The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-22
WASHINGTON

w ASHlNGIUN
In any analysis, irtelligently undertake
en-, of the greatness of Washington, whose
birthday anniversary is to-day celebrated.
the quality Of self-sacrit1ce and entire
conservation to the service Of his country
is the grand and conspicuous feature. He
fitted into the place of leader ana was
chosen to that position, because ne mad
shown that no sacrifice would be TOO
great to make for the cause OF freedom.
He would have gone into the ranks Will
inglv had there been no other way OF
serving the cause. His. truly, was tine
greatness of service, tho greatness or IN
reserved fealty to public. national duty,
when the issue of the conflict was doubt-
full for the colonists. The teaching OF
Washington's career which should always
be reiterated on this memorial day, IS the
true greatness Of the surrender OF per-
sonal ambition and personal comfort to
national duty.
He, from the first, as early as l77I,
stood firmly for the consolidation or the
colonies and an irdissoluble union and tor
the suppression of an impotent congress
by one potential to act and enforce It's
own acts. Lincoln went down to his
death while carrying out this unlfylng
program Of Washington in sublime fealty
to public and national duty.
There are other sides to Washington's
character. Jefferson relates in one or MS
letters that, at a meeting OF the caolnet
one day, Washington flew into violent
rage and used the word damn quite fire.
uuently. It is probably true. When JET
ferson was in Washingtons cabinet ne
was a constant irIitant. He and WASH
ington were far apart in their views.
Jefferson, the father of the dogma or null
LITIGATION, could hardly be in agreement
with Washington who believed in an in
dissolnble union of states. "The consti-
tntion, wrote Washington to Lafayette III
1888 ''accordng to tteir ianti-federallsts)
interpretation Of it, would be mere
cipher" So it would
There is a very cheerful side to WASH
tngton's character when he is considered
as a. Virginia planter. The farmer side
of this great man Is rarely thought OF.
t..
Sir John Sinclair, friends in England, may
be found some of the most interesting
of Washington's literary remains. These
letters contain a full account OF his meth
DDS of farming and his experience with
them and his opinion on many agriculture
al questions of that day. 1t is evident
from these letters that, after all his
honors Washington returned to the Vlr-
ginia farm with infinite pleasure. He
characterized agriculture as amongst
the most favorite amusements Of my life"
and he repeatedly regretted that his nine
years of public life had made him little
rusty in the science. He was deeply in
terested in every new invention of agri-
cultural implements and sent to Eng
land for everything new in ploughs and
seeds. He shows that he was we'll ac-
quainted with the characteristics of the
various soils and, in one of his letters, he
dWells upon the excellence Of a new barn
he was building. 1.-THE more 1 am ac-
quainted with agricultural affairs, the
better I am pleased with them; insomuch
that I can nowhere find so great salts
faction as in those innocent and useful
pursuits. In indulging in these feelings,
I am led to reflect how much more de-
lightful to an undebauched mind is the
task of making improvements on the
earth, than all the vain glory which can
be acquired from rayaging it by the most
uninterrupted career of conquests."
(From letter to Arthur Young.) This
sentiment, earnestly and beautifully eX-
pressed, from the commander of the pat
riot armies, who had passed through all
the storm and stress Of war, and had re-
ce1ved from his countrymen the highest
honors within their gift, is one of the
noblest expressions Of his true chara cter.
He sought no conspicuity. He recoiled
from it. He seriously objected to the ap-
pearance Of any Of his private CORE
spondence in print, on the ground that cit
might be imputed to me as a piece Of
ostentat1on,' for he wished 'most de-
voutly to glide silently and unnoticed
through the remainder of my life."' Here
is an example of modesty which should
never be ignored by American statesmen!
1t is surely an element Of true greatness
and nobility in the character of the man
the American nation honors to-day.