Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-22

new; and of all the myrads 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
CT Harry, patriot close to Wash
,lgton, 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 constancy, what magnanimity, what
a surprising persstency against fortunel 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 factious captains were accus-
toned to indulge, but Washington, the chief OF
a nation in arms, doing battle with distracted
parties; 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; stung
by ingratitude, but betraying no anger and ever
ready to forgive in defeat invincible, magnani-
nous in conquest and never SO sublime as when
he laid down his victorious sword and sought his
noble retirement-here indeed is a character to
admire and revere, a life without stain, fame
without flaw. Quando invenies parem? (Where
will the equal be foundO In that more extern
sive work which l 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 extorted. 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
affectionate than mine, was always his fast friend
in early times, when they were equals, as in the
latter days when the general, as | do own and
think, was all manknd's superior.
Ellis great and surprising triumphs," con-
tinues George Warrington's eulogy, 'were not in
those rare engagements with the enemy where he
obtained tri1ing mastery, but congress,
over hunger and disease, over lukewarm friends or
smiling foes i'll his own camps whom his spirit
had to meet and master When the struggle was
over and our impotent chiefs who had conducted
it began to squabble 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 fit 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 capitulated Through all the
doubt and darkness, the danger and long tempest
of war, think it only the American lead
er's indomitable soul that remained entirely
steady"
While Washington was being dis
cussed among a company of noted
Virginians, Harry Warrington spoke
of his bearing in the crisis brought
about by the Infamous Conway con-
spiracy.
"And 1t 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 eating out OF his dish and an enemy
lay in front OF him who might at any time owe
power him, that thought: Sure, this is tn,
greatest man in the world And what
lretch am to think of my jealousies and ammo
ances whilst he is walking serenely under his i'm
mense cares! "
To this George Warrington the Tory
responded: I'VE 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 English
man who has achieved SO much?"