St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-22
WAsHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.

WASHINGTON'S merit was the merit
of character rather than of intellectual
acuteness. 1t is not told of him that he
was any more of an orator than was
JEFFERSON, who was afraid to speak in
public. When he came to deliver his
farewell address he secured the assist
ance of MADISON in its composition,
he made no disguise of this fact, but
openly admitted that the young Virgin
ian had better command of his mother
tongue than had he. During his presi-
dental administration the most impor-
tant constructive achievements ever
crowded into a period of eight years
were realized. Out of the chaos of
colonial days nation was created. with
traditions. policy and definite des-
Tiny. History affords no parallel to this
but it was not WASHINGToN's brain
which did the work. The genius of
ALEXANDER HAMILTON was the power
which forged our governmental ma
chiaery and set 1t in strong, steady and
effective motion.
And yet, in spite of these things and
much else like them which is true,
WASHINGTON is the first of Americans,
worthy of veneration and preference
TO which no other has right to aspire.
He was great with the superbest type of
greatness. He had self-restraint, dig
nifty, courage. persistence, fairness, seri-
business. honesty, balance. God never
raised up filter leader for noble cause
than him. The danger of revolutionary
movements is the lack Of discipline.
When society is unsettled the ambitious
and the INSCRIPTIONS see their oppor-
tunity. The fruits of effort are lost be-
cause of internal diSsensions. Captains
conspire against captains, and petty
jealousies prevent the winning of vic
tories. This is true also in the begin
nings of states existence. There
being no constituted authorities, every
upstart feels that he should be at the
head of affairs, and challenges the title
and criticises the methods of those who
are placed over him. The warning of
factions, always TO be feared. is the
enemy's stoutest ally in times like
those in which our institutions were
born.
We were not spared this poison dur
ing our early years. There was plotting
for personal advancement among the
generals of the Revolutionary army, and
after peace came there were bitter as
saultS in congress and out OF it on the
programme of the first administration.
1t was impossible that it should be 9th
erwise. But the presence of WASHING
TON stripped them of their destructive
force. Had one of different stamp
been in command, there might have
been constant shifting of leadership,
with all the disasters this would have
entailed. But the Father of His Coun-
try was superior to attacks. Even his
foes had respect for him. He made no
mistakes. He was guilty of no small
nesseS. No faint of selfishntss weak
ened his prestige. In the camp he was
gentle, patient, cheering, resourceful.
In the battlefield his soldiers followed
him Loyalty, because they had faith in
his bravery, his skill and his sympathy
for them. When he gave his support to
the plans of HAMILTON, the opposition
faded away because he carried with
him the accomplishing power which ac-
companies universal and unQuestioned
reputation for calmness, sobriety an
disinterestedness of Judgment. There
would have been no Yankee nation had
there been no GEORGE WASHINGTON.
God was with us in our fight for freedom
when He gave us chieftain who tow
cred giant-high above his fellows in the
noblest greatness-the greatness of
character.