The Ordway new era., 1913-10-31

|
wrote Fisher Ames. Of Massaehu-
sets. "It seemed to me an allegory
In which virtue was personifled as ad-
dressing those whom she would make
her votarles. Her power over the
heart was never greater. and the H.
lustration of her doctrine by her own
example was never more perfect"
Words OF Appeal.
II feel how much shall stand in
need of the countenance and aid Of
] every friend to myself, of every
friend to the Revolution. and of every
lover OF good government" were
Washington's words of appeal to Ed
ward Rutledge. of South Carolina;
and he never seemed to his friends
moro attractive or more noble than
now.
Turns to New Duties.
The Inauguration over, the streets
fallen quiet again. the legislative
business of the houses resumed, Wash
ington regained his old self.possession,
and turned to master his new duties
with calm thoroughness OF purpose
which seemed at once to pass into the
action of the government itself.
| Perhaps 1t was true, as he thought,
-that he had been no statesman hith-
erto; though those who had known
him would have declared themselves
Of another mind. He had carried the
affairs of the Confederation upon hfs
| own shoulders. while the war lasted.
after a fashion the men Of that time
were not likely to forget. SO full Of
energy had he been, SO provident and
| capable upon every point of policy.
His letters. too. since the war ended.
had shown his correspondents the
country over such an appreciation of
| the present, SO sure a forecast OF the
future. SO masculine an understanding
of what waited to be done and Of the
means at hand to do 1t, that they. at
least. accounted him their leader in
peace no less than in war.
But craftsmanship hitherto had been
only incidental to his duties AZ a sol
der and a citizen. It had been only
an accident OF the Revolution that he
had had himself. oftentImes. to supply
the foresight and the capacity In ac-
tion which the halting congress-
| lacked. He had had no experience at
| all In actual civil administration. He
did not know his own abilities. or real
ize how rich his experience in affairs
had, In. fact, been. He went about his
new tasks with dIfidence, therefore.
but with the full-pulsed heartiness, too.
of the man who thoroughly trusts him
self, for the capacity at any rate of
taking pains. Statesmanship was now
his duty-his whole duty-and 1t was
his purpose to understand and execute
the office of president as he had under
stood and administered the ONCE of
general
Need for Caution.
He knew what need there was for
caution. This was to be. ''in-the first
instance. in considerable degree. a
government of accommodation as well
as government of laws. Much was
to be done by prudence. much by con-
ciliation, much by firmness." II walk,
he said. ION untrodden ground. There
is scarcely an action the motive of
which may not be subjected TO
double Interpretation. There is scarce
ly any part OF my conduct which may
not hereafter be drawn into prece-
dent
But. though he sought prudent
course, he had no mind to be timid;
though he asked advice. he meant to
be his own master.
washington had, no doubt. more
precise understanding of what the new
government must be made to mean
than any other man living. except.
perhaps, Hamilton and Madison, the
men whom he most consulted. The
Confederation had died In contempt,
despised for its want Of dignity and
power. The new government must
deserve and get pre-eminent standing
from the first. Its policy must make
the states a nation. must stir the
people out of their pettiness as col
onists and provincials. and give them
national character and spirit 1t
was not government only that was
to be created. but the definite body
of opinion also which should sustain
and perfect 1t. 1t must be made worth
believing In. and the best spirits of
the country must be rallied to It's sup
port.
1t was not the question simply OF
how strong the government should be.
It's action must. as Washington said.
be mixed of firmness. prudence and
conciliation. II 1t would win liking
and loyalty as well as respect. It must
cultivate tact as well as eschew weak
ness; must win az well as compel
obedience.
Gives Dignity to Office.
1t was OF the first consequence to
the country. therefore. that the man
1t had chosen to preside In this deli
cate business OF. establishing gov
ernment which should be vigorous
without being overbearing was a
thoroughbred gentleman. whose In
stincts would carry him great way
toward the solution OF many a nice
question of conduct.