Evening star., 1925-07-04
BY the Associated Press.

tion of command of the Continental
Army by Gen. George Washington
was as follows:
After $50 anniversaries repeatedly
observed, followed during the last
three months by intensive celebration,
In this neighborhood where it had its
beginnings, the American Revolution
should be fairly well understood. If
IL needs any justification, If 1t needs
any praise, 1t is enough to say that
its product is America. 1t ought TO
be unnecessary on this occasion to
dwell very much on that event and
its vet more remarkable results. But
no great movement in the progress OF
mankind has ever been accomplished
without the guidance of an inspired
leadership. OF this accepted truth
there is no more pre-eminent example
than that which was revealed by the
war which made this country indie
pendent. Wherever men love liberty,
wherever they believe in patriotism,
wherever they eXalt high character, by
universal consent they turn to the
name of George Washington. No occa-
sion could be conceived more worthy,
more truly and COMPREHENSIVE Amer
lean than that which is chosen to
commemorate this divinely appointed
captain. The contemplation of his life
and work will forever strengthen our
faith in our country and in our coun-
try'S GOD.
Those men who have taken great
parts in the world are commonly
ranked by posterity according to their
accomplishments while living, and
the permanent worth of the monu-
ments representing their achievements
which remain after theV are gone.
BY this standard / thinF we may re-
gard George Washingto Cas the hrst
lay citizen Of the worl3 of all time.
He was one in whom tne elements of
greatness were so evenly blended, so
accurately proportioned, that his char
acter has well-nigh defied analysis.
Others have created wider commotion
and deeper impression in the hour of
their eminence. But we shall hardly
find one who in his own day achieved
so much as Washington and left his
work so firmly established that pos
terity, generation after generation,
can only increase it's tributes to his
ability, his wisdom, his patriotism
and his rounded perfection in the char
acter of a Christian citizen.
Inspired Many Testimonials.
No figure in profane history has
inspired so many testimonies OF ad-
miration. The highest eloQuence, the
most profound sincerity, have been
invoked to picture him as the very
sum of public capacities and civic vir-
tues. No pride of race or country has
even attempted to set up rivals to
him. Envy and malice have stood re-
buked in the presence of his towering
form. There is no language of litera-
ture and culture which does not boast
among its adornments noble eulogles
of the work and character of Wash
ington. Although, as history reckons
its periods, it is but little time since
he passed from the stage of life, he
has been claimed, wherever men
struggle and aspire, as the possession
of all humanity, the first citizen OF
all the ages.
So he must be a strangely bold and
self-confident eulogist who would at
tempt even on such an occasion as
this to add anything to the total OF
affection, admiration and reverence
which has been reared as the true
memorial of Washington. 1t is i'm
possible for us to add to or take from
the estimate which has been fixed by
the generations of the world.
But if the pre-eminent place OF
Washington is thus established be-
yond possibility of change at our
hands, it is Only the more desirable
that on this anniversary we should
come here to do our reverence and to
seek replenishment of the inspiration
which is always to be drawn from
consideration of his life and works.
To the people of the Republic whose
existence is due to his leadership, his
life is the full and finished teaching
of citizenship. To others, who may
claim him only by virtue of the right
of humanity to be heir to all the ages,
his story is replete with example and
admonition peculiarly applicable to
the problems of the world and its
peoples in these times.
Was More Than Soldier.
We have come here because this day
a century and a half ago, and in this
place, Washington formally assumed
command of the armies of the col
onies. His feet trod this soil. Here
was his headquarters. Here was his
place of worship. Our first view,
therefore, is of Washington the
soldier But he was indeed so much
more than the soldier, his talents
were so many and SO perfectly pro-
portioned, that it is impossible to
study him in any one of his capacities,
to the exclusion of the others. In
him, we find also a marvellous instinct
for statecraft, supporting and sus
tanning an equal genius for camp and
field. We see. moreover. the qualities
of a great man of business, which he
brings to serve the vast task OF or
ganiZing and equipping his armies. We
find him on one day writing a noble
and eloquent rebuke to commander
of the Kings forces who was bent on
waving the laws of civilized warfare;
and on another, addressing compelling
Counsels of patriotism, energy and
executive sense to the Continental
Congress and the provincial legisla
lures. In everything he was called
to be the leader. In everything his
leadership wrought results which COM
pletely vindicated the confidence re-
posed in him.
The complaint has been many times
uttered that Washington was so
nearly a paragon of abilities and vir-
tues that it is impossible to see
through the aura of perfections TO
the real, simple, human man. But
there is a phase of Washington's
career which. fully studied and un
derstood, will give us the picture of
him as one of the most human men
in history. To inform ourselves of
this human side, we need only to
know of the long years of arduous
preparation which preceded the his
toric event which took place here
$50 years ago today.
From his earliest manhood Wash
ington's life had been a part of great
affairs Many of those affairs were
vastly greater and more significant
than he himself or indeed anybody
else, could possibly have realized at
the time He had come up through
schooling of strangely mingled ad
versitieS and successes. He had de-
voted hard and disappointing years
TO activities which resulted, aside
from the training which he derived,
In Ettla fhann hnralnS- fl1tiliiin,.