Evening star., 1937-09-15
A Founding Father.

Washington has more than ordinary
interest in the passing of "the George
Washington of Europe" for it was in a
home on upper Sixteenth street, nine
teen years ago this Summer, that Thomas
Garrigue Masaryk, father of Czechoslo-
vakian independence, penned the procla-
nation of his peoples national autonomy.
1t was from District soil, too, some four
months later, that he left for Prague as
de facto head of new country, to be
elected at the first meeting of its Ma
tional Assembly as President for seven
years. Thus began a 17-year term of
office destined not to end until 1895, and
then only because age and fatigue had
eXacted toll that impelled the patriot
statesman, heavy with honors and years,
to lay down the burdens he had borne
so fruitfully. Now the coachman's son
and blacksmith's apprentice who be-
came a nations idolized leader, like Lin
coin, belongs to the ages. The world,
democracy, lberty-lovers everywhere
are the poorer for his release from the
tempestuous European scene in which
he fought so valiantly and VIGOROUSLY.
DR.. Masaryk goes to his reward at
critical juncture in the history of the
republic he founded. Nazi lust for ex-
mach Osten, definitely threatens the in
dependence and territorial integrity of
Czechoslovakia. Edouard Benes, who
succeeded to the presidency after years
of devoted service as Masaryk's protege
and political understudy, is we'll equipped
to safeguard the heritage bequeathed to
his keeping, but the pressure of Berlin
directed German minorities is mount
ing menace. 1t is an open secret that
Hitler's first venture to realize the ex-
ternal detectives set forth in "Mein
Kampf" will be an attempted seizure Of
that bleeding border" of Czechoslovakia
populated by more than 3,000,000 Ger
man-speaking citizens. Prague will not
supinely see the Teutonic provinces de-
spoiled by the aggressive western neigh
Dor, but unless Russian, French and
Little Entente allies step into the breach,
the land of Masaryk may be doomed
for the fate of Manchuria, Ethiopia and
China.
1t is in such an anxious moment that
his revered memory will stimulate a
grateful and patriotic people to give their
all to preserve and perpetuate that which
Masaryk wrought. His life was an epic
struggle against Hapsburgism and the
robber-baron politics which first ex-
pressed itself in Austria -Hungary's an
nexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and
eliminated in the attempted rape Of
Serbia in 1914. From the hour of his
eloquent protests as a young member
of the Austrian Reichsrat until he ex-
lied himself after Serajevo, to rally the
British, French, Swiss and American de-
mocracies against the dual danger Of
Berlin and Vienna kaiserism, Masaryk's
every breath and gesture were as free
dom's advocate. Of him Washington
might well have spoken when the author
of American independence said that
'interwoven is the love of liberty with
every hgament Of the heart"
In the fateful hour of Czechoslovakia's
destiny there will well up from the heart
Of a gallant folk this hail and farewell
TO the departed chief:
I'VE know you know we shall not lag
behind,
Nor halt to waste a moment on
fear.
And you will speed us onward with a
cheer
And wave beyond the stars that all
is we'll"