The Yale expositor., 1914-02-12

fury there has come tendency to depreciate the
aoiilty OF the one man who, more than any other,
would naturally be exalted For long time it was
heid that his fame furnished because he swore
real oaths at the battle Of Monmouth That was
succeeded by the present epoch which has chosen
10 regard him as lovabe gentleman, with enough
Nurse sense not to make fool OF himself and by
series OF events over which he had no control,
TO become the father of his country
And yet 1t is doubtful if another character of
the age is more to be admired for its many-sded
oAeeiiehcles. As a man, warrior and statesman
washington yields to no figure OF his time.
WAT place Washington held, in his own day
must now become matter of interest ShrTtlv
after his death, Felix Faulcon voiced the oninion
OF the French parliamentarians when he adj
dressed the legislative assembly as follows:
me tomb has claimed him who was the model
OF republican perfection. This is not the time 10
trace all TINS truly great man has accomplished
Tor the Liberties of America. the generous nspira-
uons which he impaired TO the French who were
attracted to his school Of arms; the sublime act
winch VIII ever add luster to his memory. when
alter having eXerted his talents in giving liberty
TO MS country, he voluntarily renquished SUI
preme power to conceal his glory in the obscuritv
of private life"
Naturally Napoleon was attracted to the great
general who led army OF ragamufins to vic
'ory' AFTER a long campaign of almost unparalleled
Vlclssltudes, and whose power was attested by
the TACT that none of his general except Wayne
accomplished much after they left him. When
'he news OF his death reached France, the first
consul issued the following order:
"Washsneton is no more! That great man
fought against tyranny He firmly established the.
liberty Of his country. His memory will be-
dear to the French people, as it must be to every
friend of freedom in two worlds and especially
to the French soldiers, who like him and the
Americans bravey fight for liberty and equality.
The first consul, in consequence orders that, for
ten days black crepe shall be suspended to all the
standards and flags of the republic
At almost the same the Gazette. de France said;
washington is dead! The news in the time
~ che directory it would have been imprudent
a. anroi;5Ss Now the heart may with conf
dence abandon itself to all the generous emotions
OF the soul and we may dare to weep at the tomb
of great man general funeral service has
been ordered in America, and this will be OBJ
served by the citizens OF every nation. NO pe,'oo
has sustained a loss so lrreparaole as INC Gnu VI
the eighteenth century,
This concluding sentence may be taken as gem
orally expressing the estimation in which the
father of his country was then heio SihCe
then with that fash tendency to appreciate high-
sounding phrases rather than sound statesman
chin Il has become the fashion rather TO exalt'
the orators and the writer's, who had secondary
roles than to accept the verdict OF colonial urhes',
II is doubly strange. too, that in country
whose citizenship is rapidly altering, because OF
the large and continuous ADDITIONS rom loi '..
lands should have no one great WORK. not even
on essay which vitality and vigorously presents
the character of it's first great general. statesman
and citizen. -. q.
When reading the first presidents letters II
ssems strange that his correspondence shoulo
never have excited more attention or STUDY 10y
comnarison they are almost unknown wneh Que
oonstders for example how much attention ana
Controversy has been directed OF late years 10
49, and writings of Hamilton and Burr.
yerv strange it is. indeed that the CORE
spondence of commanding character ~ ,s a.
Srpgttnaton should be so little known 10 the
s. ga more millions Of people who owe their
M,,orty and prosperity 10 HIM. And to the tact