Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-25
The Americanism of Washington
BY DIR. Madison @. Peters.

| washingtons prayer by the camp fire.
If we forget Marion. Lafayette and
Kosciusko; If we forget the hunger and
the thirst. the long march and the fe-
yer hospital; If we forget the fearful
charge up Bunker Hill; If we forget
Lexington and Yorktown; If we forget
Kings Mountain and Independence
Hail. If we are careless as to who
shall share our country's shelter with
US; If we let its door stand wide open
that all who choose may enter, to
make Judgment beneath it's roof and
to take the bread out Of the mouths
of our own-paupers to be a burden to
us-the diseased for US to care for
the illiterate for us to edncate-the
vicious to create discomfort among us
criminals for us to guard against, and
in addition vest them with authority in
our affairs equal to our own, and put
in their hands the power If they so
choose to violate the traditions and to
deface our fair hfstory-if we do this,
then we are. guilty Of a crime against
humanity for which posterlty and
righteous God will some day hold us
to accoupt.r
If we do this, the prophecy that the
ocean was dug for Americas grave the
winds woven for her winding sheet and
stone, will be llhAed.
J. When asked who was the greatest man
in the Continental congress, Patrick Hen
~ said "If you speak of solid informa-
ton and sound Judgment, Washington
was unquestionably the greatest man on
that floor" His state papers revealed
the far-seeing statesman while his fare
we'll address Is the freshest contribution
to be studied by those who are carrying
81 aVak IN hos
days of expanding possibilities and in
creasing perlls. -
Washington was great soldier Fred
erick the Great pronounced his general
ship on the Delaware as the most bril-
liant achievement recorded in military
annals and in sending a. sword to Wash
ington inscribed the words: From the
oldest general in Europe, to the greatest
general in the world" OIL. .-.. ..s s...
washington at q married Martha Gus
tus, a widow with two children. She had
money and beauty Her money came in
good place as it enabled Washington the
better to serve his country,
Washington was worth perhaps $S00,0 |
but Jay Gould was 100 times richer, yet no
one would quote his career as an example |
to the young men of America. Washing
tons money did not mean a personal adj |
vantage over his fellow-men but per-
sonal opportunity of serving them.
Washington was more than rich man |
he was man rich. Washington's great |
ness like that of Lincoln lay in his good |
ness. II was his character that makes |
the grave at Mount Vernon a mightier |
power today than the presence of all the
politicians of the republic.
When Washington was chosen to COM |
mand the army of the American Revolu-
tion, in 1775, he confessed to his wife his |
deep reluctance to surrender the joys of |
home accepting the great task commits /
stoned to him as thrust upon him, he gave !
himself body and soul to his country, re-
fusing all payment for his services, adj
vancing from his private purse, s64,000 to |
pay his daily expenses, while leading our
armies. He never received a dollar for |
his tremendous toll and secured no COM
mission for the use of his name. He did
not "come in on the ground floor" He |
did not take rake off" Imagine ap-
preaching Washington with bride!
You say Washington was rich, yes, but
how many rich men of today avail them
selves of the opportunity to indulge in
this kind of extravaganza, neglecting their
own business for the public benefit and
risking everything for common good?
Today we have far more dangerous foes
to be reckoned with than were met at
Bunker Hill and Lookout Mountain. and
every good American is called to imme-
date action. OF all the perils menacing
US today perhaps none is so insidous as
the bad citizenship of good men. The
men who neglect politics for private in
terests are worse than the demagogues
who manipulate politics for their private
interest. We expect bad men to be bad
but the so-called good citizens
who furnish. the opportunity to the bad
citizens are the accomplce Of the bad
Not only did Washington sacrifice ev-
erything for his country, but the men
who stood with him did the same
John Dickinson said: 1T is not our
duty to leave wealth to our children. but
1t is our duty to leave liberty to them"
John Adams wrote to his wife: Il
have accepted a seat in the house OF
and thereby have con-
sented to my own ruin, to your ruin,
and to the ruin of our children" She
replied: 'I am willing to run the risk
with you and to be ruined with you, If
you are ruined.r
TIE fathr of our republic were not
like the politicians of our time, whose