The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-02-20
WASHINGTON A PATRIOT.
His Career as n Statesman Marked
with Probity and Patriotism.

u,. Career ms n Statesman Marked
with Probity and Patriotism.
George Washington united to himself
those attributes that constitute him
one of the great men of the world. He
organized a nation. He established a
Republic and voluntarily withdrew
from public life as soon as he found
II stable. BY his disinterested course,
for twenty years he inspired America
with his great qualities. He must ever
remain the model character, because he
was tried by greater exisencles than
other men. and always rose S perior 10
the exigency in which he was placed.
He exalts our ideals of greatness by
that union of prudence, judgment and
unselfshness which we find blended In
few great men OF the past. He was not
ambitious like Caesar and Napoleon,
who destroyed their country for their
wv glory Washington was content to
raise America.
AS a statesman Washington posses
sed all the clements of a great execu-
five and born leader. For purity of
aim and desire to arrive at just conclu-
sions upon every subject, he is not sur
passed in the history Of the world. He
consulted and advised, and came to his
own conclusions he formed this habit
in the army and carried it into civil
life. While his mind was intuitive and
certain in conclusion, no one more
Justly considered and weighed the sug-
gestions of others. He was n strategist
in the field, sure and decisive IN exc
cution. but i'm public life he was direct
and straightforward. lie had been
trained, from the age OF twenty-five. to
military and civil affairs, serving hf-
teen years In the latter and seven In
the former prior to his appointment as
the great military leader OF the Revo-
luton and thus he imbued his ccmpa-
triots with his eminent fitness for the
place to which he was assigned.
He was appointed General-in-C Chief
by the unanimous consent Of the Con-
tinental Cangress in 1716; he was un-
animously chosen by the convention
that framed the constitution In 1857 to
preside over it's sitting, and twice he
was unanimously elected President Of
the United States by the electoral vote.
These evidence proclaim his hold up
on the country and his u%ndisputed
merits.
Thus. ever and well balanced, he put
aside the sword and helped lay the
foundation of a general government,
then Indispensable to our stability and
prosperity. He saw and fully realized,
through an eight years war, the made
quacy of the Confederation for the pur-
| poses of a general government, and
early made known his opinion that we
| should form a more perfect union of
these states. He favored the adoption
Of the constitution. and said. as he
igned that instrument, that the states
had now the last opportunity to cancel
the Confederation in peace, or 1t would
be Cancelled in war. The constitution
having been adopted, Washington was
chosen the first president, and entered
upon that Office with Jefferson, Knox,
Hamilton and Edmund Randolph for
his cabinet.
Thus began n republic. less than a
century ago. Of four millions, stretching
llong one side of the Alleghanies. and
which now extends from ocean to
ocean, comprising twenty times that
| population, and still increasing with a