The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-10-31
THURSDAY. OCTOBER. n, 1901.
Weather forecast for Fred
erickSburg and Vicinity:
Fair and cooler.
IN DEFENSE OF WASHINGTON.


in reply to an invitation from his
native town of Worcester, Mass, to
deliver an eulogy on the late Mr..
Mckinley, writes thus:
"As we read the lives of great patriots
or heroes, or statesmen, or the founders
or beneficiaries of great States, | can
hardly think of one who does not seem
TO have erred in judgment or in action
upon some great matter in which right
eousness or liberty were involved George
Washington held slaves, and signed the
first fugitive slave law, but mankind IN
general can distinguish the true gold OF
character from the drOss, and mistake
of the intellect from corruption OF the
heart"
Senator Hoar is probably the great
est scholar in American politics, Yet
he acts, from our standpoint almost
inexcusably at times. He seems to
think that his mission is alternately
to caress and then to chasten the
South and her people.
Theforegoing fling at Washington $
memory was neither called for nor
Just. Mr.. Hoar should have accom-
panied this fling with this statement
OF indisputable facts:
|. That Massachusetts was slave
holding State from 1898 to 1871.
IL. That it was probably the only
State, except Texas, thatever directly
embodied slavery in its code OF laws,
and this Massachusetts did as early
as 1910.
Ill. That when Washington signed
the fugitive slave act of 1893, it was
because it was a law clearly within
the purview of Section II OF Article /
OF the L. 5. Constitution, and had
been regularly passed by the two
Houses OF Congress.
". That this Constitution had been
duly framed by representatives OF the
Colonies, and that Massachusetts was
represented in the convention which
formulated it and was the sixth State
to adopt this Constitution, whilst
Virginia was the tenth to accept it.
Y. That George Washington by his
will manumitted the slaves he held in
his own right at the death OF his wife,
expressing his regret that he could
not do it earlier.
VI. That Mrs Washington died in
. 1902, and that then the slaves OF
Washington becamef freed, and would
have been, but for circumstances
stated in his will, two and a half years
earlier.
VII. That Massachusetts, after
adopting and adhering to slavery
from 1888 to 1871 Ia period OF 143
years. did not abolish slavery in
unmistakable words, but that the
provision in the Massachusetts, Bill Of
Rights of 1850, which seemed to abol-
ish slavery, required judicial interpre-
tation, not made by its highest court
till 1871, to free the slaves - only
eighteen years before Washington's
slaves would have become free but
for forbidding circumstances fully
stated in his will.
VIII. That Washington when free
ing his slaves had the forethought
and the good of his slaves so in mind
as to provide for those who might be
either too old or too young to be
benefited byl freedom, by providing
for their comfort and sustenance.
TX. That the great State of New
York did not abolish slavery until
1893, and New Jersey later still-two
of the original thirteen States.
Mr.. Hoar should have been too
courageous to retreat behind the mas
sive form OF Washington to explain
his refusal to eulogize the late Presi-
dent. Mr.. Hoar could not bring him
self to such a task, for he had too
often declared that persistence in the
Philippine policy of President McKin-
ley meant that the downfall OF the
Republic would date from the Presi-
dency of William Mckinley. Mr.. Hoar
was thus recorded, and he evidently
did not wish to stultify himself; but
in undertaking to besmirch Washing
ton he has belittled himself, and in
other moments-in.self-c ommunion-
Mr.. Hoar will no doubt regret that
he thus criticised the world greatest
figure-the worlds one, and only one,
WASHINGTON.