The record-union., 1892-02-22

/ But the patriotic soul of our youth can
be more deeply impressed with recital OF
that loftier bravery, that moral heroism
of which Washington was such an in
comparable example. It is conceded by
the faithful historian that Washington
and the leading spirits of the colonial
troublous times in inaugurating the con-
test with England did not contemplate
the founding of a republic, but rather the
redress Of wrongs and the establishment
and permanent guarding of certain
human rights. 1t was the incorporate
action and persistence of the British Min
istry that drove the colonists at the last to
resolve upon independent government.
The Revolution was not born of any
wild theory of new forms of society. The
colonists were English gentlemen for
most part. AL the traditions of their
ancestry related to England, her tri-
umphs and glories. The English laws
they reverenced they were familiar with
and deeply attached to. Under them,
wisely administered, they had as large a
measure Of freedom as they desired.
| While not unreasoning monarchists,
| they by no means despised the aristo-
| cratic forms of the mother country. They
| joined issues with her with emotion and
painful regret. The people of the col
onies were not at the outset determined
upon an Independent executive. They
| occupied rather defensive attitude. 1t
was the violation of rights enjoyed under
! the English law against which they en-
tered their solemn protests.
Washington himself had no ambition
higher than honest and unselfsh service
to his countrymen and the peace and
prosperity of home life. It was when
hot-heads, such as Lord North, insisted
upon harsh taxation Of the loyal English
in America as a measure of discipline and
assertion of royal right; when short
sighted and misguided ministry ex-
pressed it's scorn for the colonists, and
denounced them as cowardly ours, whom
a single regiment could subdue, that
Washington and his compeers deter
mined that the shock of arms was inevi-
table. He had written to Mackenzie that
the colonists were not rebellious that
they were not seeking INDEPENDENCE;
that they did not wish to set up distinct
form of government, though they would
not submit to the loss of privileges es-
sential to the happiness of every free
State. Though they held, as Jefferson
said, that union with Great Britain was
their purpose, but it was to be upon terms
widely different from those proposed by
Parliament; that they wanted not motives
nor power to effect separation, but only
the will But the British Ministry was
fated to drive the protesting colonies to
the wall, and the will was then born and
made manifest and the power was exer-
cised to make the colonies free and indie
pendent States.
When the conflict was over the finest
example Of bravery of which the worlds
history has any record was carved i'm
perishably upon the tablets of time by
the act of Washington. With the army
at his command, the people broken and
by no means united upon policies, the
new Government as yet in embryo and
doubtful of strong birth, there came to
him officers Of his command with the
proffer of royal state, and of elevation to a
monarchical pinnacle of power. To these
the man before whom the most alluring
temptation of earth was thus laid replied
with moral strength and a patriotic
ascendency over self for which there is
no parallel:
I am much at a loss to conceive what part
of my conduct could have given encourage
ment to an address which t6 me seems big
with the greatest misfortunes that can befall q
country. Isl am not deceived in the knowl-
edge of myself, you could not have found q
person TO whom ii were more disagree able.
Let me eonjure you, if you have any regard for