The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-02-15

sure these gentlemen that it is much easier and
less distressing thing to draw up remonstrances in
n comfortable room by good freside than to oc-
cupy a cold bleak hill and sleep under frost and
snow without clothes blankets. However, al
though they to have little feeling for the
naked and distressed soldiers, l feel supera-
bundantly for them and from my soul pity those
miseries which 1t s neither In my power 10 releVe
prevent"
Washington made persistent efforts to get
guaranty of half pay for his officers after the war
himself having personal interest in the meas
ure he had declared from the first that he would
never profit by it to the amount of n single penny
He deprecated constantly the Jealousy of the mill
tary part of the government by the civil depart
ment.
..If we would pursue right system of policy"
he wrote to n member of congress, sin my opinion,
there would be none of these distinctions. We
should nl congress and army, be considered ms one
people, embarked In one cause, In one interest,
acting the same principle and to the same end
"That have not been able to make bows to the
taste of poor Colonel b. (who, by the way, believe
of them) is to be regretted he
wrote in letter to David Stuart, Especially as
upon these occasions they were ndiscriminatey be-
slowed and the best l master of. Would 1t
not have been better to throw the veil of charity
over them, ascribng their stiffness to the effects OF
age TO the unskillfulncss of my teacher rather
than to pride and dignity of office, which, God
knows. has charms for me? For l certainly
say had rather be at Mount Vernon with friend
or two about me than to be attended at the seat
of government by the officers of state and the rep
resentatives of every power In Europe"
Washington explained that he had reception
hours every Tuesday from three to four o'clock.
when gentlemen came and went, chatted with each
other and acted as they pleased.
"At their first entrance they salute me, and /
them and talk with many as can. What pomp
there is in all this am unable to discover. Per
haps 1t consists in not sitting To this two reasons
are offered: 1t is unusual more substantial one.
I have room large enough to contain third of
the chairs which would be sufficient to admit It, If
it is supposed that ostentation or the fashion OF
courts could give rise to this custom will boldly
affirm that no supposlton was ever more erroneous,
for If I were to give indulgence to my incnations
every moment that could withdraw from the IA
tigue of my station would be spent In retirement
That it is not proceeds from the sense entertain
of the propriety of giving to everyone as free ac-
cess as consists with that respect which is due
to the chair of government, and that respect I
conceive is neither to be acquired nor preserved
but by observing just medium between much
state and too great familiarity.
In 1893 Washington in his second term presi
dent wrote to congress that while he sought peace
antb urged faithful discharge of every duty to-
ward others. he recommended prompt measures
not only for defense, but for inforcng just claims.
"There is rank due the United States among
other nations which will be withheld If rot abso-
lutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we
desire to avoid insult must be able to repel it
If desire to secure peace one of the most pow
erful instruments of our prosperity, 1t must be
known that at all times retdy for war; he
wrote
AS he wished to avoid war, so he also wishes to
avoid alliances which might jeopardize the peace
of the nation.
Against the insidlous wes of foreign influence
the jealousy of free people ought to be constantly
awake" he said warnngly.
"The great rule of conduct for us in regard to
foreign nations is in extending commercial
lations to have as little political connection as
possible
''If remain one people under efficient gov
ernment, the period is not far off when may
deny material injury from external annoyance
when may take such attitude will cause
the neutrality we may at any time be resolved upon
to be scrupuously respected; when belligerents,
der the mpossibility of making acquisitions upon
us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provoca
ton; when w may choose peace war, as our In
terests, guided by justice. shall counsel"