Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
Ce058n19 III REZH1RRE

due to fellow-citfzeps and brethren, but even
those execrabe parricides, whose counsels ana
aid have deluged their country with blood, nave
been protected from the fury OF a justly enrageu
people. Far from compelling or permitting tneIl
assistance | am embarrassed with the numbers
who crowd to our camp, animated with the pureSI
principles of virtue and love to their country
You affect sir, to despise all rank not derived
from the same source with your own. l cannot
conceive one more honorable than that which
flows from the interrupted choice Of a brave ana
free people, the purest source and original foun-
tain of all power. Far from making it plea Tor
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 Coloh;es'
at the hazard OF their lives are determined TO
hand down to posterty those just and Invaluable
privileges which they received from their an
cestors"
To Washington's high personal character ana
his lack OF small weaknesses. his correspondence
all bears testimony.
As a statesman. Washington was as sure, as
broadminded aud as determined as he was as a
general All his letters to his friends and to those
who served him show that his efforts were d.
rected toward the prevention. not only OF entan-
Cling alliances abroad but to calming Internal dis
sensions 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-
ton 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,
in 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 it may afford employment to
a great number CT hands which would be other
wise in a manner idle} be detrimental to the
former On the contrary, the concurrence OF
virtuous individuals, and the combination Of eco
nomic societies, to rely as much as 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 CD
iects 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 de-
Cided preference to the products and fabrics OF
America, whatsoever it may be done without IN
volyng an unreasonable expense or very great in
convenience"
Along educational lines Washington's ideas
were equally sure and far-seeing When the fed
erai commissioners in 1895 considering the
erection OF q unworthy, he wrote to them as fol-
lows:
1T has always been a source OF serious refec-
ton and sincere regret with me 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,
In Of cont apti
unfavorable 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 approaching
their own.
For this reason | have greatly wished to see
a plan adopted by which the arts, sciences and
belles-letters could be taught in their fullest ex-
tent thereby embracing all the advantages or
European tuition, with the means OF acquiring the
liberal knowledge which Is necessary to qualify
our citizens for the exigencies of public we'll
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 to the removal OF pre-
JUDGES. which might perhaps sometimes arise
from local circumstances"
These few extracts have been selected at ran
dom from Washington's corresp ondence, extend
ing over period OF % years. IL they stimulate
Just few persons to make 8rst-hand study OF
the life and writings OF the father OF this coun-
try they will have fulfilled their mission.