The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-22
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON.
On each recurring anniversary of the
birth of George Washington it has be-
come the universal practice on the part
of his grateful countrymen to celebrate
the grand civic virtues which distin-
guished him from all the great men Of
q generation so productive of great men
in the domain of both civil and military
activity There is but little addition
made in this way to the worlds knowl-
edge of this wonderful character; but
the practice has at least been effective in
proving how well Washington's charac-
ter stands the test of time, and how fully
justified his countrymen are In holding
him highest Of all men in the national
esteem. Lincoln helped to save the ma
ton and to wipe from it the stain of
human slavery which Washington by the
force of his genius did more than any
one man to call into existence, and
which, in the character of national mod
orator, he saved from destruction while
it was yet in its infancy.
1t has been said that we know great
deal of Washington, the general and of
Washington the president; but that of
Washington the man we know but COM
paratively little. He was a reticent
man; and his reticence was one of the
strong indications of his greatness. That
we know comparatively so little Of his
personal characteristics is explained by
the fact that he was reserved even to
those nearest to him, Our judgment Of
him win continue to be founded chiefly
on the appearance which he presents to
the historian as a soldier and states
man.
The one glimpse which we have had Of
him when his devotion to republican insti-
tutions was assaIed suffices to show the
exalted type of citizenship which he rep
resented While much has been done
IN attempted dedication of him by I'M
wise adherents, and while he is revealed
here and there in his career, especially
when he came in contact with contempt
rary political divisions, as less than
tolerant of his opponents, the one result
of the incident of the attempt to lead
him into a monarchical conspiracy will
ever show how high he lowered even
above the greatest Of the men who sur
rounded him and sought to prejudice his
mind against free representative govern
ment
OF all the attempted delineations of
Washngtons character that of Thomas
Jefferson remains easily the most just
and accurate. His weaknesses are there
revealed as well as his greatness and
goodness. BY Jefferson he is viewed as
a human being rather than as a demigod
Wherein he fails to meet the estimates
set upon him by those who know no
Discrimination in dealing with his memo
~, Jefferson sets forth With unfailing
hand.
81 do believe wrote jefferson, that
Gen. Washington had not a frm cont
dence in the durability of our govern
ment. He was naturally distrustfuI Of
men, and inclined to gloomy apprehen-
siOns; and 1 was ever persuaded that a
belief that we must at length end In
something like a British constitution had
some weight in his adoption Of the cere-
monies of levees, birthdays, pompous
meetings with congress, and other forms
Of the. same character, calculated to
prepare us for change which he believ-
ed possible and to let it come on with
as little shock as might be to the public
mind"
Read alone these passages might be re-
garded as an impeachment of his devo-
ton to American constitutional princi-
pies; but there was no such thought in
the mind of his great contemporary. for
in the same communication Jefferson
says: Z" he was nc monarchist
from preference of his judgment. The
soundness of that gave him correct views
of the rights of man. and his severe
Justice devoted him to them. He has
often declared to me that ne considered
oar new constitution an experiment on
the practicabiIity of republican govern
nent, and with what dose Of liberty man
could be trusted for his own good; that
he was determined the experiment should
nave 1alr lrlalI ana WOULD lose the
last drop of his blood in support of it. -
Nine decades after his death the men,
DRY of George Washington is revered by
every reading man who has hopes Of the
spread of civil liberty among the nations
of the world. He is regarded by them
as the incarnation, more than any man
in history, of the idea of mans right to
control his own powers and his own des>
TIMES, freed from the oppressive hand of
altoeratic government He lived and
toiied for the freedom of his race His
example las done more Cor the spread
of liberty among men OF all nations
than that of any Other character In his
tory. No Alnerican need fear setting
too great store by the grandeur and
benefccnce Of character OF tie man who
is spoken end thought of as the father Of
his country.
The senate bill reduces the taxes or to-