Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-02-22

These were nearly always vexed with his
slowness and want Of enthusiasm.
Washington's attainments were never
vast or varied. They were not even
large. His limited education was not
REINFORCED. as in the case of Lincoln,
with intensive study. He was capable
of serious thought and careful analysis,
but the subject matter of his thinking
was men and affairs-particularl af-
fairs. He was able to judge and to meas
ure, but not highly capable Of learning.
Of history and hterature-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 fash
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. He 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-
ity and served him with affection and
confidence. Some Of these were older
than himself in years. Not a 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 great and faithful following
among the ablest Of his countrymen.s In
such cases it 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 ofIob-
tanning the needed solution and rescue.
1t was not the Washingtonian mind
that is, the intellectual ability-ofl 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 blotor flaw
his character is absolutely hawless. 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. 1t 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: 'sThis
expense was incurred in sending mes
senger into the enemy's lines. The name
was not given lest he might be discov-
cred. deem it just, therefore, since
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