The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-05-31

long, with such intervals of battle
calm, that one can hardly think of it as
a storm. But the sea is not always in
a state of fury, yet the rock against
which the waves beat acquires it's re-
nown for solidity because of the occa.
sional storms. So Washington was a
rock. and storms which, when they
came, might have wrecked the frail,
unseasoned bark We're divided and
weakened by contact with his mighty
personality.
1t is difficult to imagine the great
and good George Washington of ira
dition as being troubled or in danger
through any petty enmities of the camp
or the council. But. taking Washing
ton as man among men simply, the
power of his enemies appears in diff
ferent light. General Gates was at first
on the staff of Washington, where he
could spy out all the weaknesses-for
no man is without them-of his unsus-
pecting chief. AS soon as he reached
an independent command he advised
army to keep watch upon the COM
mander Washington was aware of
this underhand work of his Subordi-
nate, and they once had an open inter-
view about it. \ French prince who
described the meeting said. Mr.. Wash
ington treated Mr. Gates with polite
ness which had a frank and easy air,
while the other responded with that
shade of respect which was proper to-
ward his general In less than two
years the "sincerest attachment" which
Gates had early professed toward
Washington had degenerated to a mere
'shade of respect"
The Conway cabal gave to the Rev
olution its one noted and notorious
court intrigue. Conway's friends We're
strong enough to have him elected by
congress a major general in spite of
Washington's opposition. He openly
insulted Washington, and the gallant
Cadwallader took up the quarrel for
his friend and in duel wounded Con-
way so desperately that he feared for
his life and apologized for his baseness.
The mere fact that this European adj
venturer could so far hypnotic the
rulers of the government as to rival
Washington for time shows that the
elements of storm We're not lacking,
and only the sublime character and for
titude of the patriot soldier prevented a
calamity.
From the start Washington was
quick to detect and rebuke or even pun
ish self seekers in the army. One of
these, a famous Philadelphia surgeon
who was among the .signers," became
a most malignant enemy of Washing
ton because in his capacity of general
he gave an official opinion which with
out naming him reflected upon the doc
tors public motives General Charles
Lee was another foreign adventurer
who attempted to ruin Washington and
also to betray the country. In congress
there was strong element which per-
sisted in encouraging these army hos
tilities to Washington John and Sam
uel Adams. Trumbull, William Will
liams. Sargent. Gerry and Chase, with
Roger Sherman and r. III. Lee, openly
criticised Washington's military policy.
The chief complaint was his Fabian
methods. Yet he was aggressive when
the times called for action
With fire in the rear it would have
been marvellous for Washington to pass
through seven years of warfare with
out personal animosity and jealousy
showing themselves in camp. Even
Hamilton came at last to think he
could make his way independent of the
personal friendship of the chief. But
to the soldiers without burning ambi-
ton, heroes like Wayne and Sullivan
and Morgan and Greene. as we'll as the
rank and file, the head of the CONT
mental army was an object of reverence
Which at times softened into personal
love. His record from Braddoc1's
field, where he had four bullets
through his coat and two horses shot
under him. was just the kind to please
the wide awakes from Lexington, Bun