Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-03-01
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
An English Historians Estimate of n
Mind and Character.

I al EsuHnsn Estimate OF al
Mind and Character.
When only twenty-three, Washington
had been appointed commander of tn
Virginian forces against the French
and in the late war, though he had me
with one serious disaster, and had NJ
opportunity of obtaining any very bril-
liant military reputation. he had Away
shown himself an eminently brave an.
skillful soldier. His great modesty an.
taciturnity kept him in the background
both in the provincial Legislature an
/ in the Continental Congress-; but thong
his voice was scarcely ever heard in dc
bate. his superiority was soon felt 4
I the practical work of the committed
/ IF you speak of solid information G
sound Judgment" said Patrick Henri
about this time. Colonel Washington
is unquestionably the greatest man i.
Congress" He appeared in assembly il
uniform. and in military matters hi
1 voice had an almost decisive weigh
Several circumstances distinguish
/ him from other officers who in militar,
/ service might have been his rivals. II
/ was of an old American family. He wa.
planter of wealth and social position
/ and being a Nirginian his appointment
/ was great step toward enlisting tina.
/ important colony cordially in the cause
The capital question now pending
/ America was how far the other colonie.
would support New England in tn.
struggle
[ In the preceding March. Patrick Her
/ ry had carried a resolution for embody
/ ing and recognizing the Virginia mil
/ tia. and had openly proclaimed that a
| appeal to arms was inevitable; but a
/ yet New England had borne almost tn
whole burden. The army at Cambridg
was New England army, and Genera
| Ward, who commanded il had been a
pointed by Massachusetts Even /
/ Ward was superseded. there Wer
many New England competitors for tn
| post of commander; the army natural
/ desired chief of their own province
and there were divisions and hOstilitie
among the New England deputies. tn
! great personal merit of Washington
and the great political importance q
| securing Virginia determined the issue
and the New England deputies ultimate
/ ly took leading part in the appoint
ment. The second place was given I.
/ General Ward, and the third to Charlie
! Lee. an English soldier of fortune VIII
had lately purchased land in Virgini.
4 and embraced the American cause wit
4 great passion. Lee had probably a wide
/ military experience than any other of
| Ger in America, but he was man of N
! settled principles, and his great talent
were married by very irritable and ca
| PRECIOUS temper.
TO the appointment of Washingto
far more than any other single circun
1 stance is due the ultimate success OF tn
/ American revolution. though in purel
/ intellectual powers Washington wa
/ certainly inferior to Franklin, and, pei
| haps. to two or three other of his co.
| leagues. There is theory which ono
received the countCnance of some cor
siderable PSYCHOLOGISTS, though it
now, ! believe, completely discarded
that one of the great lines of divisio
| among men may be traced to the con
/ parative development of the cerebruI
/ and cerebeIlum. To the first organ,
was supposed, belonged those speci;
! gifts or powers which make men poets
/ orators. thinkers. artists, conquerors c
/ wits. To the second belong the. super
I intending, restraining, discerning an
/ directing faculties. which enable men 1
/ employ their several talents with SAINT
! and wisdom. which maintain the ba
ance and proportion of intellect an
character. and make sound Judgment
and well-regulated lives.
The theory. however, untrue in it
physiological aspect. corresponds to
real distinction in human minds an
characters, and it was especially in tn
second order of faculties that Washing
ton excelled His conversation had n
brilliancy or wit. He was entirel
without the gift of elOquence, and h
had very few accomplishments II
knew no language but his own, and, e2
cept for Il rather strong turn for matbe
MATES. he had no taste which can
called purely intellectual. There wa
nothing in him Of the meteor or tn
cataract. nothing that either dazzled q
overpowered. A courteous and hospit
able country gentleman, skillful farm
or. very keen sportsman he probabl
differed little in tastes and habits frOI
the better members of the class
which he belonged: and it was in grea
degree in the administration of larg
estate and in assiduous attention t
country and provincial business that h
acquired his rare skill in reading an
managing men.-Lecky's History c