Amador ledger., 1900-02-23
A TRIBUTE 70 washington
Anniversary Of Washing
toms Birthday.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY
The Great Debt of Gratitude We, As
An Independent Nation, Owe
to Him.

1t is but two months more than
hundred years since the ''Father
OF His Country passed into
eternity to receivet reward
greater than any mortal of this world
could give. The name of Washinpton
is known to nearly every man, woman
and child in the world, and when that
name is whispered, name sacred to
all Americans, the very soul is thrilled
as we hear it; the name of he, who.
with the simplicity of a child. vet,
with a determination, strengthened
by his great faith in the Almighty, Or
ganized and led nation through CORY
battlefields to victory, inspired by the
emblem carried in their ranks, that of
liberty, victory with a deeper mean
ing than any other victory ever won
on this great globe. 1t was he who
placed us on the path of liberty and
who directed and protected us as
parent would his offspring, and gen
Grafton after generation has paid its
tributes OF praise, spurred on by the
patriotism born of true American.
Nation after nation has produced a
parsonage to whom the people have
bowed the knee, but where on the
pages of human history can we find an
equal to him who put us and guided us
on an upward course? Since the de-
mise of our first President twenty
three other American leaders have
taken up the responsibilities of that
high Office and each has added some
thing to the great role so ably started
by George Washington.
England has had her Cromwell:
France, her Napoleon; Germany, her
Blsmark; other nations have had
their leaders but nowhere in the ewes
oil an American can there be or has
there been found anyone of the sterling
worth of our Washington. and
we have never had occasion to be other
than proud of him. Words cannot ex-
press the feelings of our nation toward
him.
Washington was ever alert to the
interests of his people. His life was
spent in trying to promote the gener-
al welfare"
George Washington was born in
Westmoreland county, Virginia, Feb
ruary p, 1872, and was the son of
Augustine Washington, who died in
1744. His early life was spent chiefly
with his brother at Mount Vernon.
and with Lord Fairfax, who owned
great estates in the Virginia valley:
and in 174S he engaged to survey these
Wild territories for doublOon day,
camping out for months in the forest.
in peril from Indians and squatters.
At the age of nineteen at the begin
, ming of the Seven Years War, he was
appointed Adjutant of the provincial
troops, with the rank of Major. In
1751, he made his only sea voyage-a
trip to Barbadoese with his brother,
Lawrence, who died soon after and
left George heir to his estates at Mount
Vernon.
iment against the French, who had es-
tablished themselves at Fort Duquesne
NOW Pittsburgh and held Fort Neces-
sity against superior numbers, until
compelled to capitulate. The year fol-
lowing, when two regiments were lead
against Fort Duquesne by GeneraI
Braddock, Washington volunteered.
He was the only aide not killed or
wounded in the disastrous ambuscade
of July 9, 1755. He had four bullet
holes through his coat and two horses
were shot under him.
In 1853 he married Mrs. Martha Gus
tbs, a wealthy widow.
He was, like all Americans of prop
erty in those times, ve-holder and
at his death owned 124 slaves, whom he
directed, in his will, to be emancipated
at the death of his wife, so that the
negroes of both estates, who had inter-
married, might not be separated, He
was for some Years member of the
Virginia Assembly and in 1774 he was
ready to fight for the Constitutional
rights of the Colonists.
The news of the battle of Lexington,
April 10, 1775, called the country to
arms and Washington, then d member
of the Continental Congress, was
elected Commander-in-Ch by that
body. He hastened to the camp at
Cambridge; completed the evacuation
of Boston; was driven from New York;
compelled to retreat across New Jer-
| sey; often defeated and reduced to
the most desperate straits, by disaffec-
ton, lack of men and supplies, and even
cabals were against his authority, but
by his calm courage, prudence, firm
ness and perseverance, he brought the
war, with the aid of powerful allies, to
a successful termination, and Decent Der
%, 1888, the independence of the thir-
| teen Colonies achieved, he retired from
the army to Mount Vernon. He re-
fused pay, but kept q minute account
of his personal expenses, which were
reimbursed by Congress.
The Federal States having failed TO
give an efficient government, Washing
| ton proposed conventions for CONNER
cial purposes, which led to the conven-
tion of 1887, of which he was men,
Der, which formed the present Federal
constitution, considered by him as the
only alternative to anarchy and civil
war.
Under this constitution he was
chosen President, and inaugurated at
New York, April 30, 1889. He served
two terms, custom that has never
been broken, and died December IA,
1899. His wife survived him three
years.