The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-14
FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY.
, HUNDRED YEARS FROM THE
DEATH OF WASHINGTON.

Points of Interest.
Pine Crest Villa, Maitland, Fla, Dec. 10. |
Tomorrow, from Maine to California |
t7e booming of cannous, the ringing OF |
tsJs. the flying of flags at half-mast and
,.,bIic services of a memorial character
s,.erywhere, will pay centennial tribute to
,ba immortal Father of His Country"
.f whom it has been said with historic
-rIlth. that he was first in war, first in
n4ace and first in the hearts of his coun-
trvmen." And now, after a century of
time has rolled away, and numerous
btoodv wars have given the nation score
of illustrious heroes on land and sea, a
grateful people, the descendants of the
brave men of the revolutionary period,
mite on this centennial of his death to
nav due honor 10 his memory.
But my purpose in this epistle is simply
IN touch upon one feature of Washington's
military character that has not been fully
made known nor duly appreciated. When
he closed his military career by making
the colonies a free and independent peo-
i,re and then helped to form them into the
erandest republic the world has ever seen,
he had it in his power to become a mill
tarv dictator Yet he put aside all selfish
ambition and became the leader and adj
wiser of his people, accepting from them
FIN modest manner the Office of first
President of the new republic. As in CO.
lonial days, so now he became the SUI
preme commander of the military forces
nj the nation, and its navy as well as
ruler of its civil affairs. He was there
fore. the first American to show to the
world that a great military commander
NAV also combine in his exalted character
the elements of wise and unambitious
statesman, and being first in war;" also
became first in peace"
There can be no question that Wash
ington was the most illustrious of our mill
itarv heroes from civil life. While he
had no military education such as is given
at West Point and in the state military
institutes of the present day, he had pre-
pared himself in early youth for the duties
of a surveyor or engineer, and after de-
clining a midshipman's appointment in
the royal navy on his mothers account,
he became a surveyor in 174S of the lands
of Lord Fairfax on the Potomac. Three
wears later he was appointed military in
epector with the rank of major, for the
protection of the Virginia frontier from
French and Indian raids. Next he was
adjutant general, then lieutenant colonel
and lastly aide-de-camp to Gen. Braddock,
thus step by step preparing himself to
become commanderin-chief of the Virginia
forces in 1855, which he resigned three
years later. His marriage followed the
next year, and until 1775 he was a states
man, closing this civic career as men,
Der of the Second Continental Congress,
after varied and responsible duties of the
highest character, well and wisely per-
formed.
Thus had Washington made himself IA
miliar not only with military but civic
matters, so that when, in 1775, he became
The commander-in-chiefo of the continental
armies ne was fully prepared to act with
a clear conception of what was to be done
to secure the freedom of the colonies and
the establishment of an Independent re-
public in their stead. So great was the
confidence reposed in him that Congress
DID not hesitate to confer upon him the
unlimited powers of a dictator Nor was
That confidence misplaced, for after all
his victories had been won, and he stood
forth the worlds greatest military hero
he modestly sheathed his sword and, on
Dec. %, 1888, atthe age of 81 years. gave
back to Congress the military commission
IL had honored him with. Again he re-
sumed the duties of a statesman and pre-
sided over the august convention that
formed the constitution of the United
States, of which he became first and sec
ohd President, retiring to private life at
the end of his second term. after giving
the people a most tender and appreciated
farewell address.
with this hasty review of his military
ana clvil career up to his retirement,
come TO that period in his life which de-
Neioped the grandest example of modest.
tnselhsh patriotism the world has ever
witnessed. Washington had closed a long
and active career, both as a warrior and
d statesman, and he needed the rest and
quiet due such a man a. IS years of age.
now he viewed this retirement is best
eApained in his own words, as they show
now complete and radical was this self
imposed retirement:
Under the shadow of my own vine and
my own fg-tree, free from the hustle of
camp and the busy scenes of public life.
am solacing myself with those tranquil
eHJoyments of which the soldier who is
ever IN pursuit of fame, the statesman,
whose watchful days and sleepless nights
are spent in devsing schemes to promote
me welfare of his own. perhaps the ruin
oil other countries, as if the globe was in
Sulnclent for us all, and the courtier who
Is always watching the countenance of his
prince in hopes of catching a gracious
smile. can have very little conception. I
nave not only retired from all public en-
Poyments, but 1 am retiring within my
sell, and shall be able to view the solitary
walk, and tread the paths of private life,
with a heartfelt satisfaction. Envious
OF none | am determined to be pleased
WIN an; and, this being the order of my
march, I will move gently down the
stream Of life until I sleep with my ia
Tiers"
Notwithstanding this declaration Of
nus purpose to go into complete retirement,
ne again responded to the urgent call Of
me President 10 reenter the military SER
wee Of his country. What a grand spec
'acle' Here was a venerable soldier and
statesman, spending his few declining
years in much desired rest and retire
ment putting out of sight the highest mil
nary and civic honors the nation could
grant TO any man, and modestly AMI I'M
te.hshly coming out of that honored re-
uIement TO accept military rank lower
,nsh that which he last held in the army,
ana title that gave him as commander
m-emet less power than he possessed
NhAe President No hero and statesman
oi any nation has ever presented such an
uus'rous example of unselfsh patriotism
and submission to the call of duty. In
u'' when trouble with France appeared
popaole, President Adams felt that even
me name of Washington would prove
"elWark," and a rampant against the