Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-02-15

ffAt''i' 80 " w '''" ~ '''p
nm free of all oppression, whether il
HzJ the form of unjust taxation or an,
other infringement of the interests
welfare and principles Of the inhabitants. he re-
caives today the homage of the millions who enjoy
the herita@e Of the free America for which hi
fought and which he helped establish. This, accord
ing TO al article In the New York Herald. which
goes on 10 say:
In this he was ut one with other great men bred
in the new. free spirit and atmosphere of the
colonies. He did not seek to set himself over them,
but to worl; with them, contributing as his part in
the struggle his military genius and experience
aud his carefully trained executive ability. His
ideal WIS the conmon good. For that he gave his
time and strength unstintedly, risked his all and
withdrew only when government WAS so well es-
tahiis!ed that 1t would not suffer irorn>Iiis retire
1ment.
Throughout his career the one reward he sought
was That he might rartakc. 'In the midst of my
fellow citizens, the benign Influence of good laws
under a free government, the ever favorite object
of my heart"
WASHINGTON, although possessing wcaltt, and po-
sitiu,, although obseryant of forms and ceremonies,
was in the best sense II democrat, Il man who
sought the same privileges and opportunities for
everyone of his fellow citizens which he enjoyed
and who devoted his gifts and energies to that end.
That they might have Them he not only expended
freely his energies Of mind and body. but he CON
Stant!y exhorted his fellow countrynen to prepare
themselves for the high destiny thnt he foresaw for
this country, first, by raising nnd e%quipping an ade-
auate army, a task that frequently hung leatlen on
his hands, and. second, by properly safeguarding
their rights after they had been won.
George Washington received less etlucation-in
school-than most ladS of poor parentnge do today.
He left school before he was sixteen years old. and
except In mathematics, In which he had advanced
through geometry and trlgonoanetry. his education
did not extend beyond that which boys usually get
in the grammar grades Of the public schools. What
he studied he knew. however, as his carefully kept
notebooks attest. He manifested a special aptitude
for surveying and for military affairs. This taste
led to his having a royal middy's warrant, OBJ
tained for him when he was fourteen years old.
and only because Of his mothers reluctance to
have him go to England he was spared to fight for
the colonies instead Of becoming an officer in his
najesty's service.
He had been out of school only IL few months
when he got his first joh-as II surveyor. 1t was u
good one, too, for Lord Fairfax, having noted the
lads mental equipment and his intrepidity, gave
him Il commission to survey his wild acres in the
Shenandoah valley. So well did Washington ac-
complish the arduous task that he was made n pub.
Tic surveyor. Almost coincidcnt with his entrance
upon a private career young Washington identified
himself with public interests. Fond of athletics
and sports as well as of military affairs. he Joined
the local militia and when nineteen years old was
made a major. ' ..
When he was still In his twenties he won his first
colonelcy In his gallant but disastrous first cam
paign against the French. 1t was there that he
first tasted the bitter fruits Of appropriateness.
When Washington went to Philadelphia as n
member of the Second Continental congress he
wore his provincial uniform, an instructive express
&sSs sion Of his feeling In regard to the crisis that was
come-in its way a fulRllmen Of prophecy
! ~ J,srtn~ fSSn SOcctnn hp 4 n MT M tho hp0u ar
Y the irregular army near Boston. He found that
.,rmy not only without discipline and equipment,
I<Unt without powder. Men who had enlisted only
, for a few months ran away. Washington ardently
appealed to the Continental and Provincial con
crosses to provide for longer enlistmcnts and IN
adequate system Of recruitment.
Conservative and aristocrat as he was classed,
Washington now favored the radicals, who sought
to break with the home government and set up
their own. II have never entertained the idea Of
an accommodation" he said, "since ! heard of the
measures which were adopted III consequence OF
the Bunker Hill fight"
His stanc, attitude was maintained in the midst
If disheartening experiences, not only with the
enemy IN the field, but with troublcmakcrs in his
own camp. II know the unhappy prcdicnment IN
which I stand" he wrote II know that much is ex'
pcctcd Of me; I know that. without men. without
arms, without ammunition, without anything fit for
the accommodation Of n soldier, little Is to be
done; and, what is mortifying. ! know thnt ] can
not stand justified to the world without exposing
my own weakness and injurlng the cause by he
claring my wants. My situation has been such TINT
have had to use art to conceal II even from my
officers"
n Jealousies hampercd him 30 sorely that he stern
% Nv proclaimed: 1.-THE general most earnestly en-
treats the officers and soldiers to consider conse
1ucnces; that we Gun no way assist our enemies
more than by making divisions among ourselves
that the honor and success Of the army and tht
snfety Of our bleeding country depend upon har
mOny and good agreement with ench other; tina,
the provinces are all united 70 oppose the com
~ enemy md nil distinctions In tho mime O