Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-23
MONDAY. FEBRUARY 20, 1920
WAsHINGTON's ADVICE STILL
WISE,

"a
WISE.
issh -
One hundred and lightweight
years ago-February 22-was born
""the youth, George Washington, des-
tined to be the fighting chief under
= whom a nation in the making was
r to achieve liberty from the old
Eorld by a long struggle at arms;
and who later became the anchor
which held the ship of state from
nbeing capsized by the many cross
currents of political opinion and
conflict of sectional interests and
ambitions influenced from abroad
or at home.
George Washington was but q
young man when the need of the
9eountry brought him to the fore.
- The stress he endured was per-
haps greater than any later Ameri-
can statesman has had to bear,
when he was the military leader
and in the period when his strength
of mind, unfailing judgment and
poise were so effective in prevent
ing fatal errors in matters of state
lat home and abroad.
= It was most important to keep
the new government from being
drawn into the whirlpool of Euro
,pean politics. So well did he sue
seed in impressing this upon the
country that from that period on
ward national self-reliance has
prevailed, and today the inviting
voice of Europe, in its efforts to
make the United States but a
friendly auxiliary to the aims of
y the old world, has little lure for
Americans with a practical turn of
mind and the love of independent
national standing.
H In remembering the anniversary
of the Father of the Country, its
citizen warrior, its level-headed
first president who gave, in his
farewell address, words of warning
to his countrymen to heed for all
time, none should forget that the
country stands absolutely alone in
the broadness of democracy of its
people. Though world conditions
have modified, the working princi-
pies of other nations are still large
ly along lines of other centuries.
1t is well to remember the first
principles of our native land and
adhere to them.
The fact that this nation went
to war hand in hand with others
for humanity, or for the destruc-
ton of a power that eventually con-
templated invasion of this land,
should not lead to entangling alli-
-sances, now that the war purpose
= has been practically accomplished.
- Let no native born American, or
any adopted citizen in New Mexico,
fail to enter into the spirit of the
sfollowing words of one of the mill
lions of men, native to other lands,
but drawn to a country by it's ideals
and achievements, and the aims set
in the days of Washington. From
"a proclamation by Governor LARA
zolo are these extracts:
SNThat the great leader and his CO.
workers acted wisely in their noble
undertaking, Is proven by the fact
that under our flag have congre-
gated the people of almost all other
lands, who, fully approaching the
wisdom and magnanimity of our
laws, and the excellence of our in
stitutions, have foresworn allegi-
enee to their native soil and become
loyal citizens and enthusiastic sup
pQrters of this government, which
1 In the comparatively short period
of f44 years has grown to be the
sGichest and most powerful nation
ION earth, and its people the best
Hedticated, most prosperous and
most contented upon the earth.
=zsThese thoughts should deeply
impress US with the solemn duty
that rests upon the present-day
oAmerican citizen, to maintain that
government and its institutions in
s,all its fuliness and entirety, to the
end that it may continue to be in
the future the same beacon light
INTO sfreedom, to popular govern
ment, to prosperity, happiness and
contentment that it has been in the
past, and should inspire us. in the
performance of duty, If necessary,
to. acts of self-sacrifice, to the end
that we all, each in his own sphere
lin society and day in life, may re-
spectively perform his whole duty
aaiT'that regard.
Our geographic position among
the nations of the earth places us
ihya most advantageous condition
for. self-preservation, and in
great measure shields us from for
eign aggression; with it all, how
ever. it becomes the duty of a pru-
dent people to be ever prepared,
ready and qualified to perform any
duty that a given emergency may
demand.
The closing paragraph is as true
today as it was when Washington
lived.