The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-12-23
fcoNTfNUED.)

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1t was, no doubt, "a novelty in the
pie turn calm and scrutinizing eye
upon itself" as the people of Amer
lea had done; ito see it carefully ex-
anime the extent of tthe evil"a into
which disunion and disorder had
brought it; patiently wait for two
years until remedy was discovered;
and at last voluntarily adopt new
order and government without hav-
ing wrung tear or a drop of blood
from mankind"
Overcome by Responsibility.
But Washington knew that the
praise deserved for such mastery and
self-possession would be short-lived
enough if the new government should
fail or be discredited.
1t was the overpowering thought
that he himself would be chiefly re-
sponsible for it's success or failure
that shook his nerves as he stood
there at the beginning of his task;
and no man of right sensibility in
that audience failed to like him the
better and trust him the more i'm
plicitly for his emotion.
1T was very touching scene"
wrote Fisher Ames, of Massachu-
setts at seemed to me an allegory
in which virtue was personified as ad-
dressing those whom she would make
her votaries. Her power over the
heart was never greater, and the IL
lustration of her doctrine by her own
example was never more perfect"
Words of Appeal.
'I feel how much / shall stand in
need of the countenance and aid of
every friend to myself, of every
friend to the Revolution, and of every
lover of good government" were
Washington's words of appeal to Ed
ward Rutledge, of South Carolina;
and he never seemed to his friends
more attractive or more noble than
now.
Turns to New Duties.
The Inauguration over. the streets
fallen quiet again, the legislative
business of the houses resumed, Wash
ington regained his old self-possession,
anu hCO W hlo AON uuIlSS
with a calm thoroughness of purpose
which seemed at once to pass into the
action of the government itself
Perhaps it was true, as he thought
thar he had been no statesman hith
erto; though those who had known
him, would have declared themselves
of another mind. He had carried the
affairs of the Confederation upon his
own shoulders, while the war lasted,
after q fashion the men of that time
we're not likely to forget, so full of
energy had he been, so provident and
capable upon every point of policy.
His letters, too, since the war ended,
had shown his correspondents he
country over such an appreciation of
the present, SO sure a forecast of the
future, so masculine an understanding
of what waited to be done and of the
means at hand to do it, that they, at
least, accounted him their leader in
peace no less than in war.
But craftsmanship hitherto had been
only incidental to his duties as sol.
der and citizen. 1t had been only
an accident of the Revolution that he
had had himself, oftentimes, to supply
the foresight and the capacity in &C
ton which the hating congress
lacked. He had had no experience al
all in actual civil administration He
did not know his own abilities, or real
ize how rich his experience in affairs
had, in fact, been. He went about his
new tasks with diffidence, therefore
but with the fullpulsed heartiness, TOO
of the man who thoroughly trusts him
self, for the capacity at any rate Of
taking pains. Craftsmanship was now
his duty-his whole duty-and it was
his purpose to understand and execute
the Office of president as he had under
stood and administered the Office o.
general
Need for Caution.
: He knew what need there was fol
caution. This was to be, 'in the frs
instance, in a considerable degree, {
as a government of laws Much wa.
to be done by prudence, much by con
ciliation, much by firmness." ST walk,
he said, ION untrodden ground. Their,
is scarcely an action the motive o
which may not be subjected to {;
double interpretation There is scarce
ly any part of my conduct which ma.
not hereafter be drawn into prece
dent"
But, though he sought pruden
course, he rad no mind to be timid
though he asked advice, he meant t,
be his own master.
Washington had, no doubt, NOR
precise understanding of what the ney
government must be made to meal
than any other man living, except
perhaps. Hamilton and Madison, tn
men whom he most consulted. TIL
Confederation had died In contempt
despised for its want of dignity an
power. The new government mus
deserve and get pre-eminent standin
from the first. Its policy must max
3 the states nation, must stir tn
people out of their pettiness as co
onists and proyincials. and give ther
national character and spirit
was not a government only that wa
to he ernafed h11f fho sdnfnita bod