Evening star., 1934-02-22
Washington.

Each successive celebration of the
anniversary Of the birth of George
Washington prompts new attempts to
evaluate his place in history. Year
after year, it therefore may be sup
posed, popular understanding of the
Father Of His Country increases. The
annual commemoration of his life and
labors serves the purpose of clarifying
the significance of his career to the
people of the Nation he founded.
And it happens that the man HIM
self grows in stature with each re-
examination of his personality, char
acter and achievements. His figure
is more sharply, more definitely
drawn in the twentieth century than
it was in the eighteenth. He does
not fade; neither does he suffer
observation in cloud of myths and
legends. Instead. it might be argued
that he is better known to the average
American Of this age than he was to
his contemporaries. Truth has illu-
minated him, and perspective has
brought into unhampered relief the
essential qualities which combined to
make him the unexampled leader that
he was.
1t is plain now as it never was be-
fore that Washington was far in ad-
vance of his own immediate time.
Born into a world dominated by Fred
erick the Great, Louis XIV and the
stupid Hanover Kings of England, he
represented an unprecedented type of
mentor and guide-an authentic re-
publican in the truest meaning Of the
word. His rise to power marked the
beginning of the modern period of
governmental evolution. 1t was given
to him to dictate the course which
freedom was to take out of the desert
of medievalism, and his influence in
that regard still Is operative on the
earth.
Not a great military genius, nor
great lawgiver, nor a great poll
tician, the Virginia farmer who be-
came the first successful rebel, the
first successful victor over royal
tyranny also providentially became
the first great national builder of in
stitutionaliZed liberty. 1t was around
his noble mind and courageous heart
that the thirteen Colonies coalesced
to form the Federal commonwealth
whose capital is the city which bears
his name. To him, then, Is due the
fact of union. Without him, the
North American continent today
might be what Europe is-a score of
hostile nationalisms staggering on the
brink of another universal war.
He might have been a crowned
sovereign, wrapped in the tinsel
trappings of an emperor; instead, he
chose to die private citizen. He
might have remained President as
long as he breathed; instead, he pre-
ferred to set an example of modera-
ton for his successors. He might
have plundered his defeated foe and
exploited his own followers; instead, he
made of himself human endowment
of mankind. He might have blum
dered into any number of mistakes,
any quantity of tragic errors; in
stead, not even the most malicious
critic can find in him any major
fault. No wonder that he remains
an inspiration, pattern, a model to
challenge emulation in the Judgment
of his spiritual heirs.
1t is impossible to praise him too
much. There are no words competent
to pay him adequate tribute. But
deep in the consciousness of grateful
millions is sense of appreciation
which is very real. And it is that
force which, in Washington's name,
aids his countrymen in their present
struggle toward the peace, progress,
prosperity and happiness which were
the central ideals Of his life.