Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-20

IN those terrible Outbursts of passion to
winch Mr. Jefferson has alluded. and one
OF which Mr.. Lear has described. We
snail see him refusing to be paid for his
services, yet eXacting from the family of
the poor mason the shilling that was his
Que. We shall know him as cold and
iorOlddlng character, with whom no fell
Iow'nan ever Ventured to live on close
and familiar terms"
Some of our readers will saw that any
writer who speaks OF George Washington
as IAN unknown man" speaks like fool.
from MS death down to the present time
Washington has been explored by biogra-
piers who rlvaled each other In pursuit
OF facts. Weems' book was out before
the old nero had been dead three months,
ana then came Marshall, BOtta, Sparks,
irving, Everett, and even j. T. Headley
and Mrs. kirkland. In the face of all this,
however, McMaster calls George Wash
lngton ian unknown man." Aside from
public life we have the proof that Wash
ington was good brother and a good
son, and we all know that home is the
best place to test character. In his Goth
year Washington became nurse of his
brother Lawrence, whom be ACCOMPANIED
to Barbados, this being his only marine
voyage. He took care of Lawrence three
months, but the latter was in a hopeless
condition and only returned home to die.
AS son his nrst act after election TO the
Presidency was visit to his aged mother
twho lived at fredericksburg and it
proved their last meeting on earth. At a
public dinner given him at the same time,
at Alexandria, this "cold and forbiddIng
character" spoke as follows:
Just having babe adieu to my domes-
TIC connections, this tender proof of your
friendship is but too well calculated to
awaken still further my sensibility and
increase my regret at parting from the
enjoyments of private life. All that now
remains for me is to commit myself and
you to the care of that Beneticent Being
who has happily brought us together af-
ter long and distressing separation.
Perhaps the same gracious Providence
Will again indulge me. But words fail
me. UnutLerable sensations must be lett
to more expressive silence, while with
an aching heart | bid all my al
tectlonate friends and kind neighbOrs
farewell"
1t is highly probable that McMaster
never read the above address, and hence
may plead ignorance. One might excuse
him on this ground were it not that his
conceit is INDUCED in such sneers as the
following: "We shall read less of the
cherry tree and more of the man." Nc
Master knows tnat the cherry tree is
fable, and is never mentioned in any re-
spectacle history. 1t was invented by
ParsOn Weems, who was as great
charlatan as McMaster himself. He
adds:
1--WE shall also hear his oaths and see
him in those terrible outbursts Of passion
to which Jefferson has alluded, and one of
which Mr.. Lear hes described"
Irving says: "WashingtOR inherited
from his mother high temper and spir-
1t of command, but her early pre-
cepts and example taught him to govern
that temper, and to square his conduct
In the exact principles of equity and
Justice"
The reader is probably aware that
''high temper" is feature In all men OF
power. ut Is, in fact, as necessary to
man as it is to steel, and it only becomes
defect when it exceeds control. Wash
ington's high temper gave him nerve and
energy, and we have but two instances
on record of a terrible outburst." One
was when reprimanding Lee for his cow
ardice on the field of Monmouth, where
las Lafayette said the aspect of the COM
mander was terrible. No Oaths, how
ever, are mentioned, and there is no proof
that Washington ever used protane Ian
guage. The other "Outburst" took place
in the Executive Chamber at Philadel-
phia, and Lear, the private secretary, was
the sole witness. The occasion was the
defeat of st. Clair by the Indians and the
massacre of a large part Of the army.
Lear gives us the following description of
the scene, which In reality is one not Of
profanity, but Of agony:
''The General walked slowly backward
and forward for some minutes in silence.
AS yet there had been no change in his
manner. Taking a seat on the sofa by
the fire, he told Mr.. Lear TO sit down. The
latter had scarce time TO notice that he
was extremely agitated when he broke
out suddenly: It's all oyerl St. Clair
defeated-routed the officers nearly all
killed-the men by wholesale; the rout
complete; too shocking TO think OF or a
surprise into the bargain All this was
uttered with great vehemence. Then,
pausing and rising from the sofa, he
walked up and down the room in ST.
lence, violently agitated, but saying
nothing. When near the door he
stopped short, stood still few moments,
when there was another terrible explo-
sion. ~
'"Yes,' exclaimed he. Here On this
very spot l took leave of him; / wished
him success and honor You have your
instructions from the Secretary of War
said ]. Il had strict eye TO them, and
will add but one word, beware Of sur
prise. You know how the Indians night
us. repeat it, beware Of a surprise
lie went off with that, my la0t warning,
thrown into his ears. And yet! To sur
fer that army TO be cut 10 pieces, hacked,
butchered. tomshawked by a surprise
the very thing | guarded him against. .
God! o Godp exclaimed he, throwing
up his hands, while his very frame shook
with emotion. He is worse than muir
derer. How can he answer to his coun-
| try? The blood OF the slain is uDOn MIN.
The curse of widows and orphans-tne
curse of heaven
"Mr. Lear remained speechless, awed
into breathless silence by the appalling
tones in which the torrent Of inyectiVe
was poured forth. The paroXysm passed
by. Washington sat down on the sofa
he was silent--apparently uncomfortable
as If conscious of the ungOvernable
blrst Of passion which had overcome
him. This must not go beyond this
ROOM said ne. i looked hastily through
the dispatches, saw the whole disaster.
but not ali the particulars. viii receive
him without displeasure; ! VIII hear
him without prejudice. He shall have
full JUSTICE"
Weems Matched the cherry tree and
McMaster the poor family'~ shilling. Ar
| cades ambo-each wanted sensation,
and necessity is the mother OF Invention
BOOK NOTICES.