The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-15

spect we now see that the death Of
Washington at any time between 1875
and 1897 would have changed the des-
tiny and delayed, if not destroyed, the
development of this nation. The con-
spiracy of Conway was to make Gates
Commander-in-chie and time has
proved that Gates was vainglorious in
competent, under whose leadership the
revolution would have collapsed
when peace and independence were
assured, the victorious army encamped
at Newburgh in sullen discomfort 1t
was ragged, hungry, and suffering from
long arrears of pay. 1t had little re-
spect for the Congress which was so
Indifferent to it's services and its wants.
Under the leadership of a popular SOL
der, who became in after years Secre-
tary of War, it placed the dictatorship
before Washington. There were in
the past an unbroken line of great. Cap
tains who, in the hour of such tempta-
ton, had surrendered patriotism to
ambition General less loved would
have been set aside on refusal and
another chosen Washington, by
speech and example, lifted his COM
rades above their sufferings and anger
to loyal devotion for the republic which
had been won by their valor, and es-
tablished for all time the only princi-
pie on which a free government can
exist, the subordination of the military
to civil authority.
From the evacuation of New York
by the British in 1888 until the adop-
ton of the Constitution in 1873 were
the trial years of representative gov
eminent. The Continental Congress
was without authority to meet the nee
essities of the young confederacy, and
the jealousies of the colonies threat
ened chaos and ruin. 1t was Washing
ton who summoned the conference
which resulted in the calling of the
convention to frame a Constitution.
That body, sitting with closed doors.
Its members full of local prejudices and
antagonistic views. the fierce passions
OF sectional strife surging about it's
place of meeting, must create institu-
tons which would meet the critical
conditions of the hour, and have elias
ITCHY and expansiveness enough for
the growth and development of a re-
public of continental area and vast
population.
When the Constitution was perfect
ed a new and noval form of govern
ment was presented to a wondering
and skeptical world. No King. no
aristocraey, no classes. no State church.
a Supreme Court which could declare
void Acts of Congress, DEGREES of the
President, and laws of the several
States; paramount Federal power, with
the sovereignty of the States. aroused
incredulity at home and contempt
abroad The large colonies feared loss
OF influence and the small ones loss of
independence. Washington called upon
his comrades of the Continental army
and MS associates in revolutionary con-
ventions to save liberty by union. In
the convention of each State his name
and influence We're potent with weak
or wavering delegates. Washington.
1avorlng the adoption of the Consti-
tuition, carried eleven States for it's
ratification. and the election of Wash
1ngton as first President of the United
States brought in the other two Thus
for the third time was he the savior
of his country
No patriot ever accepted a great
office so reluctantly. Upon him rested
the gravest responsibility ever imposed
on ruler. To build a nation out of
chaos and to hold up and hold together
the young republic until stable foun-
dations could be laid under it, was the
gigantic task of Washington The
waves of party passions surged against
him, intrigues and conspiracies were