The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-07-11

obedience.
Gives Dignity to Office.
It was of the first consequence to
the country, therefore, that the man
il had chosen to preside in this deli
cate business of establishing a gov
eminent which should be vigorous
without being overbearing was a
thoroughbred gentleman, whose in
stincts would carry him great way
toward the solution of many a nice
question of conduct.
While he waited to be made presi-
dent he called upon every senator and
representative then in attendance
upon congress, with the purpose to
show them upon how cordial and nat
ural a basis of personal acquaintance
he wished, for his part, to see the
government conducted; but, the oath
of office once taken, he was no longer
a simple citizen, as he had been dur
ing those two days of waiting; the
dignity of the government had come
into his keeping with the office. Hence
forth he would pay no more calls, ac-
cept no invitations.
On a day fixed he would receive
calls; and he would show himself once
a week at Mrs Washington's general
receptions. He would invite persons
of official rank or marked distinction
to his table at suitable intervals.
There should be no pretense of seclu-
sion, no parade of inaccessibility. The
president should be a republican Off
Ger, the servant of the people. But he
would not be common. 1t should be
known that his office and authority
were the first in the land
Every proper outward form of dig
nifty. ceremony and self-respect should
be observed that might tell whole
somely upon the imagination of the
people; that might be made to serve
as a visible sign, which no man could
miss. that there was here no vestige
of the old federal authority, at which
il had been the fashion to laugh, but
n real government, and that the great
est in the land.
Prestige for Government.
Some thought him stiff, but only the
churlish could deem him unrepublican,
SO evident was it to every candid man
that it was not himself but his office
he was exaltMg His old passion for
success was upon him, and he meant
that this government of which he had
been made the head should have pres
tige from the first.
Count de Moustier, the French min
lister to the United States, deeming
America, no doubt, a prOtege of
France, claimed the right to deal d.
rectly with the president in person,
as If upon terms of familiar privilege,
when conducting his diplomatic bust
mess: but was checked very promptly.
1T was not likely a man bred in the
proud school of Virginian country gen.
ltlemen would miss so obvious a point
iof etiquette as this. To demand init
macy was to intimate superiority, and
Washington's reply drew from the
count an instant apology.
That the United States had every
reason to hold France in loyal affec-
ton Washington gladly admitted with
all stately courtesy; but affection be-
came servility when it lost self
respect, and France must approach
the president of the United States as
every other country did, through the
properly constituted department.. eff
there are rules of proceeding" he eaid,
quietly, (which have originated from
the wisdom of statesmen, and are
sanctioned by the common assent of
nations, 1t would not be prudent for a
young state to dispense with them al
together particularly young state
CHS thought added) which foreign
states had despised and might now
try to patronize.
These small matters would carry
an infinite weight of suggestion with
them, as he knew, and every sugges
ton that proceeded from the president
should speak of dignity and indepen
dence.
Stricken With Illness.
He had been scarcely six weeks in
Office when he was stricken with g
sharp illness. A malignant tumor in
his thigh seemed to his physicians fol
time to threaten modification. II
was three weeks before he could take
the air again, stretched painfully al
length in his coach; even his stalwart
strength was slow to rally from the
draft made upon it by the disease, anc
its cure with the knife.
There was deep anxiety for little
among those who knew, so likely die
it seem that the life of the govern
ment was staked upon his life, He
himself had looked very calmly into
the doctors troubled face, and hat
hidden him tell him the worst witt
q That placid firmness that always came
to him, in moments of danger.
81 am not afraid to die" he said
whether tonight or twenty year:
thence makes no difference. l kTcv
that am in the hands of go02 Prov
lidence."
4 chain had been stretched ac-os:
the street in froIt of the house where
he lay, to check the noisy traffic tina