Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
'ASSA|LS CRITICS
OF WASHINGTON
Beck, Addressing Citizens
Celebration, Lauds Policy
of First President.

VI THSt T|cSiueIll.
Scoring recent aspersions on the
character and intellectual stature of
George Washington by SONS peda
who sought reputation for orig.
inality." James NJ. Beck, former so.
licitor general. in addressing the
citizens gathering today at Polls
Theater In commemoration OF the
birthday of the first President. laud-
ed Washington as the worlds no
blest citizen and asserted that his
foreign policy is as applica bile toda v
as IL was 100 years ago
Exercises at Statue.
Prior to The commemoratione xer-
cises at Polls, group Of represent.
atiyes Of the many societies partic
ipatinc In the celebrat ion. headed by
the District Commissioners and
other officials, paid tribute TO 1.-THE
Father of His Country" at Washing
| ton Circle. where flowers were pla ced
a the foot Of the statue.
An hour before the program began
a the lheater the building was well
filled. Color was added to the oc-
casion by delegations of Boy Scouts
and Girl Scouts In uniform. and a
large number of American flags drap-
ed about the hall. 1t. Rev James
r.. Freeman. Bishop of Washington,
asked an invocation after the meet
ing had been called to order by Cuno
II. Rudolph. District Commissioners.
who is president OF the W. shington
celebration orEa MIA ton
Mr.. Rudolph presented Carmi 4.
Thompson of Ohio. comma nder- in =
chief Of the United States War Vet
Grams, who was presiding officer OF
the occasion. An English note was
added 10 the tribute to Washing =
ton by the presence OF Col. G. r. e.
Graham Charlton. British military
attache. the representative OF Am
hassador Howard, who presented "A
gold medal 10 Miss Grace Lorraine
of Gunston Hall School. winner Of an
ESSAY contest on Edmund Burke
His Services in the Cause of Ameri-
can Liberty" The report Of the
committee Of judges on the contest
! which was participated in by District
school pupils. WAS made by Hugh NJ
Southgate.
Marine BAND Plays.
An hours program 81 music was
given by the United States Marine
Band prior To the speaking program
Other musical numbers interpreted
among addresses were given by
Charles Trowbridge Tittmann. the
Washington Quartet. composed al
Mary Sherier Bowie. Richie Mclean
j. F. NJ. Bowie and Fred East
George n. Wilson. Miss Lucy Brick
enstein and Miss Charlotte Harri-
man.
Rev. James Shera Montgomery
I cha n In in pf he Hpnso nj
tives.
WaShington's foreign policy. grossly
misinterpreted. and often invoked tr
justify a policy Of isolation" being
urged by certain leaders Of the ma
ton. Mr.. Beck declared. was one oi
preparedness. just dealing with all ma
| lions and freedom from "entanglins
alliances" but was by no means one
of ISOLATION" Rather. the speaker
said. Washington's foreign polio,
meant entrance Of the United States
into temporary" alliances justified
by emergencies, which threatened the
welfare of the world. Americas In
tervention in the World War in 1917
as one of the allies was not a depar
ture from this policy. he said. Neithe,
did this foreign policy preclude
America from engaging fully in the
councils Of the nations" he added.
Denies He Was IsoIationist.
Washington never intended tc
commit his nation to a policy of iso
| lation.' the speaker declared. "wher
he strongly advised his countr,
against having permanent alliances
| or political connections with other
, countries. the precise meaning which
he gave TO those terms must be
steadily borne in mind. Civiliza tior
was then community of detached
and isolated states. between whom
there was no cooperative effort for
the maintenance of international law
and the preservation of peace. Ali
ances were offensive and defensive
and always selfish in purpose.
There is nothing in Washington $
words or deeds which justifies the as
sumption that the lion Of Trenton did
not intend his republic to realize its
full destiny in the councils Of civiliza
ton as great. ma sterful and benef
cent nation. Isolation is not possible
Eleme forces, infinitely greater
| than political institutions. have united
the scattered nations in a world com
| munity OF purpose and action.
America can be a helpful member
Of this community without sacrificing
its Independence. 1t has shown this
| liberty of decision and action, II yet
| with a decade restored order in the
/ Philippines. united the Atlantic anG
| Pacific Oceans by a canal. ended the
war betw Russia and Japan. and
| ma de possible the open door In China
| Can such Nation be justly charged
! with the spirit of selfish isolation?
independence and not isola tior
would be his policy today"
Reads Many Quotations.
Mr. Beck read many quota lions
, from addresses by Washington in his
| Interpretation of the foreign policy OF
the first President No statement OF
policy has been more misinterpreted
! he said.
There is an extra ordinary analog!
between the present condition of the
world and that when Washington
served as chief magistrate. Mr. Beck
! pointed out. Then. as now. cfviliza
| ton seemed to have gone stark mad
Then. Is now. the United States had
most difficult and delicate task to
steer safety between Scylla and
g, Charybdis The reflex action of the
French revolution upon the American
| people was so great the infant re
| public would have died in its brit
! if it had not been for Washington
/ patience and sagacity. the spea ker
| said.
! with ant cooperation Washing
ton. with extraordinary sagacity. KEEP
the ship on an even keel. for he saw
| that nothing could be more fatal tina r
! to steer the infant republic into the
then seething maelstrom of Europea r
| politics.
Cites Letter to Henry.
I'm a letter to Patrick Henry h,