Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-09-24
GREAT AMERICANS.
GOODWIN SMITH ATTEMPTS TO CAR
RY OUT cARLYLE's THREAT.

Goodwin Smiths latest work, entitled
IAN Outline Of Political History, Is q sue
cinct account OF the political history of this
country from 1890 TO 1870. Goodwin Smith
Is best known to American readers as the
leading and by far the ablest exponent Of
the annexation OF Canada by the United
States. As writer he has few equals, and
IAN Outline OF Political History" Is writ
ten In his best style and humor. He has
opinions regarding some Of Americas Rreat-
est men, and though they run counter
quite often TO those we have always held
they are so boldly expressed as to be worthy
OF audience and furnish refreshing enter
tHinmert to the reader.
WASHINGTON NOT GREAT GENERAL.
We expect him to eulogize Washington,
and he does up 10 certain point. He does
not say that he was perfect, but he says
enough to prove that he was nearly so:
Washington was TO the confederacy all
in all. Without him 1t would have been
ten times lost, and the names OF the politi-
clans who had drawn the country into the
conflict would have gone down to posterity
linked with defeat and shame. History has
hardly a stronger case Of an indispensable
man. His form. like all other forms Of the
Revolution, has no doubt been seen through
golden maze OF paneHyflG
I'VE can hardly number among the
greatest captains a general who acted on
so small a scale, and who, though he was
the soul Of the war, never won . battle. In
that respect Carlyle, who thresJened to
take George down peg or two might
have made good his threat. But he could
not have stripped Washington Of any part
OF his credit for patriotism, wisdom and
courage; for the union Of enterprise with
prudence; for integrity and truthfulness;
for simple dignity OF character; for tact
and forbearance in dealing with men; above
ALL for serene fortltude in the darkest hour
OF his cause and under trials from the per
versity, characterization, jealousy and per-
fidy OF those around him seyorer than my
defeat.
Some American writers seem anxious
10 prove that Washing.on's character Is
essentially different from that OF an Eng
lish gentleman. About this we need not
dispute. The character OF an English gen.
tleman Is certainly devoid Of any traits
that might be derived either from plan
tatlon or from war with lndinus ia the
backwoods. Yet an English gentleman
sees in Washington lis ideal as surely as
he does not see il In Franklin, Samuel Ad-
ans or Patrick Henry.
ut has been truly said that Washington
and Wellington have much In common
Wellington contendiug with Spanish per-
yersity and ministerial Incompetence re-
minds us by his cAlmness and self control
OF Washington contcnding with the folly
and dishonesty Of congress and tho frac-
tiousness Of the state militia. They write
in the same even, passionless and somewhat
formal Rtylc the expression Of mind al.
If Tp 90 81
there was, though under control. the strong
temper which is almost inseparnbe from
force. Wellington might be more OF an
aistoorat than Washington; less OF a dem
ocrat he could hardly be. Washington in.
sisted that his officers should be gentle
men, not men iit to be shOeblacks. He
drew most undemOcratic distinction be.
tween the officer and the private soldier
His notions about the private soldier nrc
those OF an old world discipllnariRn. He
says that the soldier should be satisfied to
serve for his food, clothes aud pay, and
complains that he cannot lay on the back
OF the insubordinatc patriot more than 100
lnshes. holding that 600 uru not TOO many.
THE other army leaders, Gates and Leo,
cabAlled against him and were abetted by
politicians morbidly or perhaps selhshly
jealous OF military agcenduncy. II appears
that both Samuel and John Adams, IL they
did not intrigue, were unfriendly to Wash
ington and would have willingly seen him
superseded Washington bore the attacks
on him maRnRnimously, never allowing his
personal wrongs TO interfere with his duty
nor ever thinking OF abandoning his post.
Perhaps In the whole conflict the three NO.
blest things are the character Of Washing.
ton, the behavior OF his army at Valley
ayaH Il Of al =
Of loyalists. on WRshlngton's death the
flags OF the British fleet under Lord Bird.
port were half masted. We owe the Amer
lean Hlldreth thanks for recording the fact
JRFFERsoS Az ANARCHIST.
Jefferson, Washlngtons secretary OF
state, was md still 10 popular idol This
mans character is difficult TO treat. Theirs
Is something enigmatic about his portrait,
which combines n body large and strong,
| Cited for craftsmanship and athletic cxer.
else, with face aoriewhat feminine, not to
say feline. As governor Of Virginia in the
war he had shown lack OF nerve, IL not OF
courage Few will maintain that he was
In an eminent degree truthful, straightfor.
ward, free from propensity to artifce and
intrigue Few will contend that he would
ever, like Hamilton, have brAved unpopu.
| lRrity in defense Of righteousness. His own
ana remain TO commute any Admirer who
claims for him freedom from malice OF
greatness OF soul He had unbouuded faith
In the people and never doubted the sue
cess OF tho great American experiment IL
democracy. There lay his strength.
1.-THE social current OF the age was with
him. Ho knew II and stendfastly guided
his course on the assumption that what
ever influences might prevail beneath tn,
lingering shadow OF the old dispensation
democracy would in the end prove yictorl
Gus and bear Its votarles ON TO success. In
tently he listened for the voice OF the popu
lar will, and surely he caught its ever,
whisper. His political philosophy seem,
| to have been summed up in the belief that
all evils having been the work Of govern
ment, tho less Of government there was tn
better. Thia, it has been said, stood hin
in the place OF religion. Anarchy itsel
was, or he could fancy that II was, prefera
bic 10 strong government lie let fall chi
rolns OF government before tho term OF hi
presidency had expired, and ho went int,
philos0phio retirement at Monticello
whence he returned no more II Is not tn
highest OF his titles TO fame in the eyes o
his eoantrymen, but It may not be the low
est In the court OF humanity, that no sacri
feed his popularity ia the attempt 70 nns
a bloodless substitute for war His mem