Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-02-21

Of history and literature-even of poll
tics-he knew but little His mind did
| not, as did Napoleon's and Frederick's,
sweep around great landscapes and rise
| to mountain heights. 1t did not flash
with vivid gleam into the obscurities of
unsolved things, but chose rather to
brood patiently over commonplace and
present aspects, deducing therefrom their
meaning and value.
Washington's information also was al
ways limited and was supplied mostly
by the agency of others - relied upon
others rather than ON his own diligence
In gaining knowledge of facts. Such
was the nature of the man that he drew
to him the most efficient help of many
industrious and capable workers. They
gathered around him with extreme fidel-
lty and served him with affection and
confidence. Some of these were older
than himself in years. Not few con-
sidered themselves more brilliant. Some
thought themselves more ardent patriots.
But such was the situation and such the
personality of the leader that he COM
manded a great and faithful following
among the ablest of his countrymen. In
such cases 1t appears that society seeks
and finds some average intellect capable
of carrying out Its mandates, and having
found it flies thereto with all complaints
and troubles and griefs, confident of OBJ
tanning the needed solution and rescue.
1t was not the Washingtonian mind
that is, the intellectual ability-of the
great first president that gave to him his
fame and immortality. 1t was his char
acter. The character of Washington is,
without doubt, the most exemplary and
high that we have known in our Ameri-
can annals. Aye, more; it is the best
that is known in history. 1t is still easily
first, even after the age of Lincoln. There
is a certain wholeness and unsullied
brightness about the public character of
the Father of His Country that surpasses
belief and realization. Here for more
than century the gaze of biographers,
historians and critics has been fixed upon
him, but they have found no blot or flaw
his character is absolutely fawless. His
truthfulness was as invariable as the law
Of gravitation. 1t is strongly probable
that as child and boy and man he never
told an untruth in his life. It is also
probable that this cannot be said of any
other American.
His honesty was equally unassailable. |
Not the slightest touch of intrigue or
double dealing has ever been discovered
in the man from the first to the last. In |
one case he makes charge against the |
government of e5, expended in sending |
a spy into the enemy's lines for in
formation. For prudential reasons he |
makes the entry without giving the name
OF the person sent on the dangerous mis- |
sion. After some time he forgot the |
name and could not recall it, At the |
bottom he says, after an asterisk: "This
expense was incurred in sending mes
senger into the enemy's lines. The name
was not given lest he might be discov-
cred. 1 deem it just, therefore, since l
cannot recall the name, to charge the
sum to myself" To this day the gov
ernment of the United States is indebted
to the heirs of Washington for the sum
paid to his unknown spy.
Washington was as honest as he was
truthful. Perhaps the two things go to-
gether. Perfect sincerity was also an
ingredient in his character. In straight
forward dealing the record does not
show him ever to have deviated a hairs
breadth from the perfect line. He seems
never to have been once in his life en-
gagged in a dubious transaction. In fact,
by the time he reached his maturity his
reputation for integrity was so well es-
tablished and the severity of his manner
so well known that none burst approach
him with the suggestion of the doubtful
thing.
The marvellous fact about this great
character was, and is, that it surrounded
itself with a sort of sacred circle within
which no profane thing could enter.
Corruption came not near him. All in
trigue stood aloof and few back from his
countenance. Insincerity was driven
away by the wind of his presence. There :
was something august, really magnif-
cent, in the serene majesty of Washing
tons face and expression. He was look
ed upon with awe, not only by his init
mate friends and the public men of the |
epoch, but by all the people. In the lat
ter years of his life there was virtual
unanimity with respect to the elevation,
strength and perfection of his character.
This is said in particular of his public
life, the record of which shows a COM
pleteness as singular as it is glorious.
Another marked attribute of Wash
ington was his dignity. This was in
nate and was also developed by the vi d,
cissitudes and surroundings of his life.
No other man of American birth has
equaled him in dignity. His personal
bearing was superb. Though by no
means vain in anything, Washington was
proud to degree. So severe
and unrelenting were his aspect and
manner as to make him the most unap-
proachable figure of modern history. No
man had the hardihood to approach him {
with freedom and familiarity. In his /
whole life he never had friend who
ventured upon familiar manners with
him. He kept all aloof, not indeed of n
purpose and intent, but by the inborn L
and unrelenting severity of his counte- +
nance and pose. r
As illustrative of the awe which Wash
ngton inspired and of the restraint
which he enforced upon all in inter- ~
course, the story may be repeated of the
wager which was made and won among Il
'ome high officials at one of the recep-
ions of the first chief magistrate. 1t
was in New York. The reception was
IN, and the guests were coming in.
Washington stood after his dinner at one a
md of the hall. His expression was lofty +
md serene. Some members of the cabi-
let, military officers and others con-
7ersed in an animated way, referring to
he matchless dignity of the president.
A dispute arose, and wager of e5 y
vas laid that Hamilton would not dare .
o indulge in an act of familiarity with q
he president. The secretary of the treas
Try, brilliant and audacious as he always
vas, was called up and informed of the
wager. He hesitated to make the trial n
o. those who had complimented him ii
With the bet, but at length consented to N
10 so. Shortly afterward, while all were r.
him intently, he went forward
0 pay his compliments to Washington,
aid his hand upon his shoulder familiar
and said, MY dear general, how well $
1