The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-02-13

tribute TO his love of freedom, his wisdom ana
kiDdliness of heart. All of them show why ne
never failed in anything Of consequence he under-
took. Without exception, they bear witness 10
the thought, the careful consideration, the souhu
judgment of the writer
With these qualities dominant, there is lacking
as a matter Of course the bias the egotism, the
proneness to give way to the passions, that have
caused so many able men to fail.
Above ALL there is abounding love OF free
dom an all-powerful desire to serve the best in
terests Of his fellowmen that cannot fail TO touch
the heart of any one who cares to read the old
volumes that have been shelved in favor of so
much less worthy material.
Take him, for instance, soldier. His
earlier show that he realized fully the difficulties
of the tasks ahead of him. First of all, his breadth
of vision prevented his army from being divided
and subdvided by the claims of the various col
onies that the troops they raised should be de-
voted TO their own defense. AS he wrote to the
governor of Connecticut:
IL am by no means insensble to the situation
OF the people the coast | wish | could extend
protection TO all, but the numerous detachments
necessary to remedy the evil would amount to
dissolution Of the army, make the most i'm
portant operations of the campaign depend upon
the piratical operations of two or three menof-
war and transports"
Again, when he recruiting his forces he
was dismayed by the fact that not all the people
animated by motives high as his. To his
secretary, Joseph Reed, one OF the closest of his
friends he wrote:
such dearth of public spirit and such want OF
virtue. such stock jobbng, and fertility in all the
low arts TO obtain advantage of one knid or an
other in this great change of military arrange
ment never saw before and pray Gods mercy
| may never see again. What will be the end of
these maneouvers is beyond my scan. tremble
at the prospect . . Could | have foreseen
what | have experienced and am likely to ex-
perience no consideration upon earth should have
induced me TO accept this command
His letters during the winter at Valley Forge
are models of their kind But nothing he wrote.
during his period of command, bears higher trib-
ute to his character man than hs letters TO
General Gage that the officers engaged in the
cause of liberty and their country, who by the
fortune of war have fallen into your hands, have
been thrown indiscriminately into common Jail,
appropriated to felons
General Gage insolently replied that but for his
cemenHY he captured men would have been
hanged and made cou, ter-charges that British
captives mistreated. To this Washington
replied with the following letter:
81 addressed you, sir, on the 1lth instant, In
terms which gave me fairest scope for that HUI
manity and politeness which were supposed TO
form a part of your character. | demonstrated
with you on the unworthy treatment shown 10
the officers and citizens of America whom the
fortune of war. chance or a mistaken confidence
had thrown into your hands Whether British or
American mercy. fortitude and patience are most
PROMINENT whether our virtuous citizens whom
the hand of Tyranny has forced into arms TO de-
fend their wives, their children, and their proper
", or the merciless instruments OF lawless domi-
nation. avarice and revenge best deserve the
appellation OF rebels and the punishment of that
cord which your affected clemency has forborne
TO infict; whether the authorty under which |
act is usurped or founded upon the genuine prin-
cples Of liberty, were altogether foreign TO the
subject | purposely avoided all political discus
sion. nor shall l now avail myself OF those ad-
vantages which the sacred cause Of my country.
Of liberty, and Of human nature give me over
you: much less shall stoop to reiort and In