The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1913-02-22
THE ELECTIONS
OF WASHINGTON
BY JAMES A. EDGERTON,


~ since General George Wash
l. ington was first elected presi-
dent Of the United States. It
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 been
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 fractional feuds and person
al and sectional jealousies.
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 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 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-
theirs outlined for us. The so called
Greek and Roman republics were real
~ 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. 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.
1t was an adventure on such an I'M
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-
~ 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 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 in
assembling, and by the time it had
a quorum to canvass the vote it was
March 6. A messenger was immediate
~ dispatched to notify the president
elect of the vote, and he reached Mount
Vernon on the 18th. On the 18th Wash
tngton wrote in his diary:
about 10 O'clock l babe adieu to
Mount Vernon, to private life and do
nestle felicity and. with mind op-
pressed with more anxious and pain
full sensations than l have words to
express, set out for New York"
Practically every step of the way it
was triumphal procession. If his
own sensations were painful those of
the country were quite the opposite
Scarcely had he got outside of his own
private estate than the professions and
feasting began. Every child knows
the story Of that flower strewn journey
and the Inauguration that followed.
One Of the prettiest displays was at
Trenton. Here. where the great Amer