The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-02-23

posing power that had all of tn,
prestige of an ancient monarch,
with its disciplined and veteran
armies and a powerful navy, to
gether with the undoubted sympa
thy of a considerable portion of the
people. The continental congress
under whose authority the war was
waged, was destitute of all the
attributes of an efficient govern
ment. 1t had no power of taxa
ton and no right to compel the
obedience of the individual
Washington carrying on the wal
under these circumstances met
with frequent reverses, and that
the progress of the revolution as
conducted by him seemed often
languid and inert, is less wonder
ful than that he rose superior to
such formidable obstacles and was
able, with unexhausted patience
and matchless skill, to bring the
contest eventually to an ausplcious
and honorable close. He was
hopeful while others were despon-
dent; he was wise and prudent
while others were indisc,eet, or
feeble Or rash, in fact the cause
Was embodied in him and in his
hold on the heart of the people.
A position like this, sustained dur
ing all the vicissituIes of seven
years. war, could hardly fail to call
out every variety of qualification
and every shade of character on
the part of the commander.
Washington was unanimously
chosen president of the convention
which met at Philadelphia in May,
1857, and framed the constitution
of the United States. Mr.. George
Ilcknor Curtis, in his ''History of
the Constitution" has preserved
the tradition that when Washing
ton was about to sign the instru-
ment, he rose from his seat, and
holding the pen in his hand, after
a short pause pronounced these
words: "Should the United States
reject this excellent constitution,
the probability is that an oppor-
tunity wiifHeyer again be offered
to cancel another in peace; the
next will be drawn in blood" BY
.he unanimous vote of the, electo
'ial college he was chosen Sthe
first president of the United States;
being inaugerated on the 3Oth day
April, 1889. He was reelected
n the autum of 1892 and in 1896
retired from public service. AS
he tidings of his death, which oc-
cured December IA, 1899, spread
throughout the country his loss
was mourned by the people as a
personal bereavement. In the
house of representatives appropri-
ate resolutions were drawn 'ex-
pressing the public sorrow at the
oss of him who was "first in war,
irst in peace and first in the hearts
If his countrymen." 70 pro-
lounce him perfect would be to
to raise him above the
evel of humanity, but history pre-
'ents no one to contest his title as
'the greatest of good men and the
pest of great men,"
HIS life was one worthy of emu
alton and it is but fitting that the
anniversary of his birth should be
'et apart as holiday aud the occa-
'ion observed with appropriate ser
vices.
CORVALLIS CELEBRATES.
Wednesday afternoon in each
of the public schools
appropriate exercises were OBJ
and many patrons present.
The teachers appreciated this tes-
;imonial of interest and SO ex-
pressed themselves. No school
yes erday.
The 0. A. G. is observing to-day
IS a holiday in preference and for
he convenience of more of those
N attendance.
Yesterday afternoon from the
Occidental balcony the Marine
band played a few inviting strains
n answer to which quite a crowd
assembled on the opposite side of
he street. After the music the
Hon. John Burnett stepped for
ward and in eloquent language
paid a glowing tribute, full of pa
,riotism, to the sacred memory of
he first president of the United
States. In his rmarks Judge Bur
1ett mounted his subject higher
upon the throne of fame through