The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-21


Il " ington was first elected presi-
dent of the United States. IL
Is a physical impossibility for any one
now living to picture the situation OF
the country at that time. The consti
tuition had been adopted only after ro
bust opposition. The colonies had beer
depleted by the long years Of the Revo
luton and had not much recovered un
der the loose and inadequate articles OF
confederation. While political parties
had not yet had time to form, there
were bitter factional feuds and person.
al and sectional jealousles.
The 100000 people Of the new Ma
ton were strung along the Atlantic
coast. The railroad and steamship had
not yet been thought Of, while the 9th
er great inventions that have changed
the face of the world were far in the
future. Electricity was but scientific
curiosity. The steam engine had beer
invented, but was not yet in general
use.
There was no other republic in the
world. The revolution that started one
in France did not open until the fol
lowing year. The so called Dutch re-
public was ruled by an aristocracy
under a hereditary stakeholder. The
Swiss cantons were under a loose con-
federation. Not only was the world
without republics, but well nigh with
out parliaments. Great Britain had
form Of parliamentary government,
but most other nations were absolute
or slightly limited monarchies.
Moreover, there had never been Or
earth a republic such as our forefa
theirs outlined for us. The so called
Greek and Roman republics We're real
ly oligarchies, the mass of the popula
ton being slaves. The Italian repub
lies were in some instances a slight
advance on these, but even they fell
far short of the American ideal. OUT
proposed form of government was
largely an experiment without prece-
dent anywhere in the worlds history.
The division of powers between the
federal government and the states and
the subdivision into coordinate depart
ments of executive, legislative and ju
dicial were new and untried depaT
lures
1t was an adventure on such an up
known political sea that Washington
and the first congress elected with him
were called upon to undertake. There
were still large and influential elements
grumbling about the constitution. One
or two colonies had failed to ratify,
and Rhode Island continued in that
attitude. Washington was unfeigned-
ly reluctant to embark on the task of
leading the new government. He had
retired from public life and had plan
ned to spend his declining years on his
Mount Vernon farm. The people Of
the whole country turned to him With
one accord, however, and it was i'm
possible for him to resist.
No candidates were nominated for
president in those days, the presiden.
tial electors being left absolutely free
TO choose. These electors were chosen
at the same time as the members Of
the new congress at the popular elec-
zion in the fall Of 1888. They after
ward met In their several state capitals
and cast every vote for Washington.
The inaugural ceremonies took place
in New York. Congress was slow in
assembling and by the time 1t had
a quorum to canvass the vote 1t was
March 6. A messenger was immediate
ly dispatched to notify the president
elect of the vote, and he reached Mount
Vernon on the 14th. On the 10th Wash
ington wrote In his diary:
About 10 o'clock l bade adieu to