The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-22
sExrTLE. 7HURsDAr. FEB. 80.


TODAY is the anniversary OF the birth OF
George Washington. The fame OF Wash
iugton grows and giows with the lapse of
years. There was time when the sickly
notion was cultivated concerning WISH
ington that no YES a good man. pure
man, nm ineorruptihle. patriotic man
rather than either great soldier or great
statesman. The most recent and search
ing investigation of Washington's public
and private life makes 1t perfectly clear
that he was not only a very able soldier.
but by far the greatest statesman of his
time, with the possible exception Of Ben
jamin Franklin. and, measured by his
immense popular influence. which secured
the adoption of the Federal constitution.
Franklin.
Ii Is safe 10 say that few men compel
circumstances; they arc rather the crea-
ture OF circumstances. Napoleon Bona
pate, with all his genius. was after all but
the creature Of the French revolution. He
brought order out Of its chaos by Whit OF
grapeshot; he was the ''man on horse
hack" tina: was the logical successor of the
mailman on iac kass back; the anarchists
and Populists OF the reign of terror. He
YVES great military genius, who found
circumstances to his hand. aud success
fully awaited himself Of situation which
he did not create but or which he was the
creature. Ii was perfectly plain TO farsee-
ing political thinkers, like Edmund Burke,
that the French revolution, with its
"reign Of terror" would be succeeded by
1.-THE man on horseback; IL Il had not
been Napoleon IL would have been Ho.hs
or some other successful soldier. for the
reaction from the reign OF terror" with
fits nihilism. its rotten finance, its insecur-
ity TO life and property, was sure to wei
come the rule OF tern soldier. who, If a
despot. was at least sane and enlightened
statesman and man of business.
But our American Revolution never ran
into any excess OF anarchism or nihiiism,
and what our impoverished people needed
was not "a man on horseback" not q
man Of blood and iron, but man of i'm
mense force of character, pure patriotism
and unselfish love of popular liberty
under law, who Was so completely trusted
by the whole people that he could per-
suade various states 20 sink their sectional
jeaiousies and, under the Federal cousti-
tuition, make an harmonious effort to be-
come q nation. While il Is safe to say
that the brains of BENJAMIN Franklin are
the basis of the Federal constitution,
nevertheless IL is certain that the
adoption of this constitution by the
various states was secured by the i'm
mense personal influence of George Wash
sngfon. But for George Washington the
Federal constitution would have been re-
jeesed by Virginia since IL was originally
opposed by Patrick Henry and Rich
ard Henry Lee. washingion's influence
qnieted this opposition. and Il is safe to say
that bat Tor Washington the North and
the South would have never formed the
Union under the constitution, for even in
New York state IL was the influence OF
Washington. speaking through Hamilton.
that finally secured 1t. adoption by the
Empire state. liz was morally certain that
Washington was TO lie the first president;
the people North and South fully trusted
his patriotism. bis wisdom. his purity, his
unsslfishness. his judgment, his moral
courage and his powerful understand
Ing. His powerful personality secured
the adoption Of the Federal cons;itu-
ton when no other living American
could have obtained it, HIS eight year.
of presidential servies from i5Sg 10 1877
INCLUDED the tremendous shock OF the frs.
French revolution. Had it not been for
the immense personal influence OF Wash
ington our country would have bseu
dragged into either war with Eagland or
war With France. No less man than
Thomas Jefferson. nv his residence In
France. hal become iafected With Red
Republican" ideas. and when be returned
60 this country he successfully pgopasated
these heresses. Nothing but the fiEmue>s
o. Washington Kept US cat ~ war WITH
either France og England; nothing but
the wisdom Of Washington in the last year
o; his lsfe kept the state supremacy heresv
OF jefferson from gaining dangerous
ground among the people.
As long az Washington lived Thorn As
Jefferson was comparatively powerless 20
do his country mischief. bat from the iay
Of the death Of George Washington Thomas
Jefferson was the pe.itieAl evil genius eF
bis country. Ter Hamilton. NTH ali his
political genius, lacked the immense
weight ef pahg.c ard personal influence
that was always exercised by GEORGE
Washington. Washington Was enc Of
shakspeEre's hest men who are moulded
cut of faalts," he had naturally very
passionate temper and al isnpeEious vii ::
he Was a pugnaclous. lmpnlslv. man. bat
De vss man of conscience. prlnciple
justice and philanthropy. and from yoath
up he strove 10 rule bis temper ana re.
strain bis tongue. 50 ,Asi he acted in
ohsasenee 20 his very brosd, COO! sna
robust understanding rather thar ais no;
blood. he accomplished sis great work
ss statesman without va. g eeapss!e