The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-02-21

its three points. twas an equilateral
triangle, the largest and most wonder
full in history. Edmund Burke, Thomas
Paine, Thomas jefferson and others
were continually moving along some
one of the sides or were declaiming
wisdom at some one Of the points of this
figure. The whole figure was full OF
one kind of contents-the rights of man.
Whatever may have been the unpopu-
larity at last of Thomas Paine because
Of his opposition to Christianity, he was
popular and powerful among those who
were speaking and writing in the name
of the common people. Burke was
born in 1870. Washington in 1852, Paine
in 1877, jefferson in 1743, La Fayette
ten years or more later. Thus moved
forward remarkable group Of men
welded to the founding of more
universal rights.
Washington was lying in wait to be-
come the military leader after the ora
tors had made out their case before the
public tribunal. The first step toward
revolution is the finding and promulg-
ing of political truth. The mind
must perceive its rights before 1t will
draw sword. And then, drawing the
sword is perilous resort, because the
venerable institution of Kings is often
too great for young justice to overthrow.
Washington was destined to bring to his
task of fighting for what the orators had
found temperament which made his
defeat almost impossible. He was the
embodiment of wisdom, of patience and
of endurance-qualities which fitted him
to lead ragged troops against the SOL
diers of King and to lead them for
seven long years.
He had been student of freedom
long before he fought for it; but the
public writers had marked out the les
son which the young Washington was to
study, and the philosophers had to tell
the soldier when the time had come for
drawing the sword. When Washington
was called to take charge of the Colonial
troops independence was not the prize
to be won. Battles had been fought at
Lexington and Bunker Hill to defy Brit
ish taxation. 1t was hoped that the
King and his Parliament would repeal
the special legislation which transferred
the hard-earned money OF America to
the banks of the old country. The
motive of Bunker Hill was to make En-
gland treat Boston as she treated Lon
don and Manchester. The dream Of in
dependence had not yet been cherished
or at least announced. All these pa
triots wanted liberty, but only that
quantity of liberty which belonged to
the citizens Of London. In 1774 George
Washington said: ''No such thing as in
dependence is desired by any thinking
man in America" John Adams at the
same time wrote: That there be any
who pant after independence is the
greatest SANDER" But in 1859 members
of the Parliament had declared that un-
less the King changed his method of
dealing with the colonies they would
revolt and be lost to the Crown. Colonel
Bazze said in the House of Commons:
81 now warn Ministers that if they per-
sist in their wretched course of oppres-
sion the whole continent of America
will rise in arms and these colonies will
be lost to England forever"
As in the recent civil war, the end
was greater than Mr.. Lincoln expected,
and infinitely beyond what was dreamed
of by Mr.. Seward and other eminent
men, so in the year IT'S political phil
osophy was at work whose future was
hidden from all those who have since
become SO immortal as founders of the
Republic. Each day created its own
morrow. The revolution came into being
piece by piece, figure after figure, like
a fabric woven in loom. Thread after
thread was carried across and beaten in
until at last came the figure Of indie
pendence.
Soon after the battle of Bunker Hill
John Adams, Franklin, Rush and
Washington were holding an informal
council to confer over situation which
seemed each day to be growing more
terrible. At this meeting Franklin II
said to have asked the question which
reappeared in 1861 on the lips of Horace
Greeley: ''What is to be the end of this
warp lis it to obtain justice from
England or is it to effect a change OF
Ministry? or is it to soften tax?" Be-
fore the inquiry had gone far Thomas
Paine entered the room, and, before he
had been long in the council, he said:
''These States of America must be in
dependent of England"
The little group was amazed and
alarmed, but rumor has it that Wash
ington begged Paine to publish those
views to the country. This event took
place In the November or December be-
fore the Declaration of Independence.
Thus Washington, the soldier, was
carried along by group of deep think