The times., 1899-12-15
FRIDAY, DECEMBER Is. 1899.
The Father of &c countrr.

The Father of His Country.
Unique. simple. and grand. the figure Of
George Washington stands in its eternal
niche in history's Pantheon. towering above
all within ii. As soldier. as scholar, or as
philosopher and statesman. he has had
peers, AID some superiors. As patriot,
self-sacrifcing and single-minded: as gen
eraI. making an army out of mob Of far
mers. hunters, and shopkeepers, and with
it waging successful war against the great
est power Of the Old World. as statesman.
able 70 steer sbaky and almost rudder-
less craft through the pillows and against
the gales Of faction at home. and enmity
abroad; as the noble citizen who could put
aside The offer Of crown. not only without
regret. but actually with righteous anger
that it should have been offered; as the
American Cincinnatus, dreaming in the
chair Of state Of his fields and focks and
pillow. and ever longing TO exchange the
sceptre and baton for the spade and prun-
ing hook; as officer, gentleman. legislator.
and President; above all, as liberator-as
ali these combined, The happy people who
owe to him in great part their position near
the close Of the nineteenth century as a
mighty world power, and their dominion
over a vast and rich empire. splendid,
fruitful. and pregnant with the promise Of
splendid achievements in the future, may
well challenge all humanity to show his
equal in this OF any other age among the
sons Of men.
There are characters which appear in the
annals Of the race, 50 greatly overshadow-
ing their fellows, so far ahead Of their
times, and so manifes;ly imbued with
wisdom referabIe neither to experience nor
10 the knowledge open to their generation,
that they seem TO have been supernaturaIly
inspired for the accomplishment Of their
missions. such an one was George Wash
iugton. CUT in the forest wilds Of what
IN his youth was The far west of the Virgin
ia borderlaud, TO this day the curious travel
e here and there may find giant tree.
clearly marked with his name and blaze,
as he made it the corner Of some land sur
vey years before he or anybody dreamed
Of a free America, and before the French
and Indian war. Who can think Of the tail,
Thin. silent provincial boy engineer tramp
ing almost alone a painless wilderness in
tested by wild beasts and wilder sayages;
and remember the magnificent destiny in
store for one SO simple and inconsplcuous,
without a sense Of awe, and wonder al the
strange processes and strategy Of Divine
Providence!
Yet little as one would be apt to think
It. the germ OF the great commander was
sprouung in the experience Of the humble
frontier land surveyors ayocation. And. q
Iitte later. the provincial colonel, watching
the wrong headed campaign and tactics Of
BraddocE, OF leading the sturdy rifemen OF
Virginia against the Indians. was rapidly
growing to the stature Of the general who
outwltted, outmaneuvred, outfought, and
fmmeasurably outclassed the best veterans
England could send against him.
II rare instances history presents 10 US
men who were equally great as soldiers,
statesmen. and administrators. julius Cae-
sar. Frederick the Great, and the first Ma
poleon each combined these qualities; but
lot one Of them we think in a greater de-
gree than did George Washington. and if
we were 10 consider the question Of motives
and purposes he would appear IN contrast
with the best Of them, as light to dark
ness. No lust OF personal empire, no
dynastic ambition, no insauate thirst for
uHbridled power marred his conduct or
scared his conscience, void Of offence to
mar and God. AS be was first in war, so
he was first in peace; the embodiment OF
political sagacity, stern and honest pur-
pose. and OF all the civic virtues. II we
p
the devotion, sacrifice, and military genius
Of Washington, our independence hardly
could have been achieved by armed revoIu-
ton, We are almost equally justified in
thinking that but for his calm and unfal-
tering confidence in the people be had
saved, and the unerring judgment with
which be held the helm through the dark
days after the war, and until the adoption
Of our present Constitution. the little,
weak, bankrupt confederation OF new born
States easily might have fallen in pieces, a
prey TO poverty and internal dissensions,
and TO the designs Of Jealous foreign pow
ers- In more than one critical period II
vas the serene greatness Of Washiugton's
sesourcefuI and practical mind and mature
judgment. supported by the answering
and universal faith Of the common people
IN hls wisdom aad integrity that ayerted