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Show tTIIIS IS A SACRED ANNIVERSARY. ; ; Today is the 175th anniversary of George Wash- Sngton's birth, in his day George Washington was a bigger man that Reed Smoot, although he swore sometimes, especially at Monmouth. We suspect ' be took a drink now and then; certainly the guests . ' at his table were served with something to drink as , well. as something to eat. He raised tobacco, and we ' presume he chewed a little bit. Despite all his vices be managed to make an impression on this old world that all the waves of death cannot wash out. x He was the foremost man of his day. He be- ; sieved in human liberty.. He believed in the right (Of every man to try, and so great was he that when he died the great Emperor of France, that most mar-yelous mar-yelous man, ordered his court to go into mourning for thirty days, out of respect for his majestic mem- lory.'. He was the levelest; headed ofNmen. His judg-j judg-j ment was infallible. His native greatness was so pronounced that vastly finer scholars than he, vastly greater soldiers than he, vastly wiser statesmen than i he all came and leaned' upon his judgment. The great secret of his life was his patriotism. There was ! no land for him but this. He early consecrated his j 'life to it. He counted as nothing his life or fortune "or sacred honor in its defense.' Real patriotism is The highest trait that any man possesses. It is a most beautiful trait to have. It gives to the ordinary man a judgment when considering his country's affairs af-fairs that never falters." In the economy of the Infinite In-finite it was determined that a free people should occupy oc-cupy this continent, that a government of the people, !by the people and for the people should be founded. U. government in which all the great land's opportu- pities should be opened to the humblest citizen and that all honors should be within the reach of the humblest citizen, if he had the brain to aspire and Ihe perseverance to carry through his just ambition. A leader was needed and so that leader was raised- up. He was almost a smileless man, but he jvas born without fear. He lived without reproach. The things he performed made him immortal. The character that he displayed made him the foremost jjnan on this earth. He has been dead 107 years, but tell the erosions of time cannot in the least dim the stature of his fame ; rather, in the friction of advancing advanc-ing and receding years it grows more majestic as men look back upon it. ; ; This is the anniversary of his birth. It is a sacred flay in the calendar of the United States. It is a day 'M-hen free Americans ought to gather around their altars and do honor to his memory; but if there is Ion our soil a man or a class of men who are living tinder the flag, enjoying its protection and sharing . 'in the glory that attaches to it, but who still on this ieoil gives a higher fealty to some other government, then such men have no business to give lip service ser-vice in honor of George Washington. It is said that Ion one occasion, in the crisis of the war, when surrounded sur-rounded by dangers, Washington said to his Adjutant, Adju-tant, "Put only Americans on guard tonight." i That ought to be the rule with Washington's j birthday, "Put only Americans on guard.", Any other sentinel would dishonor his glorious grave. |