The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-02-23


new; and of all the myriads engaged in the vast
contest to leave the prize Of the greatest fame
with him who struck the first blow!"
The author works out the details OF
Washington's career in the course of
the story and leaves it to two Of his
characters, George Warrington, an
able, high minded Tory, and his broth
er Harry, n patriot close to Wash
ington, to bear him out in the tribute
which stands at the portal of the
structure Speaking of Washington
when at the zenith, Warrington the
Tory says
"What a consiancy, what a magnanimity. what
a surprising pcrsstenoy against tortunel Wash
ington before the enemy was no better or drawer
than hundreds that fought with him or against
him (who has not heard the sneers against Fabi-
US in which his iactious captains accus.
toned 10 indulge, but Washington, the chief Of
a nation in arms, doing battle with distracted
partios calm in the midst Of conspiracy, serene
against the open foe before him and the darker
enemies at his back; Washington inspiring order
and spirit into troops hungry and in rags; stuug
by ingrattude, but beuuyiug no anger and ever
ready TO forgive; in defeat inyncible. magnani-
nous in conquest and never sublime as when
he laid down his victorious sword aud sought his
noble rctrcmcnt-hcre indeed is a character to
admire and revere life without a stain, a fame
without flaw. Quando inycnies parem2 (Where
will the equal be found0 In that more extern
siye work which | have planned and partly writ
ten upon the subject OF the great war | hope
have done justice to the character OF its greatest
leader, And this from the sheer force OF respect
which his eminent virtues eXtortcd. With the
young Mr. Washington Of my own days had not
the honor to enjoy much sympathy, though my
brother, whose character is much more frank and
anectionate than mine, always his fast friend
In carly times, when they equals, in the
latter days when the general, as / do own and
think, was all manlind's superior
Ellis great and surprising triumphs," con-
tinues George Warrington's eulogy, "were not In
thoS rare engagements with the enemy where he
obtained trihing mastery, but over congress,
over hunger and disease, over lukewarm friends or
smiling foes in his camps whom his spirit
had to meet and master. When the struggle was
over and our impotent chiefs who had conducted
1t began to squahble and accuse each other In
their own defense before the nation, what charges
and countercharges were brought, what pretexts
OF delay were urged, what piteous excuses were
put forward that this feet arrived too late, that
regiment mistook its orders that these cannon
balls would not At those guns and SO TO the end
OF the chapter Here was a general who beat us
with no shot at all at times and no powder and
no money, and he never thought OF a convention.
His courage never captulated. Through all the
doubt and darkness, the danger and long tempest
| VI WAL 1 lhlhK IL was only the American lead
er's indomitable soul that remained entirely
steady"
While Washington was being dis
cussed among company OF noted
Virginians, Harry Warrington spoke
of his bearing in the crisis brought
about by the Infamous Conway con-
splracy.
"And it was here" said he, ''as looked at
| the chief talking at night in the silence OF the
camp and remembered how lonely he was, what
an awful responsibility he carried, how spies and
traitors were eating out OF his dish and an enemy
lay in front OF him who might at any time over
power him, that thought; Sure, this is the
greatest now in the world. And what =
wretch am to think OF my jealouses and annoy
ances whilst he is walking serenely under his i'm
msnss caresl' "
To this George Warrington the Tory
responded 1--WE talked but now
of Wolfe. Here, indeed, Is a greater
man than Wolfe. To endure is greater
than to dare. Who can say this is not
greatness or show the other Epglish-
man who has achieved so muchT