The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-21

~,
CLARK MILLS BRINK. PHI. d
ard Washington showed himself in this
brilliant movement a great general In
Europe the expulsion of the British from
New Jersey by an inferior force was
lauded as a great achievement, and it
was the news of this achievement that
enabled Franklin to attain a secret loan
from France.
Meeting Emergency.
We cannot follow Washington through
all his military career Another phase Of
his ability. however, was revealed by his
actions at the battle of Monmouth
Through the treachery Of Charles Lee the
army was defeated. and was in full re-
treat-almost of panic-wnen Washington
came on to the field. Lee had refused to
fight when in touch with the enemy, and
this TO washington was an objectionable
sin. The commander-in-chief was in a
towering rage, and it is said that, like
Sheridan under similar circumstances he
''swore terrible OATH. Sending the
faithless officer to the rear, he himself
took command He stopped the retreat,
reformed the troops. brought up the rest
of the army, Checked the exultant foe
and drove them in headlong retreat TO
New York. -
Washington's genius for strategy was
never more brilliantly exemplified than in
the last great movement of the war, re-
Sultlng in the surrender of CORVALLIS al
Yorktown. He was with the American
army encamped near New York. Corn
wallis was narassed by the Americans
until he felt obliged to take refuge at
Yorktown and throw up intrenchments.
Washington was not slow to perceive
his opportunity for one final master
stroke to end the war CORVALLIS eX- 4
Dnptp1 rpinfAranmnnfS from NnW York
But Washington was there making PEE
parationS for an active movement. He
'contrived to let it be understood that he
was about to attack the city. Clinton,
the British commander dared not detach
many of his forces for fear of losing New
York. When his preparations were COM
plete, and when he knew that the French
fleet, his allies, were on the way to
Chesapeake, Washington withdrew from
the Entertainments, and before his add
-verSaries knew that he had gone he had
marched his followers across New Jer-
sey and had passed Philadelphia on his
was to Virginia. 1t was too late for tho
enemy to follow or interfere with his pur-
pose. CORVALLIS, closed in by sea and ?
land, and forced to surrender his army
of 1000 men, This victory virtually clos
ed the war, and it was made possible by
keen perception, the diplomatic tact in
securing the cooperation of the French
fleet, the skillful management so as to
keep the British forces from uniting. the
promptness of action, the splendid energy
displayed in the swift concentration Of
forces at Yorktown of Washington. His
marcn from New York to the head Of
any march of the famous foot cavalry"
of Stonewall Jackson during the Civil
war; This exploit alone, If he had per-
formed no other, would stamp him
great general.
President without Precedent.
When this great man became president
he showed himself to be as broad-m1nded
and faE-Seeing a statesman as he had
previously shown himself to be able as
soldier We must remember that he was
the first president. He had no precedents
to guide him. He must blaze his way
through unknown wilderness, denser
and more dangerous than that which, as
boy surveyor, he had to penetrate when
he mapped the wilds of Western Virginia
and the Ohio valley. And the discretion,
the frmness, the wisdom, the lofty pa
triotism. the high and noble conception
of his countrys destiny which he mani
Tested during these eight difficult years
place him deservedly in the very first
rank of administrative statesmen.
The capital had to be agreed upon, the
executive departments had to be organ
lied, state policy must be formulated,
system of national finance needed to be
developed, the relations of the national
government to the states, so far as those
relations were not determined by the
constitution, must be considered the re-
latiOnS of the United States to foreign
governments-these and other questions
of vast Importance to the subsequent,
welfare of the young republic had to be
ultimately determined by Washington
himself. That he always decided most
wisely would be to ascribe to him super
human wisdom. But probably no man
could have acted with greater prudence
on so many questions that We're funda-
mental.
In one or two particulars Washington.
when president. rendered the republic
service of inestimable value, He did
When Genet, the French ambassador,
came to this country and with unbridled
audacity and insolence began openly to
enlist soldiers and fit out privateers
against England in behalf of France, the
president, after patient forbearance, de-
marSaal the recall of the young prig, and
SO gave France and the world to under
stand that the United States was an in
or subject of any other power, and that
this nation proposed to stand upon its
dignity and was prepared to defend it's
rights.
..The Monroe Doctrine,
To washington, also. rather than ~
the president whose name IL bears. should
be ascribed the announcement Of the prin-
ciples that underlie the famous Monroe
doctrine" In his farewell address he
warned his coutrymen against the i'm
Sidious WileS of foreign nations ana
urged them to beware of entangling for
eign alliances. During his entire admin
lSlIaetlOl dISO ne CONSTANTLY HiSiStCu
foreign nations should not interfere in
American affairs. In these two attitudes
are found the elements of the Monroe
doctrine
washington died in December. 1899, rec
ogniZed by all as indeed first in war
first in peace and first in the hearts OF
his countrymen." In the great and beau
tifur city that bears his name stands
magnificent monument to his memory,
mounting 800 feet above the ground. 1t
is a magnificent shaft. worthy of him
whom It commentaries and of the greet
nation that reared It. But that mighty
cenotaph will fall the granite blocks of
which it is constructed may crumble back
to earth. yet still the name and character
Of Washington. the patriot. soldier and
statesman. VII rise. calm ard stately and
serene. more abiding than granite, en-.
during as the human race itself.
Copyright 1901