Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-03-01
GEORGE WASHINGTON.


first In prace and first in the
hearts OF his countrymen," as he
was described in the funeral ora
ton Of Lighthouse Harry Lee,
father Of Gen. Robert E. Lee, was
born in an humble cottage in West.
moreland County, Va, on the 22d
n February, 1882, according to
tho present Calendar. He died at
the very close Of the eighteenth
century, one hundred and five
years ago, the richest MAI in
America, having acquired wealth
. by inheriting Mount Vernon from
his brother. Much misapprehen-
sion as to his character has arisen
rom the first biography Of him,
written by Baron Mems, who re-
lated silly anecdotes which had no.
foundation in truth. This author
OF the cherry tree story refers to
himself on the title page Of his
book as "RectOr Of Mount Vernon
Parish" AS a matter Of fact,
there was no such parish in exist
ence, and he was merely an timer
ant preacher, who peddled his own
books from door to door. Having
collected all of the available mater
1Al about Washington, he found
that information respecting his
boyhoOd was scant and fragment
airy, and so filed in the gaps to
suit himself. Unfortunately, the
stories he invented were accepted
in latter years as veritable by
other writer's, assuming the guise
Of history.
We get a better insight as to the
person and manners Of George
Washington from the memories Of
a young Frenchman, Chevalier de
Pontgiband, who Joined Lafayette
at Valley Forge, and who thus
describes our great leader.
"His appearance alone gave con-
fdence to the timid, and impress
ed respect on the bold. He look
ed Just as a man born to command
should look, he was very tall, had
a noble face, a gentle glance, ex
quisite courtesy Of language, and
perfect simplicity Of motion and
expression. His firm, wonder
fully sedate bearing harmOnizet
exactly with his appearance.
Gan the generals around hin
bowed to him as much from liking
and respect as from duty. Annie
all the trials Of the war, unde
fortune evil and good, Genera
Washington never once belied hi
reputation for gentleness, magnan
unity and goodness"
This testimony from a disinteI
ested source c~ontradicts the to-
general idea that George Washing
ton was rude, choleric and unedu
Gated. That he was an able ger
eral is evident from what he &C
complished with such feeble mean
and that he was a statesman is evI
dent from his public papers;
which are due 50 greatly the el
Establishment of a strong governmeI
upon such a feeble foundation
He would haveliked a much strol
er government to curb the %iealOu.
les and ~imbecility Of the State
but had he lived to the presel
day he would have seen his wish'
accepted as a correct interpret.
ton of the implied and constrn
tive powers Of the constitutio.
Our government as now practical
recognized by both political pa
ties is nearer to what WashingtC
designed than within the lii
its of Jefferson. Whether tn
growing concentration Of power
the nation is good or bad, it mu
be admitted to be a fact. III
growth Of Federal authority a
the decadence Of State power 81
phasizes how keen and clear "
the insight of Washington.
was undoubtedly the wisest a
greatest mar Of his day and e
titled to the remembrance Of Il