who steadied a remarkable generation of public men by his mental poise and exalted them by his singleness of heart; and a ruler whose exercise of power established for the time on earth a righteous government by all and for all. And what shall I say on behalf of the three hundred and sixty thousand teachers of the United States? None of them are rich or famous; most of them are poor, retiring, and unnoticed; but it is they who are building a perennial monument to Washington. It is they who give him a milliontongued fame. They make him live again in the young hearts of successive generations, and fix his image there as the American ideal of a public servant. It is through the schools and colleges and the national literature that the heroes of any people win lasting renown; and it is through these same agencies that a nation is molded into the likeness of its heroes. The commemoration of any one great event in the life of Washington and of the United States is well, but it is nothing compared with the incessant memorial of him which the schools and colleges of the country maintain from generation to generation. What a reward is Washington's! What an influence is his and will be! One mind and will transfused by sympathetic instruction into millions; one life pattern for all public men, teaching what greatness is and what the pathway to undying fame! Arise! 'tis the day of our Washington's glory; Not with gold, nor with gems, But with evergreens vernal, And the banners of stars that the continent span, Crown, crown we the chief of the heroes eternal, Who lifted his sword for the birthright of man! nd the service of man be life's glory supreme. Not with gold, nor with gems, But with evergreens vernal, the flags that the nations in brotherhood span, wn, crown we the chief of the heroes eternal, Ose honor was gained by his service to man! pirit of Liberty, sweet are thy numbers! he winds to thy banners their tribute shall bring le rolls the Potomac where Washington slumbers, nd his natal day comes with the angels of spring. We follow thy counsels, highest achievement thy school leads the van, crowning thy brow with the evergreen vernal, pledge thee our all to the service of man! |