The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-19

gTHE victory at Yorktown brought
neither peace nor ease In affairs
The revolution was indeed ac-
complished-that every man could
| see who had the candoi
TO look facts in the face, but It's
accomplishment brought, tasks harder
even than the tasks Of war. Hostilitles
slackencd-were almost wholly done with
before another spring had come. Nc
more troops came over sea, The min
istry In England We're discredited and
ousted. Every one knew that the proud
mother country must yield, for all her
stout dciinance OF the world.
But long year dragged by, never
theiess, before even preliminary articles
OF accommodation We're signed: and stiil
another before dennitive peace came.
with Independence and the full fruits OF
victory. Meanwhile there was army
to be maintained, despite desperate In
competence on the part OF the congress
and a hopeless Indifference among the
people; and a government TO be kept
presentably afoot, despite lack of money
and lack OF men.
The articles Of confederation proposed
at the heart OF the wartime (November
10. 117) had at last been adopted March
l, 17sl), In season TO create at least n
government which could sign treaties and
conclude wars. but neither soon enough
nor wisely enough TO bring order out OF
chaos. The states, glad to think the wiI-
over, would do nothing for the army.
ii'NiilllS iOI lHc puDilt 'ktulls iloNIhiie
even for the maintenance OF order; and
the articles OF confederation only gave
the congress written warranty FOR offer
ing advice; they did not make its shad-
owy powers real
KEPT COMMAND.
II was beyond measure fortunate that
at such a critical time as this Washing
ton still kept his command still held al
fairs under the steady pressure OF his
VIII. His successes had at last given him
w. 1fa md
affections of his countrymen In some sort
commensurate with his capacity and his
vision in affairs. He had risen to a very
safe footing of power among al. the
people as the war drew towards It's
close. filing their imag!nations, and
reigning among them as securely as
among his troops, who for go long had
felt his will wrought upon them day by
day.
His very reserve, and the large dignity
and pride of his stately bearing. made
him seem the more like hero in the
peoples eyes. They could understand
man made In this ample and simple kind,
give them but time enough TO see him in
full proportions, 1t answered to their
thought of him to find him too proud TO
dissemble, too masterful TO brook unrea-
sonabie faults, and yet slow TO grow i'm
patient, though he must wait whole
twelvemonth TO see plan mature, or
coax a half-score states TO get purpose
made good.
And they could not deem him cold,
though they found him self-possessed.
keeping his own counsel: for was not the
country full of talk how passlonately he
was like to act at a moment of crisis
and in the field? They only feared to
lose a leader so reckless OF himself when
danger was sbarpest.
CARELESS IN ACTION.
"Our army love their general very
much" one of his officers had said. "but
they have one thing against him. which
Is the little care he takes Of himself In
any action" for he had seen how Wash
ington pressed at Trenton and at Prince
ton to the points that were most exposed,
thinking Of his troops, not OF himself.
The spirit of fight had run high In him
the whole war through. Even during
those dismal weeks Of 1776, when affairs
looked darkest, and he had but a. handful
of men about him as he all but ned
before Howe through New Jersey. he
had spoken, as II IN the very pleasantly
OF daring. Of what he would do should
things come to the worst with him. His
thought turned to those western fast
nesses he knew so we'll, where the high
lands OF his own state lag. and he spoke
calmly Of desperate venture thither.
Reed" he exclaimed to one of his
aides. my neck does not fell as though
il was made for a halter. We must re-
tire to Augusta county. In Virginia. and
II overpowered, must pass the Allegheny
mountains And when the last move
ment Of the war came. IL was still with
the same feeling that nc drew his lines