The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-24

bOht WIN inns hNCu bAiACC th0 phbblnR
of that master mind would be so pre-
sumptuous as to attempt to portray
what he would say now, we may per-
haps derive some need OF guidance
and inspiration, II not SO surely of
hope and confidence, from what he
did say then.
webster's Prophetic IngtEht.
webster was noted in his day for
prophetic insight and breadth Of
vision. How he would be regarded
now when ambitions relating to the
governance and regulation OF foreign
peoples are stretching from Washing
ton to the uttermost parts Of the earth
We need not stop to inquire. His COM
prehension was frankly confined with
in the boundaries Of his common
sense. His contemplation was fully
taxed by the possibilities Of his own
country.
'On that very evening. seventy I'VE
years ago, he remarked at the outset
that very recently he had REQUIRED to
an exulting speech or Grafton of my
own in which spoke Of my country
consisting OF nine millions OF people,
and already within so short a span he
beheld a teeming population OF more
than seventeen millions. In the light
Of this amazing growth he knew no
Imagination fertile enough no con-
lecture wild enough to foretell the
progress of the coming years.
What he did know. or felt that he
knew, was the necessity of preserving
intact and solid the foundations laid
by the Pilgrims and the Fathers upon
which the structure Of the great re-
public was so rapidly climbing high
among the nations OF the earth. And
whenever in his pondering he was
ahashed by the potentialities Of the
future he turned instinctively and In
variabiy to his great exemplar.
His View OF Warrington.
ITO the discerning mind OF Webster
the chief exponent OF Americantsm
Washington was far more than the
pattern or model acclaimed by the
| world: he was more than the incarna.
| ton OF an idea; he was a veritablt
archetype Of the spirit OF America
And nothing less than that ever helt
| for a moment the massive brain o.
| that godlike being. To have essayet
to evolve from his inner consciousness
| vagarious interpretations of what |.
now termed upon occasion the though
1 OF America would have seemed to hin
| idle and unfruitful.
| 1T was not mere thought. supposed
or superficial. that claimed his atten
ton. II was, in his own words, free
dom OF thought coupled, again in hi!
own expressive idiom. with 'respecta
bility OF individual character that pos
sessed his intellectual soul, and II
Washington he found personificatiol
OF this essence OF Americanisn.
This is not the time, although !
could never be aniss, to dwell upol
the remarkable reverence Of Danie
Webster for George Washington. blu
cannot forbear to mention in passing
that the tribute which he treasure
most was contained in the words, H
changed mankind's ideas Of politica
greatness'-an historical achievement
undoubtedly, but one whose actuatin
impulse, We have to confess, hardl
reached Mr.. Webster himself an
seems now to have disappeared com
pletely from the purview OF our mos
conspicuous statesmen.
Repeats washinEton's Words.
That which I feel may interest 20
and which I know should concern 20
is the final ADMIRATION OF Washington
which Webster held to be his best an
the most vital to the fuifilment OF tn
mission OF their common country. j
related, l need hardly say, to the cor
. tinuing need of maintaining such rels
lions with foreign Powers as woul
, forever safeguard our liberties as
people by unfolding our soverefgnt
unimpaired as a nation. Trite as thos
words may be, familiar, indeed, as
hope they are to al of you. I ask yo
: to listen for ono moment to Geors
: Washington:
= Europe has a set OF primary ir
. terests which TO US have none or
= very remote relation. Hence 1t mu
. be unwise In us to implica ourselve
: by artificial ties, IN the ordinary Ncii
stitudes of her politics or the ordinaI
combinations and collisions OF b.
: friendships or her enmities.
why quit our own to stand upc
= foreign ground? Why. by interwea'
u ing our destinty with that OF any pa
of Europe. entnegle our peace ar
prosperity In the tolls OF Europes
=, ambition. rivalship. interest, humor (
caprice?
1T Is over true policy to steer Gle
OF permanent alliances with any 20
ton OF the foreign world.
Against the insidious wiles of 70
:. eign influence Il conjure to belle
me, fellow citizens) the jealousy OF
free people ought to DO constant
ID awake, since our history and exp
rience prove that foreign influence
one Of the most baneful foes OF r
publican government
r "Permanenso Alliances.
q 81 emphasize permanent as appli
n to alliances because we hear 1t so oft
v said that already in the great war ju
= concluded we have disregarded this
q junction and must perforce contin
II an established relationship. I deny t
q implication. Washington never object
n to an alliance formed for a speci
: and worthy purpose. He frankly co
4 coded and inferentially welcomed su
coalition. We may rest assur,
moreover, that 1t would never ha
occurred to him to give an hone
able alliance an aspect OF aloofne
"a ambiguity ana distrust by designate
o. 1t with ostentatious caution as a me
!, and unique association
Taking care always he wrote,
kaap OurseIVaa bv s,,Itah1a a.ta hills