Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-02-26

"a .aa NNAS ~ WY
united, and the pressure Of war from
the outside was in reality all that held
them together, 1t was his task ia
construct from the raw material avail
able a well organized force; this he
succeeded in doing and his first enter.
prise. the siege Of Boston. was en-.
tirely successful. but was followed
by a series OF reverses. throughout
which Washington showed to advant-
age. He was the author of but few
brilliant military cess but could
get good results out of a defeat. which
was one of the striking marks Of HIS
greatness.
After the termination Of war and
the consummation Of the treaty Of
Paris Washington made preparations
to return to private life after serving
his country for eight years OF arduous
warfare. All that he asked in return
was the actual cash paid out by him
for his personal expenses during this
period. and in 1888 he retired to MI.
Vernon, Virginia, with the expecta.
ton of living on the ancestral estate
for the remainder of his lie. How
ever. this was denied him and after
four years of retirement he was again
called to serve his country, which was
at that time in a desperate strait.
The different colonies could not agree
and there was not the slightest har.
mony between them. They were not
bound together strongly and 1t SEEM
ed as il they must split into many
small republics. For four years they
struggled with the articles of confed
Grafton with but poor results and II
was seen that some new means must
be used to make a nation. Delegates
were appointed to a constitutional
convention, at which George Wash
ington and 81 others met at Philadel.
phia to discuss and agree upon some
stable form of government.
After a four months session be.
hind closed doors what is now-with
a little amendment-the present con.
stitution was drawn up and adopted
by nine states. Washington was
shortly afterwards elected president,
and through his able administration
a strong government was brought
about and the United States was
formed. Washington served his coun'
try in the capacity of president for
two terms and wisely refused a third,
setting a precedent which has been
followed unwaveringly ever since.
"He did not escape the censure tc
which all great public men are subject
and pieces taken from papers of that
period show that he was subjected
to abuse as much as Mckinley or
Cleveland and no person will
but agree that they were good Amer
lean citizens. At this time the coun-
try was poorly situated financially
and much dissatisfaction was evident
amongst the army officers who had
not yet received compensation for
their services and many of them were
DESTROYS of turning the country into
q monarchy. Washington was offered
a crown. which he refused, and at a
meeting of the discontents said that
his arm had grown weak and his eyes
become dimmed in the service of his
country, but he had never yet doubt.
ed her gratitude or failed to believe
in her honor"
At the close of a very ~comprehen
sive and able address the judge said
1T makes no difference to Washington
what we say about him. but it makes
a great difference to us what we think
about Washington, and I hope that
the anniversary of his birth will Ee
celebrated perpetually in every school,.
house in the country"