The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-06

that characterized the author of the Dec
laration Of Independence. 1t is sad, but
true, that jefferson Rrd Washington were
not On the best Of terms personally, yet
this did ret warp TIE fcrmcr's Judgment
OF the high character and services of the
father Of his country. Writing of him, in
1914, jefferson said:
His mind was great and powerful without
being of the very first order: his penetration
strong, though not SO acute as that of New
ton. Bacon or Locke. and, as far as he saw, no
Judgment was ever sounder. II was slow in
operation, being little aided by invention or
Imagination, but sure in conclusion. Hence
the common remark of his officers. of the ad-
vantage he derived from councils of war,
where, hearing all suggestions, be selected
whatever was best and certainly TO general
ever planned his battles more judiciously But
If deranged during the course of the action, if
any member Of his plan was disiocated by sud-
Gen circumstances, he was slow in a readjust-
ment.
The consequence was that be often failed in
the field and rarely against an enemy in station
Hs at Boston and York. He was incapable of
fear, meeting personal dangers with the calm
est uncoIcern. Perhaps the strongest feature
in his character was prudence, never acting
until every circumstance, every consideration
was maturely. weighed; refraining if he saw
a doubt, but when once decided going through
with his purpose whatever obstacles opposed.
dis integrity was most pure, his Justice the
most iniexible have ever known; no motives
Of interest or consSnguinity, of friendship OF
hatred being able to bias his decision. He was
indeed, il every sense Of the words. wise,
good and great man. His temper Was
naturally irritable and high toned. but re-
Election and resolution had obtained firm and
habitual ascendancy over it. II ever, however
1t broke its bonds, be was most tremendous
in his wrath. In his expenses he was honor
able, but exact; liberal in contributions to
whatever promised utility. but frowning and
unyieding on all visionary projects and all
unworthy calls on his charity.
His heart was not warm in its affections but
he exactly calculated every mans value and
gave him solid esteem propOrtioned to it.
E!ypeTson, you know, was fine. his stature ex-
Hctly what one would wish, his department
easy, erect and noble; the best horseman of his
age, and tho most graceful figure that could be
seen on horseback. Although in the circle of
his friends, where he might be unreservcd with
safety, he took a free share in conversation,
his colloQuial talents were not above medioc-
rity, possessing neither copiCusness of ideas
nor fluency of words. In public when called
on for a sudden opinion, he was unready. short
and embarrassed. Yet he wrote readily. rather
diffusely, in an easy and correct style. This he
had acquired by conversation with the world
for his education was merely reading. writing
and common arithmetic, to which he added
surveying al q later day.
His time was employed in action chiefly
reading little. and that only in agriculture and
English history. His correspondence became
necessarily extensive, and, with journalizing
his agricultural proceedings, occupied most of
his leisure hours within doors. On the whole
his character was, in its mass, perfect; in moth
ing bad, in few points Indifferent, and it may
truly be said that never did nature and fortune
combine more perfectly to make man great
and to place him in the same constellation
with whatever worthless have merited from
man an everlasting remembrance.
For his was the singular destiny and merit
of leading the armies Of his country success
fully through arduous war for the estab-
lishment of its independence; of conducting its
councils through the birth of government,
new in its forms and principles, until it had
settled down into a quiet and orderly train,
and of scrupulously obeying the laws through
the whole of his career, civil and military, of
which the history of the world furnishes no
other example.
These are my opinions of General Washing
ton, which / would vouch at the Judgment seat
of God, having been formed on an acquaint-
ance of thirty years. ] served with him in the
Virginia Legislature from 1859 TO the Reyolu-
tionary war and again short time in con
gress, until he left us to take command of the
army. During the war, and after it, we cor
responded occasionally, and in the four years
of my continuance in the Office OF secretary OF
state our intercourse was daily confidential
and cordial.
After / retired from that Office great and |
malignant pains were taken by our federal |
monarchists, and not entirely without effect |
TO make him view me as q theorist holding |
French principles of government, which would |
lead infallibly TO Righteousness and anarchy |
And to this he listened the more easily from |
my known disapprobation Of the British |
treaty. never saw him afterward, or these |
malignant insnuations should have been dis |
slpated before his just judgment as nists be-
fore the sun. / felt, on his death, with my |
countrymen, that Verify great man hath |
fallen this day in Israel"