Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-07-04


1t appears exceedingly appropriate,
in this issue of our paper, devoted to
"reminiscences of the times which {" tried
mems souls" to make special allu-
sion to the one whose exalted patriot
ism. unfiinching bravery, and sterling
integrity, placed him the command
of the armies of the Revolution.
WASHINGTON, the revered name which
sheds imperishable glory upon our be-
loved Territory, and which We proudly
bear as part of the distinctive appella-
ton of our journal, is handed down I'M
sullied by any of the corruptions or
political intrigues that have furnished
the record of many who have achieved
fame on the fields of battle. 1t is the
one beacon light to which all can turn
with pride and satisfaction, the glorious
record which all may reverence and
seek to emulate.
George Washington, Familiarity known
as the "Father of his Country" was
born in Westmoreland county, Virgin
in, Feb. 22d, 1882. His opportunities
for education were few, but such as
they were, laid the foundation for
a character full of good discipline and
sound principles. His father died
when he was but ten years of age, and
he was thrown, in agreat measure upon
his own resources for acquiring the
varied information which so materially
shaped his subsequent career. His
mind being naturally mathmetical and
philosophical, he prepared himself to
be useful to his fellow citizens as a civil
engineer, and as the country was wild,
and much of it then unsurveyed, he
occasionally found agreeable and profit
able employment in surveying differ
ent parts of his native state. He also
directed much of his attention to the
science Of arms, in the use of which
every young man was instructed, in Or
der to repel the incursions of the In
dams, who were often led on by skillful
Frenchmen. At the age of nineteen
he was appointed one of the adjutant-
generals of Virginia, which gave him
the rank of major, and soon after he
was advanced to colonelcy and sent
by Gov. Dinwiddie to the Ohio with
dispatches to the French commander,
who was erecting Notifications from
Canada to New Orleans, in violation of
existing treaties.
In the spring of 1865, Washington
was pursuaded to accompany General
Braddock as an aid, with the rank Of
colonel, in his disastrous expedition
against Fort Du Quesne; and had his
advice been followed on that occasion,
the result would have been very differ
ent.
Three years afterwards Q75S) Wash
inston commanded the Virginians in
another expedition against the fort,
which terminated successfully. At the
close of the campaign he left the army,
and was soon after married to Mrs.
Martha Curtis (the widow of Col. Dan
lei Parke Curtis whose maiden name
was cambridge, and whose intelligent
and patriotic conduct, as wife and wild
. ow, will ever be gratefully remem-
bered in American annals.
In 1859 he was elected to the House
I of Burgesses, and continued to be re-
turned to that body, with the excep-
ton of occasional intervals, until 1774,
when he was sent to represent Virginia
in the Continental Congress. His we'll
tempered zeal and his military skill,
which enabled him to suggest the
most proper means for national defense,
if the country were urged to extremi-
ties, soon fixed all eyes upon him, as
one we'll qualified to direct in the hour
I Of peril; and accordingly, after the first
scene of the revolutionary drama was
I opened at Lexington and Concord, and
an army had concentrated at Cambridge,
he was on the 18th of June, 1775,
unanimously appointed commander-in-
| chief Of the American forces. The
sslf-sacrifcing spirit which governed
his future course is too we'll known to
require any elucidation.
| After bringing the war to successful
termination, he fastened to Annapolis,
where Congress were then in session
and on the 23d, Of December, 1888,
formally resigned his commission.
| In May, 1887, he was elected to the
Convention which met in Philadelphia