The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-20
SOME RAMBLING THOUGHTS.
BY Memo"
copyrighted by Dave e Tabor3

(COpyr1ghteQ Dy DaWe 1dDoF.J
AS to Washington: Speaking with
csrtain amount of reserve, it is gener-
ally true that our understanding Of an
event in it's relation to other events is
increased by distance. For instance,
let me suggest that we understand the
voyage of the Mayfiower, the settle
ment of Massachusetts, the expulsion
Of Roger Williams. the migrations
westward from Virginia and New Eng
land-all these things, in their rela-
tons to other events and in their ef-
fects much better than did the actual
participants. So also of men. In the
case of really great ones 1t needs
century almost to measure their works
and to strip them of any false glamor
of praise or gloom of blame. AS with
a General in the hands of his valet,
those in, constant association with the
great feel too often that clothes and
chance make the hero; or if they do
see greatness in their admired one, they
fail 10 see any detractions from his
holiness, for both love and friendship
are blind (many of us can thank for
tune for that, or else we had been reck-
oned as naught long ago..
BY reason Of the Investigations Of the
later students of Washington, we are
now ready to concede that many OF
the violent assaults upon his charac-
ter and unreasonable during his life
time and shortly thereafter-were I'M
generous and unfounded. Thanks also
to the candor of modern historians, we
can now see further that he was by no
means a demi-god striding along on
lofty mountain tops, but humble. un-
assuming ordinary citizen, whose de-
votion to his cause made up full often
for the scampering, runaway hghung
that he was obliged to resort TO- we
see that few Of the startling victories
of the Revolution were gained by him.
We also see that his Fabian policy.
here one day and away the next, but
scarcely ever venturing on pitched
battle. wore out the enemy by igno-
minious fiounderings rather than by
armed resistance. His greatness was
more in his noble courage in clinging
to an endangered cause. in the face of
the mutterings and discomfort of many
Of the influential people, who. like the
loyalsts of Cuba at the present mo-
ment. were a most serious influence
TO combat
washington, the Reconstructor, is far
greater to the mind of man Of peace
like myself than Washington, the Rev
olutionist Then his calm mind, freed
from the blood and hustle Of the bat
tlefeld. rose 10 its highest. Made
commander of men by the trumpet
call Of patriotic duty, he remained q
commander of men after the turmoil
was over His genius was in the Sc
lection Of advisers. in the judicial cast
OF mind that weighed the pro and con
most carefully, in the power-shared
by many of his compeers-of seeing
into the future, so that we who are
now almost ready to turn the corner
of another century. are forced to mar
vel al the foresight of a group of men.
who so admirably laid ~. foundations
of a western empire that the strain of
unexampled expansion has never yet
succeeded in reuding asunder the work
they cemented with their wounds, their
lives and their sacred honor.
More glorious than war are the VIC
tories of peace. The sweeping out or
wearing out OF enemies, remarka BILE