The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-08-01

otner on the great question: ne said,
so far as ne was able to obtain them;
and he felt as poignantly as any man
the deep excitement of the moment
GUS contest.
1t disturbed him keen1y to find |
George Mason opposing the constitu-
tion-the dear friend from whom he |
had always accepted counsel hitherto |
in public affairs-and Richard Henry
Lee and Patrick Henry, too. in their |
passionate attachment to what they |
deemed the just sovereignty of Vir-
GINA
He could turn away with all his old
self-possession, nevertheless, to dis
cuss questions of culture and tillage,
in the midst of the struggle, with Ar
thur Young over sea- and to write
very gallant compliments to the Mar
quis de Chastellux on his marriage.
Compliments the Marquis.
80 your day has at length come,
he laughed Il am glad of it with all
my heart and soul 1t is quite good
enough for you. Now you are well
served for coming to fight in favor Of
biiC <AhiC1ACSA lCDCiS Oil l1AC WcJ &S1Sf9o
the Atlantic ocean, by catching that
terrible ontagion-domestic felicity
which, like the smallpox, or the
| plague. a man can have only once in
| his life, because it commonly lasts him
! Cat least with us in America don't
know how you manage such matters
in France) for his whole lifetime"
Ten months of deep but quiet agi-
/ tation-the forces OF opinion in close
grapple and the future seemed to
clear
The constitution was adopted, only
two states dissenting.
1t had been a tense and stubborn
fight; in such states as Massachusetts
and New York, the concerted action
of men at the centers of trade against
the instructive dread of Capitalization
or change in the regions that lay back
from the rivers and the sea; in states
like Virginia, where the mass of men
waited to be led the leaders who had
vision against those who had only the
slow wisdom of caution and PRESENT.
ment
Virginia Maintained the Initiative.
But, though she acted late in the
business. and some housekeeping
spirits among even her greater men
held back, Virginia did not lose the
place of initiative she had had in ali
! this weighty business OF reform.
Something in her air or her life had
given her in these latter years an ex
traordinary breed of public men-men
liberated from local prejudice, pos
sessed OF vision and an efficacy in
affairs worthy of the best traditions
of craftsmanship among the English
: race from which they were sprung
capable of taking the long view, o.
seeing the permanent lines of leader
ship upon great questions, and shap
: ing ordinary views to meet extraor
: binary ends.
Even Henry and Mason coald tak'
: their discontinue gracefully. Loyalty
like men bred to free institutions; snt
Washington had the deep satisfaction
: to see his state come without hesita
: ton to his view and hope.
Country Demands Washington.
The new constitution made sure OF
and time set by congress for tn
elections and the organization of
new government under 1t. the cour
9 try turned as one man to washington
to be the first president of the Unite
States.
L I'VE cannot, sir, do without you,
/ cried Governor Johnson of Maryland
s "and and thousands rAore can e.
IS plain to anybody but yourself why W
d cannot do without you"
n To make any ons else president,
IS seemed to men everywhere, would b
1t like browning subject while the kin
was by.
Y Washington Holds Back.
X Rut Washington held back, as b
II had held back from attending the col
-e stitutional convention. He doubted hi
civil capacity. called himself an oil
n man, said 1T would be to forego r,
ie pose and domestic enjoyment fc
q trouble, perhaps for public obloquy
le THE acceptance he declare,
would be attended with more diff
n dence and reluctance than | ever e,
h perienced before in my life"
1t But he was not permitted 70 d
ID cline Hamilton told him that his a
a tendance upon the constitutional col
n vention must be taken to have pledge
at him Ia the view of the country /
lie take part also in the formation of th
government. I'm matter so essel
tial to the well-being OF society g
y the prosperity OF newly institute
p government" said the great advocat
n "a citizen of so much consequence Z
r yourself to its success has no optic
sr but to lend his services, IL called TO
ID Permit me to say 1t would be ingloI
e. Gus, in such a situation. not to hazaI
lr the glory. however great. which |
IN might have previously acquired"
~ Yields to Popular VIII.
it Washington, of course. yielded, Ill
ut the supplemented gentleman and Sc
10 dier he was. when 1t was made thus
no ma ttpr of dIlty