Fraternity-Testvériség, 1967 (45. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1967-02-01 / 2. szám
cans. His tolerance, idealism and belief in the dignity of man, combined with his common sense and homely humor, have made Lincoln a symbol of democracy and a revered figure wherever free men dwell. Among his most notable speeches were his Gettysburg Address, delivered in 1863 in dedicating a battlefield of the Civil War, and his Second Inaugural Address in 1865, in which he appealed to the embattled nation to “finish the work we are in . . . with malice toward none, with charity for all.” * George Washington Our First President On February 22, 1732, 235 years ago, George Washington, first President of the United States, was born in Bridges Creek, Virginia. Commander of the American forces during the Revolutionary War and the first President of the new republic — Washington is often called the Father of his Country. Not the least of his contributions was the pattern of tolerance which he helped make an integral part of the American heritage. His trusted aides included the Frenchman Lafayette, the Polish generals Kosciuszko and Pulaski, German-born von Steuben and de Kalb, the Dane, Christian Febiger, the Belgian de Paw, the Irish-American General Sullivan and the Jewish aide - de - camp, Colonel Isaac Franks. There were Negroes among the troops at Lexington and Bunker Hill. As President of the United States, Washington never inquired whether men were “foreigners or natives, federalists or republicans”—but whether they could do well the job needed to be done. * First Presidential Succession Act On February 21, 1792, 175 years ago, Congress passed the first Presidential Succession Act. This provided that in the event of the removal, death, resignation or disability of both the President and Vice-President of the United States, the President pro tempore of the Senate would succeed to the Presidency, and if there were no President pro tempore of the Senate, then the Speaker of the House would become President. Nearly 75 years later this first Presidential Succession Act was replaced by the Act of 1866, which provided that should the office of both President and Vice-President become vacant, the Secretary of State and the heads of the other executive departments, in order of the creation of their offices, should succeed to the Presidency. This latter Act was in turn replaced by the Act of 1947, which made the Speaker of the House first in line of succession, followed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, and then the Secretary of State and other Cabinet members according to rank. Since the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, Congress has approved and submitted to the states for ratification a proposed amendment to the Constitution regarding Presidential disability and succession. More than 30 states have already ratified it. When and if it is ratified by 38, that is, three quarters of the 50 states, it will become part of the Constitution, the 25th Amendment. It provides, among other things, that “whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice-President, the President shall nominate a Vice-President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress.” * Roger Williams Defender of Religious Liberty On February 5, 1631, some ten years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Roger Williams, founder of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and a pioneer of religious liberty in America, arrived in Massachusetts from England. A clergyman himself, Williams believed in the separation of church and state, and soon found himself in conflict with the local authorities. In 1635 he was tried and convicted on charges that he held and propagated the idea that the state had no jurisdiction over the individual conscience. Soon afterward he fled Massachusetts and founded Providence on the shores of Narragansett Bay. Much of the rest of his life was spent in building the colony of Rhode Island into a political community with complete religious liberty. Williams died in 1684 in Providence and is buried there. * Edison American Inventive Genius On February 11, 1847, 120 years ago, Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, was born in Ohio. During the 84 years of his life, Edison registered more than 1,900 inventions in the United States Patent Office, among them: the phonograph, the electric light bulb, and many devices for telegraph, megaphone, metallurgy and electric batteries. His kineto- scope was the forerunner of modern motion pictures. (A.C.N.S.) WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY Oh, hero of our younger race! Great builder of a temple new! Ruler, who sought no lordly place! Warrior who sheathed the sword he drew! Lover of men, who saw afar A world unmarred by want or war, Who knew the path, and yet forbore To tread, till all men should implore; Who saw the light, and led the way Where the gray world might greet the day; Father and leader, prophet sure, Whose will in vast works shall endure, How shall we praise him on this day of days, Great son of fame who has no need of praise? How shall we praise him? Open wide the doors Of the fair temple whose broad base he laid. Through its white halls a shadowy cavalcade Of heroes moves o’er unresounding floors — Men whose brawned arms upraised these colors high And reared the towers that vanish in the sky, — The strong icho, having wrought, can never, never die. Harriet Monroe
