Evening star., 1932-02-22
The American Ideal.

Today begins q Nationwide celebra-
ton OF the biccntenn.a. Of the birth
OF George Washington. Il starts, mos
appropriately. on the day which has
been accepted as tie actual day OF his
birth in 1882 II will close on Thanks
giving day, nine months hence. Dur
ing that period the Am arican recp.e
will in a wide variety Of forms manifest
their reverence for the man who vas
most definitely Of all his colleagues the
founder Of the Republic, who was lead
er In the war Of the Revolution, who
was adviser in the days of organization
and who was frs. President.
It is in itself an inspiration that this
observance is of the two hundredth
anniversary Of the birth Of native
American, regardless Of the services
which he rendered and the example
which he set. That two hundred years
have passed since the great Firginian
was born. and with the Nation which
ing still standing in strength. Is
cause for rejoicing. More than one
hundred and ffty-s.X years have passed
since he was named commander In
chief of the Revolutionary forces; more
than one hundred and forty-three years
since he was chosen President, and
more than one hundred and tnirty-two
years since he died.
This perspective Of history is tribute
to the everlasting quality OF the work
which was done by George Washing
ton. The United States of America has
survived all trials and tests, In great
measure because Of the character Of the
man to whom is owed the greatest debt
of gratitude for the work Of its creation; i;
In great measure, too, because OF adher-
ence to his example and counsel after
he had passed.
The George Washington whom the
Nation today honors in this first OF an
UNPARALLELED series of birthday celebra-
tions Is both an individual and an
ideal. The man as he was is as highly
respected as the man OF the tradition
that was created Immediately after his
death, tradition springing from the
earliest of the biogra phies. written with
a strange blend Of emotion and COM
merciaism. A great wealth Of material
for the disclosure Of the man as ne
was in life has come to hand in the
course Of the decades, and now at last the
true George Washington is seen. He Is no
smaller in stature. no different in char
acter, no less an inspiration for the
revelation of his human traits. His
wisdom OF Judgment, his spirit OF JUS
tice, his sympathy and understanding
are as distinctly discernible as ever.
The more that is disclosed of George
Washingtcns life, his thoughts, his
habits, his associations and emotions,
the greater his figure becomes. He
was a man of the people, man OF toll
though OF gentle origin. He knew hard
ships and sorrows. 1t was not a mere
chance that made him the champion OF
his fellow colonists, who rebelled against
the tyranny Of the selfish, shortsighted
rulers overseas. Washington would
have been an American rather than a
subject of King George in any case.
1t Is impossible to read his diaries and
letters and his infrequent speeches with
any other conclusion.
Favored indeed are a people who can
have such a model figure for an inspira-
ton. The American people today insti-
tute the series of observances that, con-
tinued for almost q year, will express
their appreciation Of that great privilege
and blessing. The story Of Washington,
however familiar, will never grow old,
The youngest generation Of today Is no
less stirred by it than was the youngest
generation a century ago. century
hence the story will still be new and
inspiring. For George Washington,
whether viewed through the medium
of the heroizins biographers or that OF
the humanizing researchers, stands be-
fore Americans as their ideal Of man.
hood. Of citizenship and Of patriotic
service.