honor the
memory of the man who is the mob
lest figure that ever stood at the fore
front of a nations history"
In considering Washington. the
speaker recognized the fact that the
great man was the subject of eriti-
eism as well as praise while alive but
he also noted the great dream of the
man for a nation conceived in hber-
", and the many tributes paid to him
by the French and British at the time
of his death. He quoted from a NUM-
Der of famous world statesmen who re-
vered the name of Washington above
all figures in the nations history and
again proceeded with fittingness of
the present celebrations. in part as
follows:
1T is eminently fitting therefore.
that we as Americans should on this
day honor the memory of George
Washington and show our appreeia-
ton of the man who has been accord
ed such a, high place in the history of
the world 1t is particularly fitting
that we thus honor him today for a
new day is breaking in our nations
history-a day which marks the dawn
of a new era For a century and =
quarter We have been guided in our in
ternational affairs by the principles
laid down by George Washington Our
refusal throughout our history. to en-
ter into entanglling alliances with
foreign nations has been the result of
Washington's policy and statesman
policy our nation has grown in num-
bers and strength until its benefcient
influence has encircled the globe. But
no longer can We follow that policy.
NO longer CStl We ECtuOhc NASctfCS
from the affairs of other natiOns-but
along with the other nations of the
earth we must stand ready 10 uphold
those same principles of freedom and
equality ON an international scale that
cur torefathers fought to uphold on a
national scale under the leadership OF
George Washington 1t is obvious then
that our need today in this crisis as
well as in any crisis is the worth OF
character that made Washington great
not one great leader but millions
and millions of men and women
throughout this land living in the in
spiratiOn OF his name and with rever
ence for his memory"
The speaker proceeded to dwell up
on the greatness Of Washington il
the great crisis which he mastered. and
OF the personality OF the man which
made him truly great. With hnell
worded phrases Mr.. West brought ou
the noble character OF Washington
lauding his devotion to duty, and useS
him as an example OF those who ''pla.
up: play up. and play the game" &C
eording to Newbalt's poem-
The character Of Washington VA
credited with not enIy hesng Gmbl