Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-02-23

characteristics Of the Great Leader Whe
Was Revsrsd BY AL
II there is one name more than an
other that stands out before the mind
Of the American boy, 1t Is that OF
George Washington. When the boy
beholds the nag Of his country flying
over him upon q day marking some
great national event, then does that
open face, its lines Of character clear
and strong and deep, the lips firm but
pleasant set, be seen as his eye
watches his banners every Dap. Not
the greatest man in war, perhaps,
when measured. by the Old World
Napoleonic standard, but In the re.
suits afterward obtained from war,
human liberty, and the creating Of .
nation, where at last the word Man"
might have its true Significance, and
king" mean the will Of consttn-
tional majorities, II results are the
measure, then certainly In this mans
labors is the worlds greatest greatness
found. Because he insisted that the
people should rule themselves, and
that he, at his highest, was but their
servant. Nor their servant In the
sense Of the demagogue, who lie the
cunning knave Of an insane master
when he voices the passion Of the
mob, but the diviner and translator OF
a peoples best thought In highest act.
For the first time In all history came
in Washington a military dictator
who refused to dictate.
For at one time In the Revolution.
ary struggle the Congress 80 clothed
with power the commander-in-chief OF
its army. 1t was done against the
teachings and light Of history, which
told what man had ever done In such
a situation-relegated to himself un-
limited power. As such then 1t was
a hazardous act But clear above the
thought Of self, or the glory Of am
bition, he stood, this man, George
Washington, his voice rising on the
storm and guiding and directing the
contest. Simple, democratic, pro-
found, his words ever measured to the
exigencies of the occasion, he en-
blazoned his name on history's page
as a man Of great and even calibre.
The stormy period Of the strife over,
the suspense that followed when
States, weakly connected and Of d.
verging interest, a. some of them IN
their nearness Of vision thought, pre-
sented yet further duties on a course
unlit by the experience Of the past.
Other men there were, renowned
orators, writer's who were with the
pen philosophers, men of genius, the
giants of a new and great age, but
they all turned to Washington, as the
man to stand above the rest In the
Inkt ktv.r ~
afterward under 1t when this new ex-
pertinent In representative self7gov-
ernment. the ship Of state was to
move out into the unknown waters.
Holding the high honor Of first citi-
zen for eight years he lays down all
with these words in his farewell ad-
dress, in which he tells his people to
be proud Of their title to nationality,
and that it is above all local pride.
"The name, American, which be-
longs to you in your national capacity,
must always exalt the just pride Of
patriotism more than any appellation
derived from local administration.
with slight shades of difference you
have the same religion, manners,
habits and political principles. You
fought and triumphed together; this
independence and liberty you possess
are the work Of just councils and just
efforts of a common tongue, suffer
ing and successes"
In this way did Washington admon.
ish against danger which came and
eliminated in great war. But when
that war passed, again across re-
united land, revered again, and hence
forth, let us hope, will be forever, the
name Of George Washington.