The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-06-21
A "TATTOOED" PATER PATRI%.

NeU York Tribune.
On the 4th of March, 1897, George Washington
retired from the Presidency after serving in that
Office eight years. The general impression is that
he did well by the people, He has frequently
been named the consummate flower of patriotism.
His birthday is still observed with every mark of
admiration and respect. By unanimous consent
he has passed into history as first in war, first in
peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen. No
later than last Evacuation Day he was publicly
eulogized by George William Curtis, without pro-
test from either George Haven Putnam or R. r..
Bowker. And yet the Father of his Country was
a tattooed man. On the very day that he surren-
dered his great trust and retired from public life,
an able Pennsylvania newspaper published the
following:
From The Philadelphia aurora, March 4th, 1897.
"Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in
peace for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation"
was the pious ejaculation of man who beheld a
food of happiness rushing upon mankind. If ever
there was time that would license the reteration
of the exclamation, that time is now arrived for
the man who is the source of all the misfortunes
of our country is this day reduced to level with
his fellow citizens, and is no longer possessed of
power to multiply evils upon the United States
If ever there period for rejoicing, this is the
moment. Every heart in unison with the freedom
and happiness of the people ought to beat high
with exultation that the name of Washington from
this day ceases to give currency to political in
iquity, and to legalize corruption. new era is
now opening upon us-an era which promises
much to the people; for public measures must now
stand upon their m erits, and nefarious pro-
iects can no longer be supported by Name
administration Tor elgnr years, II IS subject OF
the greatest establishment that single individual
should have cankered the principles of Repubi-
canism in an enlightened people just emerged
from the gulf of despotism, and should have car
red his designs against the public liberty so far
as to have put in jeopardy its very existence
Such, however, the facts, and with these
staring US in the face this day ought to be jubi
lee in the United States.''
Here we have first-rate job of tattooing Had
there been a comic pictorial sheet in existence in
1877 possessing the same ethical status as the
aurora, what tremendous cartoon it might have
made from the data placed at its disposal by that
newspaper On the broad brow of Washington
could have been tattooed, ''the source of all the
misfortunes of our country; p on his breast, 'the
multiplier of evils upon the United States;" on
his right hand "the gver of currency to political
iniquity;" on his left hand, "the legalzer of cor
ruption;" on his right leg, ''the owner of name
that supports nefarious projects his left leg,
'the individual that unaided and alone has can
kered the principles of Republication )" on his
broad back, 'the carrier of designs against the
public liberty so far to have put in jeopardy its
very existence"
Washington was a great and good man. Yet
he was tattooed man for all that. But the fact
that he was q tattooed man need not distress his
admirers nor move them to indignation. Let
them possess their souls in tranquility rejecting
that no man ever held or was named for the ex-
allied Office of President without becoming for the
time being more or less tattooed man.