Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-10-25


waged 30 uurelentingy, and the picture
drawn by TreYyllian Of the ''spoils system
el that day accounts for much of the disaster
and disappointment that awaited the at
teInpts to snbdue the cOloniea and added
such fearful sums to the British debt.
According to this wiitor the official circles
OF the Kingdom We're honey cuubed with
corruption; Offices of honor and Importance
were held but merchandise. The spirit
of public plnnder reigned supreme.
"Alembers Of Parliament bought their seats
and then sold themselves. The King himself
selected as his special department. the
| manipulation of the House OF Commons ; he
furnished the means and minutnly audited
the expenditures of corruption. Every re
former of abuses who had got hold OF a
thread OF jobbtry which was strangling the
commonwealth was discouraged from follow
ing up the clew by the certainty that il would
lead him sooner or later to the door of the
royal closet"
Thus yenalityss and servility became in
grained in every branch of the public service
and dlsiuterested patriotism was relegated
into obscurity. The names OF commanding
officers on sea and on shore, in the campaigns
against America, have been associated with
transactions which prove that their abilities
were directed against the public exchequer
rather than against the forces of the enemy.
Says Treyyllian
"rhe King knew the secret history of all
the hucksterH OF politics, the amount at which
they appraised themselves, the form in which
they got their price, and the extent to which
they were earning their pay by close attend
ance and blind subservience. He
was at home i'll the darkest corners of the
political workshop and up to the elbows iD
those processes which a high minded states
man sternly forbids, and which even states
men who ls not high minded leaves to be
conducted by Others"
tAint t,tI, tI,..
conduct and career of the men who led the
American colonists through the long and
arduous struggle for their liberties.
1t was war On the one side for dominion,
regardless of justice, by a rich and powerful
empire, whose forces were welded under an
administration weakened by corruption, i'm
morality and protiigate expenditures in which
patriotic objects were but little regarded and
the qualification of passion stood III lieu of a
conscientious pursuit of public welfare. On
the other side, with forces numerically feeble
and almost wholly unsupplied with the sinews
of war; scanty band of agricultural colonists
animated by pure aud lofty love of liberty
standing in defense of their birthrights, of
home and iireside, sustained by religious
faith iu the Justice of their cause, and aided
by the practice of honesty and frugality in
the administration OF their resources, emerged
from the unequal contest victorious and
unstained.
of Washington's personal expenditures as
commander-in- chief Of the forces, filed by
him at the close of the war in the Depart.
ment of State maryels OF honest precision
and models in character Scan closely the
personal characters of the counsellors he se-
lected for his cabinet. The first, General
Henry Knox, Secretary of War next, Alex
ander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury /;
then, Edmund Randolph, Attorney General /;
| and Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State.
| For the Supreme Court, he selected John
| Jay, as the chief justice, and Rutledge, Will
| son. Gushing, BLAIR and Iredell as associate
| Justices every name Ii lustrous with virtue
and talents; upon the character of none rests
| the slightest cloud. Each of these upright
| aud patrioticmen accepted the creed of Burke
| "lhe principles of true politics are those
of morality enlarged and public conf
dence naturally followed, ratifying and ap-
proving his choice of counsellors. Such mon
/ are the proper repositories OF public power
| at all times and under any form of govern
ment; and well is it for II people when such
| men occupy their highest stations.
| BY such nominations Washington was put
| ting i'll practice the precepts he had given to
the governors of all the states in circular
letter, written on June Sth, 1888, from these
| headquarters
''This is the moment (said he) to give such
n tone to our Federal government as will en-
| able il to answer the ends OF its Institution {;
or this may be the ill-fated moment for re-
laxing the power of the Union and annihilat-
ing the cement of the confederation"
| And then he continues in such words of
patriotic counsel that you must permit me to
recall them and ask you to engrave them on
your memories
-Four things are essential to the we'll
being and existence OF the United States al
an Independent power
First The indissoluble Union of the states
under one federal head.
Second. A sacred regard to public Justice.
Third. The adoption of proper peace
establishment.
Fourth. The prevalence OF that pacific and
friendly disposition among the people of the
United States which will induce them to for
get their local prejudices and politics. to
make those mutual concessions which are
requisite to the general prosperity, and, il
some instances, to sacrifice their admitted ad
yantages for the interest of the community.
These are pillars on which that glorious
fabric OF our independence and national char
acter must be supported. Liberty is the basis
and whoever would dare to sap the foundation
or overthrow the structure under whatever
specious pretext he may attempt it, will meri
the bitterest eXecration and severest punish
ment which cali be inflicted by his injured
country"
Even then, standing on the threshold of {
great future, his patriotic eye discerned tn,
essentials upon which his country must rely
for its safety and progress. His counsels
wise and true then, are equally SO and a
valuable to-day and it is well for us, in con
sidering the safety and well being of the vas
superstructure of population, wealth, AMI
varied human interests which has been bull
upon the foundations laid by Washington
and his associates, q century ago, to remem
bar from what materials its strength wa
derived and to what principles it owes it
permanence and must depend for its futur
safety.
Iu stating the reasons and objects of thi
impressive convocation, | have detained yol
longer perhaps than had Il right, but tn
, earnestness Of my feelings as an American
citizen my sincere desire to keep alive tn
glorious traditions of the early heroism o
, our history must plead my excuse