The Washington herald., 1908-05-27
A REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNOR
GEORGE CLINTON, of New York.

1t Is the mortal remains OF one CT the
great figures OF revolutionary times
George Clinton. OF New York-that have
been disinterred from the soil OF Wash
ington. where they have rested so long,
and they are to be taken to Kingston. N.
Y, where. on July 26. 1873. he was born.
He died in Washington while he WIS Vice
President Of the United States hin death
taking place on April &c. 1872.
Soldier politician. statesman. executive,
and patriot sum up the record and the
character OF George Clinton. He came OF
English stock and of a fighting race, and
when scarcely sixteen he became so in
terested In the French war that he went
TO New York City and enlisted on pri-
vateer that did good service against the
French. In 1853. before he was nineteen,
he had become a subaltern in the Second
Regiment OF Ulster County, and he took
part in the expedition under Col. John
Bradstreet against Fort Frontennc. near
Lake Ontario. He captured a French
slOop OF war on the lake. and the news
of this victory reached New York just at
the time that the news came that George
Washington had taken part on the cap
ture Of Fort Du4uesne. and this for the
first time the name of the two Georges"
were joined together in public sentiment
When. the colonial army was disband-
ed George Clinton was admitted to the
bar, and soon was appointed a clerk OF
the Court of Common Pleas by Admiral
George Clinton. a cousin. The appoint
ment was due partly to kinship and part
ly 10 the gratitude OF the British govern
ment for the young mans service in the
war
Still, George Clinton soon grew bitter
against the British crown. and came 70 be
1 known as one OF the dangerous rebels
OF New York. In 1775 when the committee
CT correspondence had arranged for the
assembling OF the Second Continental
Congress. Clinton was elected member
Of that body He would have been one Of
the signers of the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence. but was prevented by military
duty.
From the outbreak OF .he war his life
became a whirlwind Of ercrgy. His pub
lished papers fill thirty volumes. and even
they deal with only a fraction Of his ae-
tivities. He served In the Fourth Pro-
vincial Congress. which framed the first
State constitution, and he left this to re-
turn to the field with the rank Of briga-
dier general. In October. III. he fought
a brilliant battle against his cousin. Sir
| Henry Clinton. In that year he was
elected governor Of New York State, an
Office 10 which he was reelected from l7SO
up &c 1875.
The war record of Clinton shows him to
have been a superb fighter and an effi-
cient commander He possessed the full
ct confidence Of Washington. and the
papers of his time show that from Gen.
| Washington 20 the soldier in the ranks
Clinton Is invariably referred 10 In terms
OF love and appreciation. Besides the
stalwart soldier. he was also the kindly
gentleman; at least. the burden Of testi-
mony is that way. although there is one
prominent man on record against this
view In his volume on New York,
President Theodore Roosevelt says;
Clinton sid not belong 70 the old colonial fsmi
lies Of weight. being almost the ony New Yori
Revolutionary leader uf note who did not. and N
consequence. they rather looked down on him. whil'
he In turn rs.Slid their dislike with interest. IL
vas hSrsh. nnrrow-minded man. Of obstinate oour
age and considerable executive capacity, very ambi
tous and fanatical leader Of the popular part
Z in the contest with the crown.
Other writer's, however. declare that nc
matter how excit,d he became IN the
campaign, he never lost sight OF the
amenities Of life, and IN civil life his
charities were large. his courtesies ex-
tended to rich and poor alike.
After the peace Clinton rose 10 be one
OF the foremost leaders and statesmen
OF the land. and gradually drifting away
from Hamilton and the Federalists to-
VrePa ar,A h. gff
took him some time 10 evolve from q
States Rights man into a Nationalist
His hold upon public favor was enor-
nous, and once. while he was governor
Of the State. the people insisted on max.
ing him lieutenant governor also. In 17&
he declined a reelection. on the ground
that for thirty successive years he haC
lheld public office. But IN 1S0O he was
elected TO the New York assembly. and
IN the following year he was again sem
to the gubernatorial chair.
From l7S9 up 10 1S0S he received at eact
Presidential election a number Of votes
for the Chief Magistracy OF the nation
and in 1904 he was made Vice President
Of the United States. being on the ticket
with Thomas Jefferson. and in 1Sos ht
was reelected 10 the office. this time with
President James Madison. It was while
holding the latter office that ne died
A study of his long services as governor
OF New York shows HIN 20 have beer
lactuated by the deepest love and fidelity
to the Empire State. He foresaw It's
colossal future. and tried. 10 the best OF
his ability. TO facilitate its progress His
life may be summed up into four great
chapters. each cne a romance. In the
first. he was the privateersman. lawyer
and soldier In the militia; in the second
he was a brilliant soldier OF the Revo-
llution; In the third. he was the governor
of the Empire State, and the fourth and
last chapter sees him in the Vice Presi.
dents chair.
George Clinton missed the highest re-
wards of greatness because he lacked
brilliancy and Imagination and poetic
genius. He was the builder, but he build
ed after the plans of other men. His
work was as necessary as theirs, and
for all time the verdict of history has
decided that the hero whose bones are
to-day taken home TO rest shall find his
name bracketted with those Of Franklin
Hamilton, Adams Jefferson. and Jay
the immorta;s Of the republic!
Decoration Day at Marshall Hall.
Marshall Hall will be in holiday attire
Decoration Day, being the opening DAY OF
the season, and all who spend the day
there are assured a delightful holiday
Preparations are being made to entertain
/ n largo crory1 prof -