The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-04
IL.

taken by him Of Washington's statesmanship
does not tally with that preferred by his cortem-
pornTics, or by many Subsequent historians. That
he was II great man fow had vcrturcd to deny
until the Anpopularity OF some ut tho leading
measures OF hts two administrations Embossed
upon him tho Republican press. Prof. Trent
suggests that his contemporaries, great and
small alike, were too near him to DO able to per-
celve tho ideal OF the splendid character of
his craftsmanship. Many of them, certainly
Jefferson aud Hamilton, had no doubt Of
their own ability to manage the ncwGovcrnmcnt,
and could point to their own services us
Indispensable to tho nal who gavo his
name 10 tho Administration. But tho author
rcntnds MS that no statesman has ever yet
be en- entirely independent OF subordinates. and
that one OF tho best tests OF craftsmanship is
capacity 20 nso mcr and circumstances In tho
interests of the nation and of humanity. Tried
by this test, Washington il practically above
censurc. lie kept jefferson and Hamilton In his
nnccd them admirably. and was not afraid OF
either of them John Randolph appreciated
lhis fact. and gavo expression TO 1t in n passage
OF u spcrch on "Rctrenchmcnt and Reform"
which is quoted in the book before us: "Who
believes that Washington could write as good a
book or report as Jefferson. or make as
able a speech as Hamilton Who Is there that
believes that Cromwell would have made
ms good n Judge ms Lord Halei NJ,
sir. These learned and accomplished men
find their proper place under those who are 1T
tod to command, and to conlmand them among
the rest. such n man as Washington will say TO
u Jefferson. DO yoa become my Secretary OF
State; to Hamilton. DO you take charge o: my
purse, or that OF the nation, which is the same
thing; to Knox, DO You be my master of tho
horse" In our authors opinion. it Is also to
Jetfcrson's lasting credit that he persisted in re-
garding Washington us II great man, although
one who yielded to tho effects OF old nge when he
relied. AT the last. on Hamilton. Prof. Trent
believes Jefferson to have been sincere in his
admiration for Washington; and that 1t was
cxtorted from him IL pronounced n browning
proof OF Washlngton's greatness. 1t is
acknowledged. OF course. that our first Prcsi-
dent was not so astutc as Tallcyrand or so quick
as Napoleon: he had not Hamilton'5 mastery OF
finance. or Jctrcrson's philosophic sweep OF in.
~tellcct: but he had what none OF these men had,
wisdom. II does not require wisdom TO manage
the Treasury. Or to conduct a department Of
foreign affairs. but II docs require wisdom 10
steer tho whole bark Of Stale successfully.
How far was Washington distinctivcly South
erni This is an interesting question. The reply
given by the author Is that by birth and many
OF his ways he was plainly Virginian and
Southern. yet in his craftsmanship one cannot
find anything markedly sectional about him.
His personal habits were in many respects those
OF a Virginia planter. yet he was rs thrifty as IL
he had been born in Connecticut. He WAS hospit-
able. and yet he was reserved. An agriculturist,
he looked after the interests Of commcrce;
n stakeholder from necessity. he, never
theless, abhorred the institution. Prof.
Trent has been able to learn OF no in
stance in which sectional feelings disturbed
his iInpartiality, nor can Il single Southern or
Virginian statesman he mentioned with whom
he can be grouped. One reason OF this Is pointed
out in the book before us. namely. that he was
that rara arts in those days. n self-mado Vir-
ginian; for Washington. in his early years. was
thrown largely on his own rcsourcos. This was
not the case with the other great Nirginians OF
the Revolution. save Patrick Henry: and Henry's
career showed traces of tho shiftlcsSucss that
nearly always accompanied Virginian poverty.
Washington, then. was always something more
than IA Nirginian or u SOuthernor. He
has always belonged to America and tho
nation; yet Prof. Trent admits that he could
scarcely have developed all tho features OF his
rounded character anywhere else than in tho
Virginia OF the eighteenth century. When all
is said. however, Washington is still an I'M.
known man. He stood and stands in lonely cle-
walton. Although the mass OF his fellow coun-
trymcn loved him, they dill not know him, and
ours, set on by thoughtless men, even dared to
bark at him. We do not know him yet, but 10
not, asks our author. this very ignorance OF
Washington that remains to us after all our
study OF his character and his career, n crown
ing proof of his lofty genius Tho lesser men of
history wo know, but who knows or compre-
hcnds the great oncsl