The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-04-25

many contingencies, Wnlcn, III all plop
ability. may never occur, that | dare
not even think of such a gratlflcatlon.
But the disappointment bred no real
discomfort.
There could be no better air OF
company to come to maturity in tnan
were to be had there in Virginia, II
Young man were poised and master OF
himself. eve have few things mere
striking to European travellers except
our abundant woods)," he protested,
when he wrote to his kinsman, Rlcn-
ard Washington, in England; but lit
tie variety, welcome reception
among few friends, and the open and
prevalent hospitality of the country;
but it was a land that bred men, and
men Of affairs, in no common fashion.
Unrest In the Colonies.
Especially now, after the quickening
of pulses that had come with the
French war, and it's sweep OF CONT
mental. even Of international, forces
across the colonial stage, hitherto set
only for petty and sectional affairs.
The colonies had grown self-conscious
and restless as the plot thickened ana
thrust them forward to role OF con-
sequence in the empire such rs they
had never thought to play, and the
events which succeeded hurried them
to a quick maturity.
1t was a season young man was
sure to ripen in, and there was good
company. The house Of burgesses was
very quiet the year Washington first
took his place in it and stood abashed
to hear himself praised; but before
Mr.. Robinson, its already veteran
speaker, was dead, notable change
had set in.
At Odds With Parliament.
Within FIVE years, before the cour-
try on the st. Lawrence and the lakes
was well out of the hands Of the
French, the parliament in England had
entered upon measures Of government
which seemed meant of deliberate pur.
pose to set the colonies agog, and
every body Of counselors in America
stood between anger and amazement
to see their people in danger to be
SO put upon.
The threat and pressure Of the
French power upon the frontiers had
made the colonies thoughtful always,
SO long as it lasted, of their depend
ence upon England for succor and de
tense should there come a time OF
need.
Once and again-often enough to
keep them sensible how they must
stand or fall, succeed or fail, with the
power at home-their own raw levies
had taken part with the kings troops
out of England in some clumsy stroke
or other against French stronghold
in the north or Spanish fortress in
the south: and now at last they had
gone with English troops into the field
in a national cause. Provincials and
redcoats had joined for final grapple
with the French, to settle once and for
all who should be owners and masters
on the coveted continent.
No Longer Dependent.
The issue had been decisive. BY the
summer Of 1860 Washington could
write his kinsman in England that the
French were so thoroughly drubbed
and humbled that there remained lit
tie to do to reduce Canada from end to
end to the British power.
But the very thoroughness of the
success wrought revolution in the
IN hn haV
country. It rid them of their sense
of dependence. English regiments
had mustered their thousands, ne
doubt. upon the battlefields Of the
war in order that the colonies might
be free to possess the continent, and
it was hard TO see how the thing could
have been accomplished without them.
But 1t had been accomplished, and
would not need to be done again.
Not Overawed by Foreigners.
Moreover, it had shown the colonial
militia how strong they were even in
the presence Of regulars. They had
almost everywhere borne an equal
part in the fighting, and, rank and file.
they had left with keen resentment
the open contempt for their rude
equipment and rustic discipline which
too many arrogant officers and inso-
lent men among the regulars had
shown. They knew that they had
proved themselves the equals Of any
man in the kings pay in the fighting,
and they had come out Of the hot
business confident that henceforth, at
any rate, they could dispense with
English troops and take care Of them
selves.
They had lost both their fear of the
French and their awe Of the English.
Twas hardly an opportune time for
statesmen in London to make new
and larger place for England's author
ity in America, and yet that was what
they Immediately attempted.
Save Chatham and Burke and few
discerning men who had neither place
nor power there was no longer any
one in England who knew, though 1t
were never so vaguely; the real tenn
per and character of the colonists.
Twas matter of common knowledge
L l. 41.@& RF