The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-02-13
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been treated with
the tenderness
due to feow-citzens and brethren but even
those execrable parricides, whose counsels ana
aid have deluged their country with blood, have
been protected from the fury of justly enraged
people Far from compelling or permitting their
assistance, | am embarrassed with the numbers
who crowd to our camp, animated with the purese
principles Of virtue and love to their country.
you affect SIR to despise all rank not derived
from the same source with your own. | cannot
conceive more honorable, than that when
flows from the uncorrupted choice or brave ana
free people, the purest source and original foun-
tain Of all power. Far from making it plea for
purity, mind of true magnanimity and enlarged
ideas would comprehend and respect it.
What may have been the ministerial views
which have precipitated the present crisis, Lex
ington Concord and Charlestown can best declare.
May that God, to whom you too, appeal, judge be-
tween America and you. Under his providence.
those who influence the councils Of America, and
all the other inhabitants of the United Colonies
at the hazard OF their lives, determined to
hand down to posterity those just and invaluable
privileges which they received from their an
cestors."
To Washington's high personal character, and
his lack OF small weaknesses, his correspondence
all bears testimony.
AS a statesman, Washington sure. as
broadminded and as determined he was
general All his letters to his friends and to those
who served him show that his efforts di-
rected toward the prevention, not only of entan-
Cling alliances abroad, but to calming internal dis
sensons and directing the business Of the nation
into healthy channels.
For time the agricultural interests and the
merchants the growth of manufactures with
jealousy and distrust. But Washington yielded to
no economic fallacies. Scarcely had the Revolu
tion been brought to a successful termination
when he wrote to the Delaware Society for Pro-
noting Domestic Manufactures, in 1898, as fol-
lows:
The promoting Of domestic manufactures WILL
I'm my conception be among the first consequences
which may naturally be expected TO flow from an
energetic government. For myself, having an
equal regard for the prosperity of the farming,
trading and manufacturing interests will only
observe that | cannot conceive the extension OF
the latter $50 far as it may afford employment to
a great number Of hands which would be other
wise in a manner idle) be detrimental to the
former. On the contrary, the concurrence OF
vrtuous individuals, and the combination of eco
nomic societies. to rely as much possible on
the resources Of our own country, may be product
i've of great national advantages by establishing
the habits OF industry and economy. The OBJ
jects of your institution are, therefore. in my
opinion highly commendable; and you Will permit
me to add, gentlemen, that propose to demon
strate the sincerity of my opinion on this subject
by the uniformity of my practice in giving a de-
cided preference to the products and fabrics OF
America whensoever it may be done without in
volving an unreasonable expense or very great IN
convenience
Along educational lines Washington's ideas
were equally sure and far-seeing. When the fed
eral commissioners in 1895 were considering the
erection of a univerity, he wrote to them as fol-
lows:
1T has always been a source of serious rehec-
tion and sincere regret with that the youth OF
the United States should be sent to foreign coun-
tries for the purpose of education. Although there
are doubtless many, under these circumstances,
who escape the danger of contracting principles
unfavorabe to republican government, yet We
ought TO deprecate the hazard attending ardent
and susceptible minds from being too strongly and
too early prepossessed in favor of other political
systems before they are capable of appreciating
their
For this reason have greatly wished TO
a plan adopted by which the arts sciences and
bellesletters could be taught in their fullest eX-
tent thereby embracing all the advantages OF
European tuition. with the means of acquiring the
liberal knowledge which IS necessary TO qualify
our citizens for the eNigencies of public well
as private life: and (which with me is a consider
alton Of great magnitude) by assembling the youth
from the different parts of this rising republic.
contributing from their intercourse and inter
change Of information 10 the removal of pre-
judices, which might perhaps sometimes arise
from local circumstances
These few extracts have been selected at ran
com from Washington's correspondence. extend
ing over a period Of % years. n they stimulate
just q few persons 70 make irst-hand study OF
the life and writings OF the father OF this coun-
try they V.ll have fulfilled their mission.