Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-21

member Of the Virginia house of bur-
gesses, and enjoyed rural life at Mt.
Vernon with his wife and her children.
He had none of his own.
At the age of 43, George Washington
was called upon to begin career that
closed only with his life. To follow it
in detail would require nothing less than
a history of the United States for the
next 25 years. In 1774 he was elected
delegate to the continental congress. and
went to Philadelphia accompanied by
Patrick Henry and Edmund Pendleton.
The precise part he took behind the
closed doors of Carpenter hall is not on
record. but Patrick Henry, when asked
whom he considered the greatest man
in congress- replied: "If you speak of
elopuence. Mr.. Rutledge of South Caro-
lima is by far the greatest orator; but
sound judgment, Colonel Washington is
unquestionably the greatest man on that
floor"
On the 18th of June, 1875. Washington
was unanimously elected by the con-
tinental congress commanderin-c chief OF
all the colonial forces raised and to be
raised for the defense of American libr
erty. He took hold of an army of II ,0O0,
but only 14,5O0 were fit for duty, the
others being destitute of tents. supplies,
guns and ammunition. In fact in the
army of 14,500, there We're only nine
cartridges to man. The British army
was composed of $4,000, with plenty of
everything, aided also with a thoroughly
equipped fleet.
After the tidings of the battle of
Bunker Hill reached him, Washington
proceeded to Boston, then invested by
the British. After a siege of eight months
he succeeded in driving the British from
Boston. For this grand exploit, congress
awarded him splendid gold medal.
The scene of the war was soon trans
ferred to other parts of the country.
Small wonder that Washington with his
raw forces at times met reverses from
superior forces of the enemy, but the
British never could corner him. His
strategy lay in skillful retreats. His
mastery movements on the Delaware
excited the admiration Of Frederick the
Great, king of Prussia, who pronounced
them 1.-The most brilliant achievements
recorded in military annals" Frederick
sent picture of himself to Washington
with these remarkable words: From
the Oldest general in Europe to the great
est general in the world
Meantime Washington had vast work
to accomplish with entirely inadequate
means. But ne went along with heroic
fortitude through all the trials and suf-
ferings of Monmouth and Brandywine
Germantown and Valley Forge until the
grand cOnsummation at Yorktown or
October 10, 1881. With the aid of oul
gallant and generous French allies, hk
compelled the surrender of Lord Corn.
wallis and the British army, inflictine
the death blow to foreign dominion.
Two years more elapsed before 6
treaty of peace was signed and the wal
ended. In those two years, how.
ever. Washington encountered interna
troubles; an infamous cabal conspirel
to deprive him of command. The arm,
| was long behind in pay and laid tn,
blame on the negligence and inefficienc,
Of the congress. Not few Of the Off.
GERS began to distrust the efficiency o.
| republican form of government. L
went so far that one of their number. 8
Col. Nicola. was deputized to visit Wash
| ington and suggest to him the title o.
| king. Conditions were such that thi,
great man could announce himself q,
| sovereign, and most Americans woul{