Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-02-28

settlers OF the NewWorld, The same
spirit that called into existence the
Romd-heads at home drove tho
Puritns to the wilds Of New Eng
land; and the training thst they re
ceived as pioneers on the shores of
Il wild and inhospitable continent,
was i'll calculated to foster amy ling
ering sentiments Of devotion to
royalty, Selfgovemmcnt was to
these people necessity; and unlike
the French, who, at II later day, rid
themselves Of kings and mobiles, the
wisdom, the prudence, the modea.
hon, the craftsmanship necessary
for its maintenance was theirs,
Deening themselves always loyal,
always ehcrishmg kindly memories
and warm Sympathies for the old
home and all its associations, they
were yet uuconseiously growing
away from the customs and modes
of thought that furnished monarchy
its strongest support Yielding u
cheerful allegiance to the king, they
were undergoing a training for that
kind of political life which makes
kings unnecessary.
This was the training that devcl-
oped the character of Washington.
Mmarchical usages were to him
matters of history or tradition, and
not of experience. 1t is surprising
to one acquainted with the mode Of
life of the English colonists that,
when the alternative Of yielding
certain rights held very dear was
placed over against loyalty TO their
sovereign, they should have been
found willing to sacrifice traditional
patriotism to actual liberty.
0fthe struggle that cnsucd be,
fore independence was achieved,
and the vicissitudes that marked its
progress, it is not the purpose here
to speak The craftsmanship that
planned tho machinery for new
natielal existence, and the patriot
ism thut put it into successful oper.
alton furnish theme sufficiently
broal, and one that is highly valu-
able for comparisons between the
, statesmen of century ago, and
thos, Of the present.
The ills that undermined national
heath and eventually destroy
national life are moro frequently
slow and insidious than sudden and
violent The body polite may be
T diseased, evan though none of i'll
members suffer kecnlt from op
| preston. One of the surest mean
for tho detection Of signs of decay
is the comparison Of the present
status with robust health of its
early years. The measure of q
nations strength is the devotion o,
! its citizens. Especially u this tru,
of a republic And there is9 nc
: better index Of the degree Of this
, devotion than the character of Tho
, men who are chosen by the people
to represent them in the manage
, lnent Of its affairs. Our best les
son for to-day can be drawn from
the comparison that may be insti
tuted between the public career o
: Washington and his contemporaries
{ and that Of the men who are now
| guiding the ship Of state. What
: in view Of all that the practice ant
precepts of Washington have
: taught, are we justified in believing
! would be his opinions on the qucs
{ tions that occupy the minds Of I'll,
| people to-day? He was a MAJ
: who insisted on stately forms and
+ ceremonies in his Intercourse witt
, the public; his enemies charged
that his sympathies were more witt
aristoeratic England than with re.
publican France, and that he aimed
10 introduce into the nations cap.
ital the customs Of nimpcrial
court. Yet history records facts
sufficient TO furnieh abundant refu-
, tation Of these charges. We are all
, familiar with the story Of his re-
ception and treatment Of a sugges-
ton that he might make use Of his
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