Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-02-16

sure these gentlemen that 1t is a much easier and
less distressing thing to draw up remonstrances III
a comfortable room by good fireside than to oc-
cupy a cold, bleak hill and sleep under frost and
snow without clothes or blankets. However, al
though they seem to have little feeling for the
naked and distressed soldiers, [ feel supera-
bundantly for them, and from my soul pity those
miseries which it is neither in my power to relieve
nor prevent
Washington made persistent efforts to get a
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 single penny
He deprecated constantly the jealousy Of the milf
tary part of the government by the civil depart
ment.
eff we would pursue a right system of policy"
he wrote to a member of congress, '1n my opinion
there would be none of these distinctions. We
should alt congress and army be considered as one
people, embarked in cause. in one interest
acting on the same principle and to the same end
'"That I have not been able to make bows to the
taste of poor Colonel B. (who, by the way, believe
never saw Of them) is to be regretted he
wrote in a letter to David Stuart Especially as
upon these occasions they were unfortunately be-
slowed, and the best was master Of Would 1t
not have been better to throw the veil of charity
over them ascribing their stiffness to the effects of
age or to the unskillfuncss of my teacher rather
than to pride and dignity of Office which, God
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
'sAt their first entrance they salute me, and
them and talk with as many as can. What pomp
there is in all this am unable to discover. Per-
haps it consists in not sitting To this two reasons
are offered: 1t is unusual; more substantial one
i have no room large enough to contain a third of
the chairs which would be sufficient to admit it. II
it is supposed that OstentatiOn or the fashion of
courts could give rise to this custom will boldly
affirm that no supposition was ever more erroneous
for If / were to give indulgence to my inclinations
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
conceive is neither to be acquired nor preserved
but by observing just medium between much
state and too great familiarity"
In 1898 Washington, in his second term as presi
dent wrote to congress that while he sought peace
and urged faithful discharge of every duty to-
ward others, he recommended prompt measures
not only for defense, but for inforcing just claims
"There is rank due the United States among
other nations which will be withheld. if not abso-
lutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we
desire to avoid insult must be able to repel it ;
if we desire TO secure peace, one of the most pow
erful instruments of prosperity, it must be
known that we at all times ready for war; he
wrote.
AS he wished to avoid war. so he also wishes to
avoid alliances which might ieopardize the peace
of the nation.
against the insidious wiles of foreign influence
the jealousy of free people ought to be constantly
awake" he said warningly.
'"The great rule of conduct for us in regard to
foreign nations is in extending commercial re-
lations to have as little political connection as
possible
eff we remain one people under an efficient gov
ernment the period is not far off when we may
deny material injury from external annoyance !;
when we may take such an attitude as will cause
the neutrality we may at any time be resolved upon
to be scrupulously respected when belligerents IN
der the imposSibility of making acquisitions upon
us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provoca-
ton; when we may choose peace or war; as our in
terests, guided by justice, shall counsel"