The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-06-06

The first thing to do was 70 choose
an acceptable and efficient leader. and
to choose him outside New England.
To John Adams the choice seemed
simple enough. There was no soldier
in America, outside New England-nor
inside either-to be compared, wheth-
or in experience or distinction. with
/ Washington. the gallant. straightfor-
ward earnest Virginian he had learn
1 cd so to esteem and trust there in
/ Philadelphia.
John Adams Names Washington.
He accordingly moved that congress
"adopt the army at Cambridge" and
declared that he had but one gentle
man in mind" for it's command
gentleman from Virginia, who was
among us" he said land very we'll
known to all of us; gentleman
whose skill and experience as an Ofti-
Ger. whose Independent fortune great
talents. and excellent universal char
acter. would command the approba-
ton of all America. and unite the cor
dial exertions of all the colonies bet
ter than any other person in the
union"
Washington. taken unawares rose
and slipped in confusion from the
room
Washington the Unanimous Choice.
Some of his own friends doubted
the expediency of putting a Virginian
at the head of a New England army.
but the more clearsighted among the
New Englanders did not. and the Sc
lection was made, after little hesita.
ton. unanimously.
Washington accepted his commits
sion with that mixture of modesty and
pride that made men love and honor
him. You may believe me, my dear
Patsy" were his simple words to his |
wife, when I assure you in the most |
solemn manner, that, so far from seek |
ing this appointment, l have used ev-
cry endeavor in my power to avoid |
it, not only from my unwillingness to |
part with you and the family, but |
from a consciousness of its being |
trust too great for my capacity.
But as it has been a kind of destiny |
that has thrown me upon this service,
| shall hope that my undertaking It |
is designed to answer some good pur-
pose. 1t was utterly out of
my power to refuse this appointment.
without exposing my character to
such censures as would have reflected
dishonor upon myself and given pain
to my friends"
Washington Accepts With Modesty.
He spoke in the same tone to the
congress. Il beg it may be remem-
bered," he said, "by every gentleman
in this room, that | this day declare
with the utmost sincerity l do not
think myself equal to the command l
am honored with"
His commission was signed on the
10Th of June; on the 21st he was on
the road to the north-the road he
had travelled twenty years ago to con-
suit with Governor Shirley in Boston
upon questions of rank, and to fall
into Mary Philipse's snare by the
way; the road he had ridden after the
races, but three years ago. to put
Jacky GUSTS at college in New York.
John Adams Delighted.
There is something charming to
me in the conduct of Washington"
exclaimed John Adams; and it was
wholesome for the whole country that
such a man should be put at the head
of affairs. Many ignoble things were
being done in the name of liberty, and
an ugly tyranny had been brought to
every mans door-'the tyranny OF
his next-door neighbor."
There were men by the score in the
colonies who had no taste or sympa-
thy for the rebellion they now saw
afoot-common men who knew little
or nothing of the mother-country, as
we'll as gentlemen of culture who
loved her traditions and revered her
crown; farmers and village lawyers,
as well as merchants at the ports
who saw their living gone and ruin
staring them in the face
Rule of the Majority.
But the local committees and the
Sons of Liberty" everywhere saw to
it that such men should know and