The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-07-11
InstalIment 18

venturer, willing to advance his own
power at the expense of the very
principles he had fought for
His thought must have gone back
at bound to his old comradeship
with brother Lawrence, with the Fair
faxes, George Mason, and the Lees,
and all that free company of gentle
men in the Northern Neck who re-
vered law, loved liberty, and hated
usurper.
But he could not blink the just COM
plants and real grievances of the
army; nor did he wish to.
Though others were angry after a
manner he scorned, no mans grief or
indignation was deeper than his that
the army should be left penniless aft
er all it had suffered and done, and be
threatened, besides, with being turned
adrift without reward or hope of pro-
vision for the future
Promises Justice to the Army.
mo man possesses a more sincere
wish to see ample justice done to the
army than | do" he had declared to
Colonel Nicola; and as far as my
power and influence, in a constitu-
tional way. extend, they shall be en-
ployed to the utmost Of my abilities to
effect it,"
The pledge was fulfilled in almost
every letter he wrote, private or pub
lie. He urged the states, as he urged
the congress, in season and out of sea-
son, to see Justice done the men who
had won the Revolution, and whom he
loved as If they had been of his own
blood.
His Counsel Disregarded.
But even his great voice went too
long unheeded. THE spirit of party
private interest, slowness, and ma
tional Incidence slacken, suspend
and overthrow the best concerted
measures the Able Robin had OBJ
served. upon his first coming with
Rochambeau; and now measures were
not so much as concerted until final
menace from the army brought the
country to its senses.
| A troubled summer came and went
and another winter of anxious doub
and Intellectual counsel
The very approach of peace. as i
I grew more certain, quickened the
angry fears of the army, lest peace
should be made a pretext when i
came, to dispense them before thei
demands could be driven home upoI
the demoralized and reluctant govern
ment they were learning to despise.
Another spring and the mischief 81
long maturing was ripe; it looked a.
If even Washington could not proven
/ it.
A Menace From the Army.
1t had been rumored in Philadel
phia, while the winter held, that thu
army had secretly determined not t
lay down their arms until due pre-
vision and a satisfactory prospec
should be afforded on the subject o
their pay" and that Washington ha
grown unpopular among almost al
ranks because of his harshnes
against every unlawful means of sc
curing Justice.
His extreme reserve, mixed some
times with a degree of asperity G
temper, both of which were said t
have increased of late, had contribu
ed to the decline of his popularity
so ran the report-and it grew ever
week the more unlikely he coul
check the reasonable purposes of hi
men.
Springing the Mine.
In March, 1888, the mine wa
sprung; and then men learned, by
new sign, what power there was |
the silent man; how he could handl
disaffection and disarm reproach.
An open address was spread broat
east through the camp, calling upo
the army to use its power to obtai
its rights. and inviting meeting {
the officers to devise a way.
Can you consent to be the onl
sufferers by this revolution?
Ii you can go, carry wit
you the ridicule, and, what is wors
the pity of the world Go, starve, an
be forgotten But if you hay
sensc enough to discover. and spir
enough to oppose tyranny
awake; attend to your situation, an
: redress yourselves" Such we're i
kindling phrases; and no man nee
deceive himself with thinking the
would go UNDECIDED.
. checkmates the Movement.
Washington showed his tact an
mastery by assuming immediate CO
troll of the movement with a shal
rebuke for such breach of man
. propriety and soldierly discipline. b
/ with no thought to stay a righteol
protest.
/. He himself summoned the officer
|. and when they had come togeth,
stepped to the desk before them, vii
no show Of anger or offended dignit
but very gravely. with a sort
e majesty it moved one strangely to sc
and taking a written paper from h
d pocket. adjusted his spectacles to res
/. it. Gentleman" he said. very sill
ply. you will permit me to put on n
spectacles, for | have not only grow
gray but almost blind. in the servi
3 Of my country