The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-02-20
THE ELECTIONS
OF WASHINGTON
BY JAMES A. EpoERToN.

EARLY 10 years nave elnpseu
III since General George Wash
Il ington was nrst elected presi.
dent OF tho United states. II
In physical impossibility for any one
now living 70 picture the situation Of
the country at that time. Tho consu'
tuition had been adopted only after ro-
bust opposition. The colonies had been
depleted by the long years Of tho Revo-
luton and had not much recovered un'
der the loose aud inadequate articles Of
confederation. While political parties
had not yet had tlme to form. there
were bitter factional feuds and person.
al and sectional tealousies.
The 100000 people Of tho new ma
ton were strung along the Atlantic
coast. The railroad and steamship had
not yet been thought Of. while the 9TH
or great inventions that have changed
the face of the world were far In the
future. Electricity was but scientific
curiosity. The steam engine had been
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 loose con-
federation. Not only was the world
without republics. but well nigh with
out parliaments. Great Britain had
a form of parliamentary government
but most other nations were absolute
or slightly limited monarchies.
Moreover, there had never been on
earth a republic such as our forefa'
Tiers outlined for US. The 30 called
Greek and Roman republics were real
ly oligarchies. the mass OF the popula'
ton being slaves. The Italian repub-
lies were In some instances slight
advance ON these. but even they fell
far short Of the American ideal. Our
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 depar-
lures.
II was an adventure on such an IN
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 MS
Mount Vernon farm. The people OF
the whole country turned to him with
one accord, however. and 1t was Inn
| possible for him TO resist.
No candidates were nominated rof
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 oi
| the new congress at the popular cleo
ton 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 N
assembling. and by the time II hac
a quorum to canvass the vote II was
March G. A messenger was immediate
ly dispatched to notify the president
elect " the vote, and he reached Mount
Vernon on the i4th On the 10th Wanh
ington wrote In his diary:
"About 10 o'clock | bade adieu u