Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-02

W.
But the multitudes whom no argument
could cOnvfnce, who saw in the Executive
power and centralized force of the consti-
tuition, Under F another name the dreaded
tsfed only with the assurance, washington
will be President" It quieted alarm and
gave confidence to the timid and courage
to the weak
He alone could stay assault and inspire
confidence while the great and complicated
machinery OF organized government was
listed nowhere except in his modest and un-
ambitious heart His whole life had
been spent in repeated sacrifices for
his country's welfare, and he did not
hesitate now. though there Is an under
tone of inexpressible sadness in this entry
in his diary on the night of his departure:
about ten O'Clock bade adieu to Mount
felicity, and with mind oppressed with
more anxious and painful sensations than
have words to express, set out for New York
with the best disposition to render service
to my country in obedience to its call, but
tons"
No conqueror was ever accorded such
triumph, no ruler ever such welcome. In
this memorable march of six DAYS to the
Capitol, it was the pride of States to ac-
company him with the masses of their peo-
pie to their borders that the citizens of the
next commonwealth might escort him
through its territory.
He had visited New York thirty three
IL.
the full perfection of his early manhood,
fresh from Braddock's bloody field and
wearing the only laurels of the battle, bear
ing the prophetic blessing of the venerable
President Davies, of Princeton College,
as THAT heroic youth, Colonel Wash
ington, whom I can not but hope Prov
idence has hitherto preserved in SO signal
manner for some important service to
the country" 1t was a fair daughter of our
State whose smiles allured him here, and
whose coy confession that her heart was
Il l. l.
dened his departure. Twenty years passed
and he stood before the New York Con-
gress, on this very spot, the unanimously
chosen Commander Chief of the CONT
mental army, urging the people to more Wig
Orous measures, and made painfully aware
of the increased desperation of the strug-
gle, from the aid to be given to the enc
he knew that the same local military com
pany which escorted him was to perform
the like service for the British Governor
Tryon on his landing on the morrow. Re-
turning for the defense of the city the next
summer, he executed the retreat from Long
Island, which secured from Frederick the
Great the opinion that great commander
he won the first American vic
tory of the Revolution. which gave
that confidence OF our raw recruits against
the famous veterans of Europe which car
ried our army triumphantly through the
war. Six years more of untold sufferings,
OF freezing and starving camps. OF marches
over the snow by bare footed soldiers to
heroic attack and splendid victory, of de-
spair with an unpaid army, and of hope from
the generous assistance of France, and
peace had come -. and 1.s+ nde ap3eSl
the invading enemy embarks, WASH
ington at the head of the patriot host
enters the city, receives the welcome and
gratitude of it's people, and in the tanerv
which faces across the way, in silence
more eloquent than speech, and with tears
which choke the words, he bids farewell
forever to his companions in arms: Such
were the crowding memories of the past
suggested to Washington in 1879 by his ap-
proach to New York
Washington was never dramatic but on
great occasions he not only rose to the full
ideal of the event. he became himself the
event. One hundred years ago to-day the
procession of foreign Ambassadors of
statesmen and Generals, of civic societies
him, marched from Franklin square to
Broad. and up Broad to this
spot, but the people saw only
steps of the old Government building here,
the thought must have occurred to him that
it was a cradle of liberty, and as such Civ
Ing bright omen n! for the future In these
had been established for the first time in it's
history the liberty of the press. Here the
New York Assembly, in 1854, made the pro-
test against the Stamp act, and proposed
the beginning Of the United Colonial
action In this old State House in
first and the father Of American
Congresses assembled and presented to the
English Government that vigorous protest
which caused the repeal of the act. and
checked the first step towards the usurpa-
ton which lost the American colonies to
the British empire. Within these walls the
Congress of the Confederation had commits
stoned it's Ambassadors abroad, and in inef-
fectual efforts at government had created
the necessity for the concentration of Fed
eral authority, now to be contaminated
The first Congress OF the United States
gathered in this ancient temple Of liberty
greeted Washington and accompanied him
| to the balcony. The famous men visible
| about him were Chancellor Livingston
| Hamilton, Governor Clinton, Roger Sher-
man, Richard Henry Lee, General Knox and
Baron Steuben- But we believe that among
| the invisible host above him, at this supreme
| moment of the elimination in permanent
! triumph of the thousands of years of strug-
gle for self-government, were the spirits of
| died that their countrymen might enjoy
this blessed day, and with them were the
Barons of Runnymede and William the
| Silent, and Sidney and Russell, and Crom-
| well and Hampden, and the heroes and
martyrs of liberty of every race and age
AS he came forward, the multitude in the
streets, in the windows, and on the roofs
sent up such a rapturous shout that
Washington sat down overcome with
emotion. As he slowly rose and his tall
and majestic form again appeared, the
people. deeply affected, in awed silence
| viewed the scene The Chancellor SOL
EMMY read to him the oath of Office, and
| Washington, repeating, said: Il do solemn
~ swear that will faithfully execute the
| Office of President of the United States, and
will, to the best OF my ability, preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution of the
| United States" Then he reverently
| bent low and kissed the Bible, utter
ing with profound emotion: $50 help me,
God" The Chancellor waved his robes and
shouted: 1T is done; long live George
| Washington, President of the United
States!" Long live George Washington,
| our first PRESIDENT" was the answering
| cheer of the people. and from the belfries
rang the bells and from forts and ships
Numbered the cannon, echOtng and repeat
| ing the cry with responding acclaim all
| over the land: Long live George Washing
| ton, President of the United States!'
No man ever stood for SO much to his
| country and to mankind George Wash
| ington Hamilton, jefferson and Adams.
Madison and Jay, each represented some of
the elements which formed the Union.
| w, shington embodied them all
| tues? Listen to Guizot, the historian OF
| civilization: Washington did the two great
est things which in politics it is permitted
to man to attempt. He maintained by peace
the independence OF his country which he
| conquered by war. He founded a
free Government in the name of the