The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-15

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| great characters. who In their cou'i-
| fry's peril emerged from retirement spsen-
didly equipped champions Of our nag ana
its cause. Although = peaceful and .
psaceabls nation. the United States - N
very truth this land OF the free and the
home Of the brave"
Ancient times have paid homage 70
Alexander. Caesar. Scipio. Hannibal ana
otherz: modern Europe to Frederick the
Great. Napoleon, Wellington. Nelson and
whole line Of heroes, and America IN
her brief span, numbers her great war
r.ors by the opportunities presented.
Some Of the greatest battles Of modern
times have crimsoned the plains. mountain
tops and valleys OF this free land. Live
there in history greater names than those
Of Grant, Sherman. Sheridan. Farragut.
or Les. Johnstoa and Ssonewan jackson?
These simply represent type OF our re-
sources In men and genius afforded by
this wonderfully prolific nat.on-one that
contains men eQua, 10 every emergency
known to human intellect. Such are in
digenous 10 the soil!
Yet with this knowledge before them
some people wonder whether our army
and navy win be properly Differed when
the issue between freedom and despofism.
between the United States and Spain. is
tired in the fiery furnace OF war.
In every emergency Involving the better
ment OF the condition OF our people: In
every one that has arisen affecting the
great underlying principles Of free gov
eminent, and In every exigency where
either the establishment OF the country
upon q firm and enduring bass. or even
when the perpetuity OF the nation has been
In jeopardy, in seasons OF distrust and
keen anxiety. when success seemed doubt
ful and the stars In our country's sky
shcne with uncertain giimmer, there have
arisen. generally from obscurity. repre-
sentative men. well equipped by force OF
character and intellect. who with tongue.
pen or sword have promoted the best in
terests OF the country and have been In
strumental In extending Its usefulness.
This Ii the verdict OF history. Hence no
other nations has as great tranquility and
90 little Nnx.ety when great questions in-
ffuencing our destiny confront US, for in
times OF extreme peril We expect. as .
matter OF course some David to step
out OF the ranks and with his sling and
pebble overcome the enemy. For every
opportunity someone waits. fully armed,
to seize upon It. thus agreeing with
shakespeare that
There's tide in the affairs of men.
which, taken at the flood.
Leads on to fortunew
1t was both heroism and patriotism that
prompted the immortal signers of the
Declaration OF Independence to affix their
signatures to that precious heirloom of
freedom. In an old drama, in which the
great tragedian, Edwin Forrest, played
the character Of Metamora, the Indian
chieftain, the red man strobe rapidly
upon the stage and In an angry tone ex-
claimed: You have sent for me. j am
here. II you don't want me / will go
back to my wigwam!
That has been, IN nearly every case. the
experience OF the great men whose fame
and heroic deeds adorn American history.
Perhaps Herbert Spencer better explains
why men heretofore in the background
and unknown to fame rise, mefeor-like,
from almost noihingness to great promi-
hence, and thenceforth rank among types
of representative men. when he declares
that the eagerness for the honor accord
ed to success. first In war and then in
commerce. has been Indispensable as
means OF peopling the earth with th>
higher types OF man and the subjuga-
ton of its surface and force to human
use.'
This truism is implanted In the career
OF the Father OF His Country-washing-
ton-who In the galaxy OF great intel
lectual giants that surrounded him in
THE days that tried mems souls" he was
easily like Paul among the prophets
head and shoulders above them ALL" No
writer has been able to thoroughly analyze
the reason why in that great crisis, during
the birth pangs of che American nation,
at the very outset the virginian should
have appeared greater than his coadjutors,
for his experience In battle had been con-
fined exclusively to fighting the un,utored
American Indian In the. Braddock and
other campaigns in which there was but
little. IL any. opportunity to demonstrate
what Is popularity denominated the "sci-
ence OF war; 1t would appear that
Washington's prominence was due, un-
questionably, TO the fuliness OF his we'll
rounded character. both civil and MIL
tary, for In war. as well as in peace, his
rank. like Abon Ben Adhem's name,
leads all the rest for he was ''firs. in
war, first In peace and first in the hearts
OF his countrymen."
In another great emergency in the life
OF the nation there arose fuli-fiedged
American who was fully equipped for the
trials and tribulations which encompassed
Us. So stepped forth from the stiffness
Of his Tennessee home ''Old Hickory"
who at New Orleans taught Great Britain
another lesson In American valor. and
Jackson was the right man In the right
place when Calhoun advocated his nuili-
ncation schemes. Both on land and sea,
whenever a grave necessity has arisen
and a capable leader was required there
has never been from the American people
cali In vain. The brightest pages IN
our history are those wherein are recorded
the achievements Of our great men-men
unknown to fame and slightly regarded
among their fellows. until an emergency
arose and the golden opportunity was
seized with q strong grasp. II Is one OF
the blessings of our free institutions which
holds us as hooks OF steel in one great
brotherhood. that the freeman. no mat
ter how humble his origin or his avoca-
tion. can rise above his surroundings and
carve his name high on the scroll of fame.
II he contains within himself the essen
iiais OF greatness
.'Some men are born great. others have
greatness thrust upon them. says the
philosopher. There Is no greater exempii-
ncation of the truism that greatness cam
NOT be concealed. or Ike a light hidden
under hushel. than here in this great
land OF possibilities. Nearly all the men
who have occupied the presidential office
sprang fom humble origin. and through
force Of character. by painful drudgery.
by seif-deniai. coupled with indorntab!e
will, self-ressraint and fixidi.y OF purpose.
where principles were right hewed Their
way through almost insurmouniabIe OBJ
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