Potosi journal., 1902-02-19
WASHINGTON THE UNIFIER.
He Showed the Thirteen Colonies
the Pathway to National Life
The Ideal American

1t seems no wonder at all, that,
after six years of terrible political
distress. under the articles of con-
federation, Washington should be
called to preside at the constitution
al convention in Philadelphia. Char
acteristically, Washington, when sum-
moned, was in western Virginia seek
ing how he might open up his lines
of communication and natural high
ways by which the east and the west
could be bound together. and the way
made clear for that great procession
westward of our advancing race
which he foresaw. He was the great
balancewhee of the Philadelphia as
sembly of 1877, when sectional inter
ests threatened disruption. He was
the anchor of the ship of state when
storms arose.
Made president, says the Sunday
School Times, he, under God. showed
MS the true pathway of national life.
1t is difficult to realize the division,
the weakness, the lack of conference,
in the country and the government,
over a century ago. We were
aba backwoods nation" between the
mountains and the sea. The states
were jealous of the each other and
of the central government. Parties,
such as they were, had inherited all
the viciousness of the old organiza-
tions in Great Britain. The people
were not welded together. One set
wanted to be pro-French and the
other pro-British.
When "Citizen Genet" came over
to get men. ships, and money, and
also to play, for selfish purposes.
upon the gratitude which our fathers
felt for French aid in the revolution.
Washington took the right stand of
neutrality. He showed that we were
not to be hyphenated Americans
as the manner of some is. even in
this day, He taught that the true
patriot should be, not Irish or Dutch
or italian or Franco or BritishAmer-
leans, but Americans without ad iec-
tives or politicians or printers ex
pedients. To Patrick Henry, Wash
ington wrote: 81 want an American
character. that the powers of Europe
may be convinced that we act for
ourselves, and not for Others" He
wrote again: "My ardent desire is
| to keep the United States free from
| political connection with every other
country, to see them independent of
| all, and under the influence of none
| No wonder that Washington left
money to establish a national univer-
| sity. for he wrote: at has always
| been source of regret to me to see
| the youth of these United States sent
| to foreign countries for the purposes
of education, often before their
minds are formed
! Thus this wise and great man, who
| foresaw our national future. gave
| us, under God. the true principles of
unity. Our fathers listened to his
voice, pondered, took "sober second
| thought" and decided Alright and
| happily for themselves and us. In
| stead of scattering and degenerating.
! our country began to Consolidate and
grow. The nation, obeying the true
instinct of development. began to ex-
pand toward the west A great
stream of population moved over the
| Anegfenies and TO the Pacific. Now
we look farther, yet let us remem-
! Der.
Tt is good to notice. in the latest
and scholarly ''Washington the Sol
der" by Gen. Henry =. Carringt on.
of the United States regular army,
that the baseless legend Of the com
mander in chiefs profanity at Mon
mouth is etfcctuallv disproved. We
may be ever grateful to God for the
| leader He gave us. Greater even than
| Washingt on the engineer. soldier,
statesman, or sage, was Washington
! the American, the unifier.