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

fury, there has come tendency to deprecfate the
ability OF the who, more than any other,
would naturally be exalted. For long time it was
held that his fame furnished because he
real oaths at the battle OF Monmouth. That was
succeeded by the present epoch which has chosen
to regard him a lOyable gentleman. with enough
horse sense not to make fool OF himself and, by
Il series OF events which he had no control.
to become the father OF his country.
And yet it is doubtful II another character OF
the age Is to be admired for It's manysided
exceilencies. As man, warrior and statesman,
Washington yields to no figure OF his time
What place Washington held in his day,
must now become matter of interest. Shortly
after his death, Felix Faulcon voiced the opinion
of the French parlIamentarans when he ad-
dressed the legislative assembly follows;
The tomb has claimed him who the model
OF republican, perfection. This is not the time to
trace all this truly great has accomplished
for the liberties OF America the generous inspira-
tons which he impaired to the French who were
attracted to his school OF arms; the sublime act
which viii ever add luster TO his memory. when.
after having exerted his talents in giving liberty
to his country. he voluntarily reliIlquished SUI
preme power to conceal his glory in the ObsCurity
of private life"
Naturally Napoleon was attracted TO the great
general who led army Of ragamutfins to vic
tory after long campaign of almost unparalleled
vicissitudes. and whose power was attested by
the fact that none OF his general. except Wayne,
accomplished much after they left him. When
the news OF his death reached France. the first
consul Issued the following order:
Washington is no more. That great man
fought against tyranny. He firmly established the
liberty OF his country. His memory will ever be
dear to the French people. it must be to every
friend of freedom in two worlds. and especially
to the French soldiers. who like him and the
Americans brayely fight for liberty and equality.
The first consul. In consequence. orders that, for
ten days, black crepe shall be suspended to all the
.F1 rF1 and far or fha ppph liz
At almost the same the Gazette de France said:
Washington is dead! The In the time
of the directory 1t would have been imprudent
10 announce. Now the heart may with conf
dence abandon itself to all the generous emotions
OF the soul, and may dare to weep at the tomb
OF a great man. A general funeral service has
been ordered In America. and this will be OBJ
served by the citizens of every nation No period
has sustained loss irreparable the end of
the eighteenth century.
This concluding sentence may be taken as gen
orally expressing the estimation in which the
father or his country was then held. Since
then with that lash tendency to appreciate high
sounding phrases rather than sound statesman
ship. it has become the fashion rather to exalt
the orators and the writer's. who had secondary
roles than to accept the verdict OF colonial times
1t Is doubiy strange. too. that in country
whose citizenship is rapidly altering. because OF
the large and continuous additions from foreign
lands should have great work. not even
an essay which vitality and vigorously presents
he character OF its first great general statesman
aud citizen
WteK xeading the first presidents letters. it
seems strange that his CORES pondence should
never have excited more attention or study. BY
comparison they are almost unknown when one
considers for example how much attention and
controversy has been directed Of late years to
lives and writings of Hamilton and Burr,
Very strange It il. indeed. that the CORE
spondence OF so commanding character as
Washington should be so little known to the
ninety and mora millions OF people who owe their
liberty and prosperity to him. And to the fact