Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-02-17

a NS' plans, md determine their own des
n ~ tiny. This hour Is full Of interest to
y those who are concerned with ques-
lions affecting the welfare of the people and the
future of the republic.
so II Is not my purpose today to attempt to ex.
tend the fame or add to the renown of Washing
ton. His fame Is secure even to the earth's remot
est bounds; his renown will grow as the centuries
unfold the scroll of the ages. While men care for
wisdom and honor and patriotism and appreciate
1he achievements Of those who have served man
Nlnd Washington will have place In the minds
ana hearts Of men In all countries and In all ages
Applause) shall therefore take occasion on this
anniversary Of his birth to note the government
established by the fathers, the achievements made
under 1t by the American people and its benefits
TO mankind, and at the same time consider the de-
partures that have been made from Its funda
mental principles and purposes that endanger its
perpetuiy.
IL Is safe to say that the creation and adoption
of the Constitution of the United States mark the
worlds greatest achievement In the art Of self
government. The fathers under the leadership Of
Washington undertook the delicate and difficult
task OF creating a government with such endur-
ing principles as would make 1t susceptible of be-
Ing perpetuated 1t was provided that each citizen
who lived under should for all time be the politi
cal equal Of every other citizen and that every man
should have the opportunity Of obtaining indvidu-
al reward for individual effort. The government
created was Of the people, by the people, and for
the people. Its purposes and powers are simple,
plain, and direct. 1t offers protection to the citi-
zen in his right to life liberty, property and In the
pursuit of his happiness. The powers granted are
enumerated with such other powers may natur-
ally be implied from the written instrument
These powers impose upon the government Gre
ated the duty of dealing with national and
international questions affecting the life the char
acter, and the honor of the republic and its people
In their national and international relations. The
right and duty of dealing with such questions as
infect the individual citizen are left to the states
and the smaller political subdivisions Under this
division of political authority and duty the people
of the United States have through n hundred and
thirty years enjoyed the freest and best govern
ment In all the world. Under the simple guaran-
ties of government that make the individual secure
In his natural rights the American citizen has been
developed He Is selfrellant, resourcefu. cour-
ageous. inventive ambitious, patriotic, and appre-
catye Of his heritage Of freedom. There runs
through his veins the best blood Of every people
north OF the Mediterranean sea- From the days
of the fathers every generation has offered and
Freely given life and property for the maintenance
OF the honor the preservation of the integrity and
tHe ADVANCEMENT vi iHt Gioly VI llc ItpuDlCs IL
is ours We must preserve It, We must not i'm
pose duties upon 1t that II cannot perform. We
must not ask the exercise of functions for which
It was not created We must not indulge in the
hope of things from 1t that 1t cannot give. We
must not invite dlsappontments In the operation
Of its activities. 1t is enough that 1t shall always
offer protection to all that ma holds dear and
shall continue to afford opportunities to the in
diydual citizen to obtain rewards according to his
individual ambitions and efforts.
This leads me to call attention to the important
duties of this hour that require to take our bear
ing and to ascertain how far we have already been
beguiled to depart from II and divert and multiply
the activities of the government In matters foreign
TO Its original purposes and to contemplate the
effects Of such departure the life of the govern
ment and on the opportunity Of the individual cit
zen.
1t would be difficult to enunerate all the. de-
partments, bureaus and commissions of the govern.
ment at Washington that have been created to ex-
ercise bureaucratic authority and paternal guardi-
anship over the people In every part of the re-
public. There Is no activity. business, social, or
domestic condition that Is not the object of their
supervision, their solicitude, or their authority.
Over 100000 civilian employees make up the army
that oversees and directs the affairs Of the people
and assumes guardianship over them. Govern.
ment agents and inspectors, exercising every va
riety Of authority, are found on every Pullman
out of and into Washington. Government reports
every subject from adenoids to rat traps ill the
files Of offices that cover acres of floor space in
Washington The mahogany and quarter-sawed
oak Office furniture already installed has cost many
millions Of dollars, and more is being purchased.
II yearng dies of blackleg on farm In
Kansas, the government at Washington acts on
the case. III hnu dies M MI In a hon M
I'm Iowa. the government at Washington takes
charge. II weevil bores through boil of cot.
ton on plantation In Texas the government at