Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-30
AM Other States and Canada
Another Valley Forge.

"The American people are going
through another Valley Forge at this
time" said President Hoover this morn
ing, as he stood on the hallowed ground
in Pennsylvania where Washington's
starving, half-clad patriots suffered and
survived the privations that were to
assure the success of the Revolution.
Seldom during his two years of fever
and tumult" in the White House, as
he described them in Philadelphia last
night, has Mr.. Hoover spoken more
felicitously or more happily exploited a
theme and an occasion. Valley Forge
personifles for the American people the
will and the power to endure. 1t in
carnates steadfastness. 1t typifies de-
termination amid adversely. 1t breathes
the spirit of unwillingness to succumb.
Had Gen. Washington and his troops
In the devastating Winter of 1777-1778
not been fired with all these spartan
virtues, American history would have
been written in vastly different terms.
President Hoover's Memorial day ut
terance deserves to be craven in the Ma
tons memory "as the Valley Forge Ad-
dress" just as Lincoln's immortal words,
at the height of another crisis in the
Unions history, are cherished as the
Gettysburg Address.
Like Washington at Valley Forge,
Lincoln in 1853 confronted difficulties
Of unreasonable magnitude. 1t was
the faith and fortitude that sustained
both when the hour glowered the dark
est.
The Valley Forge address emissions
the business depression as national
plight comparable to those which Wash
ington and Lincoln overcame. TO
each and every one OF u.s." the Presl-
dent says, at is an hour OF unusual
stress and trial" But he bids his
countrymen to take heart from the
lessons which Valley Forge teaches
to observe that tenacity Of purpose
which alone enabled the Revolutionary
patriots to triumph over heartbreaking
vicissitudes. Americas economic vic1ssi-
SNS
temporary reverses in the march OF
progress" Invoking the spirit OF VAL
ley Forge, he registers the confidence
that they will prove "a passing trial"
Washington and his men, Mr.. Hoover
reminds us, met their challenge in
times and terms of war" The test now
trying the American soul comes in times
and terms of peace. In words which
bristle with high inspiration the Presi-
dent says:
1t is the same test of steadfastness
of will, of clarity of thought, of reso-
luton of character, of fixity of purpose,
of loyalty to ideals and Of mistaken
conviction that they will prevail. We
are enduring sufferings and we are
assailed by temptations. We, too, are
writing new chapter in American his
tory. If we weaken, as Washington did
not we shall be writing the introduce
ton to the decline of American charac-
ter and the fall OF American institutions.
If we are firm and far-sighted, as were
Washington and his men. we shall be
writing the introduction to yet more
glorious epoch in our Nations progress
There will be those who would have
wished for more practical, concrete
things at an hour like this, than the
admonition to invoke the Washington
spirit CT never-say-die. Some would
have preferred prophecy as to when
we may expect the economic sun to
shine again. Mr.. Hoover rightly eschews
material considerations and attunes the
Nations thoughts to the deeper lessons
which we must learn from our current
tribulations.
He could not possibly have harped
on a more useful chord than the one
in which he pitches the Valley Forge
address. II the American people have
a spark of the reverence they profess
to own for the epic Gen. Washing
ton and his men wrote in blood and
tears, they will heed gratefully the
counsel which this day fell from the
Presidents lips. Faith in the future,
no matter how bleak the present, must
govern our thoughts and our actions,
as 1t governed those Of our patriot
army. AS it suffered and won, 50 must
we, or be recreant to the imperishable
traditions Valley Forge bequeathed us.