The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-02-24

a'E5|fi1E q PRAISE sz ss :; ;,s ;'S'
e lous exaggera-
tion, as George
Washing t on.
Having been represented as an orthodox
saint, as the incarnation of goody goody-
ism. so necessarily, natural reaction
was the result The carping, critical
public led the opposition after time
and began to sheer at and underrate his
memory. There never has been such a
parsonage, such creature, as George
Washington was portrayed. He was pre-
terhuman, he was absolutely perfect;
common sense people would not accept
him. Nevertheless, even century after
his death he is not at all understood by
any great number of his compatriots.
He has been so incrusted with tradi-
lions, SO overladen with theories, that
few glimpses of his native character
struggle into light.
The bulk of Americans today seem to
think that Washington was as popular
at his denomination for the presidency
as when first presented for the suffrages
of the newborn nation. They appear so
ignorant of their own history as not to
know that he then met with the intens-
est resistance; that he only consented
to stand again by the warmest persua-
sions of personal and political friends of
all parties. During the campaign he
was slandered and villified as much as
almost any presidential candidate has
been in later times. Within few years
he has been judged as if he were virtu-
ally one of our contemporaries. 1t has
been repeatedly said in disparagement
of him that he was an Erglishman who
CHANGED to be born in America. There
were no representative Americans that
saw the light here 100 years ago. They
could have been then little else than
geographical Americans. Washington
was one Of the genuine Americans Of
his day, one of the most advanced of his
period.
Stripping aside the prejudice for and
against the Father of His Country, as
he we'll deserved to be called, we are
enabled to see him as nature arrayed
him, and he looks and is the better, be-
cause the truer, for it. He never needed
any false adornments, any silver span
giles. He was an altogether natural, hu
man, harmonious, we'll balanced, most
remarkable man, particularly fitted to
the time. Above everything he was
practical.
The ultra pious have roundly abused
everybody who declined to admit that
Washington was not a strict Episco-
palian, regular church attendant and
communicate, severe Sabbatarian. But
the latest Investigations prove just the
contrary. Sunday was always the day
on which he wrote private letters, pre-
paid his invoices, entertained company,
closed land purchases, sold wheat and,
while a Virginia planter, went fox
hunting. Nevertheless, like most con-
scientious persons, he respected the
scruples of others in regard to the day.
When trying to get some servants, he
wrote, eff they be good workmen, they
may be Europeans, Asians, Africans,
Jews, Mohammedans, Christians of any
denomination or atheists" He was in
complete sympathy with the widest re-
ligious federation. Gouverneur Morris,
who was what was then held to be an in
fdel, was believed by Washington to
agree with him in creed. He threw his
influence in favor Of religion, often at
tended the Episcopal church and kept
his belief, if he had any, an inviolable
secret He was very much what thou
sands of the very best and most enlight-
ened men are everywhere today, the
very reverse of sectarian.
Albeit a slaveholder-he had, it is
said, 800 slaves, most of whom came to
him through his marriage with the
rich Widow Custis-he was never in
favor of slavery. He was ready when
ever the time was ripe to use his entire
influence against it. He may not have
had high opinion of negroes, but he
was always good, kind master.
Of moderate education, he was intel
ligent, observing. attentive, generous,
charitable, thrifty. In spite of occasion
al losses he was successful in business
When he died, his property was valued,
exclusive of his wife's and the Mount
Vernon estate, at $3.50, 900. He was,
like the Virginian Of his day, particu-
larly social and ever enjoyed his friends.
Grave and quiet in general company, he
was often gay, even jovial, with few
intimates. He relished lively converse
tion, though taking little part in it. He
often laughed, appreciated jokes, was
very fond of dancing and even of anna
teur theatricals. He was not at all cola,
formal, reserved, naughty, as represent
ed, though not, perhaps, genial or who'll
ly easy, which was outside of his tenn
permanent. He was always dignified,
careful of his dress-indeed in his early
life considered dandy.
AS Washington was made absurd by
all manner OF ch zap virtues he has been
charged from youth to his closing years
with overfondness for women, whicE
seems to be unfounded. No doubt he
had general liking for pretty women,