Evening star., 1927-02-22
MESSAGE CITES
ATTRIBUTES OF WASHINGTON
Personal and Political Greatness of First
Executive Is Extolled in Anniver-
sary Address Here.

The fun text OF the Presidents ad
dress before the joint session of Con
gress today follows:
My fellow Americans:
"'On the 22d day of February. 1882,
America. will celebrate thu two hun
dredth anniversary of the birth OF
George Washington Wherever there
are those who love ordered liberty, they
may well join in The observance Of
that event. Although ne belongs to
us, yet by being a great American he
became great world figure. 1t is
but natural that here. under the
shadow OF the stately Monument ris-
ing to his memory, in the Capital City
bearing his name, the country made
independ by his military genius
and the Republic established by his
craftsmanship. shoul already begin
preparations to proclaim the ;n1inor
tai honor In which W. hold the Father
OF our Country.
In recognition of the Importance
OF this coming anniversary, more than
two years ago the Congress passed
joint resolution establishing COM
mission, which was directed to have
This address made 10 the American
people reminding them of the reason
and purpose for holding the coming
celebration. 1t was also considered
that now would be an appropriate time
to inform the public that this COM
mission desires to receive suggestions
concerning plans for the proposed eel.
ebration and to express the hope that
the States and their political sulodi-
visions, under the direction Of their
governors and local authorities, would
soon arrange for appointing commits.
slons and committees to formulate
programs for corporations with the
Federal Government When the plans
begin to be matured they should en-
brace the active support of educa-
tional and religious institutions, of the
many civic, social and fraternai or.
CARNATIONS, agricultural and trade as
sociatfons and of other numerous ac-
tivities which chara cterize our ma
tional life.
Hopes for Better Understanding.
'It is greatly to be hoped that out
Of the studies pursued and the fnves-
legations made a more broad and COM
prehensive understanding and more
complete conception of Washington,
the man, and his relation to all that
Is characteristic of American life may
be secured. IT was TO be expected that
he would be idealized by his country
men. His living at a time when there
were scanty reports in the public
press, coupled with the inclination of
early biographers, resulted in a rather
imaginary character being created In
response to the universal desire to
worship his memory. The facts of his
life We're of record, ou. were not easily
accessible. While many excellent
books. often scholarly and eloquent,
have been written about him, the
temptation has been SO strong to rep
resent him as an heroic figure COM
posed of superlatives that the real
man among men, the human being
subjected to the trials and temptations
common to all mortals, has been too
much obscured and forgotten. When
we regard him in this character and
have revealed to us the judgment with
which he met his problems, we shall
all the more understand and revere
his true greatness. No great mystery
surrounds him; he never relied on mira
cles. But he was q man endowed with
what has been called uncommon COM
mon sense, with tireless industry, with
a talent for taking infinite pains and
with q mind able to understand thei
universal and eternal problems of |
mankind.
Washington has come to be known |
to the public almost exclusively as the |
expedition of Gen. Brad. |
dock as the ommander-in-c chief of the |
Army during the Revolu- |
War, as the first president of
the United States, and as the master |
Of the beautiful estate at Mount Ver-
non. This general estimate Is based to |
a large extent on the command he held |
In time Of war and the public Office he |
held in time OF peace. A recital OF his |
courage and patriotism, his loyalty and |
his self-sacrifice, his refusal |
to be king, will always arouse the |
Imagination and inspire the soul of |
every one who loves his country. |
can detract from the exalted |
place which this record entities him |
to hold. But he has an appeal even |
broader than this, which today Is |
equally valuable to the people OF the |
United States. Not many Of our citi- |
Zens are to be called on to take high |
or to hold high public Office. |
We are all necessarily engaged in the |
ordinary affairs Of life. AS a valuable |
to youth and to maturity, the |
experience Of Washington in these di- |
is worthy of much more at. |
tention than 1t has received.
I'VE all share in the benefits which |
accrued from the independence he won |
and the free Republic he did SO much |
to establish. We need diligent COM
and understanding OF the |
great principles Of government which |
he wrought out. but we shall also Sc |
cure q wide practical advantage il we |
go beyond this record, already so elo- |
quently expounded. and consider him |
also as a man of affairs. It was in |
this field that he developed that exec
utive ability which he later displayed
in the camp and in the council cham
ber.
Youth Should BE Inspired. !
1T ought always to be an inspira- |
tiop IN tha yot.Ug pAoulA Of the cOun.