The Raymer enterprise., 1917-02-15


AI5/ the form Of unjust taxation or an
other infringement OF the interests
welfare and principles Of the inhabitants. he re
ceifes today the homage of the millions who enjo
The heritage OF the free America for which h
fought and which he helped establish. This accord
Ing TO an article In the New York Herald which
goes on to say:
In this he was at one with other great men bred
In the new, free spirit and atmosphere Of the
colonies. lie did not seek to set himself over them
but to work with them, contributing as his part In
the struggle his military genius and experience
and his carefully trained executive ability His
Ideal was the common good For that he gave his
time and strength unstntedly. risked his all and
Withdrew only when government was so well es-
tahllshed that 1t would not suffer from his retire
ment
Throughout his career the one reward he sought
wns that he might partake, "in the midst of my
fellow citizens. the benign influence of good laws
under free government the ever favorlte object
Of my heart"
Washington. although possessing wealth and po-
siion, although obseryant Of forms and ceremonies
was In the best n democrat a 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-
stantly exhoried his fellow countrymen 10 prepare
themselves for the high destiny that he foresaw for
this country first, by raising and equippng an ade
qunte army, task that frequently hung eaden on
his hands and, second by properly safeguarding
their rights after they had been won.
George Washington received less educatlon--ln
school-than most lads of poor parentage do today.
He left school before he was sixteen years old and
except In mathematics in which he had advanced
through geometry and trigonometry, 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, ms his carefully kept
notebooks atest. He manifested a special aptitude
for surveying aud for military affairs. This taste
led to his having a royal middys warrant, OBJ
talncd for him when he fourteen years old,
and only because of his mothers reluctance to
have him 90 to England he was spared to fight for
the colonies instead of becoming an officer In his
maiesty's service
He had been out of school only few months
when he got his first job-as surveyor. It was a
good onF, too, for Lord Fairfax, having noted the
lads mental equipment and his intrepdlty, gave
him commission to survey his wild ncres In the
Shenandoah valley So well did Washington ac-
complish the arduous task that he was made pub
lie surveyor. Almost coincldent with his entrance
upon private career young Washington identified
himself with public interests. Fond of athletics
and sports as well Of military affairs he joined
the local militia and when nineteen years old was
made major.
When he was stil In his twrntes he won his first
colonelcy in his gallant but disastrous first cam
palgn against the French It was there that he
first tasted the bitter fruits Of unpreparedness
When Washington went 10 Philadelphia as a
-
wore hts provincial uniform an Instructive express
sion of his feeling In regard TO the crisis that was
to eome--ln its way fufllment of prophecy
for during the session lie was put at the head of
the Irregular army near Boston. He found that
army not only without discipline md equipment,
but without powder. Men who had enlisted only
for a few months ran away. Washington ariently
appealed TO the Continental and Provincial con.
crosses TO provide for longer enlistnen,s and an
adequate system of recruitment.
Conservative and aristocrat ms he was classed,
Washington now favored the radicals who sought
10 break with the home government and set IN
their own. Il have never entertained the idea Of
on accommodation" he said, "sinee heard Of the
measures which were adopted In consequence Of
the Bunker Hill fight"
His staneh attitude was maintained In the midst
Of dlsheartenlng experiences not only with the
enemy in the field. but with troubemakers In his
own camp. 81 know the unhappy predicament in
which stand" he wrote; "I know that much is ex-
pected Of me; | know that, without men, without
arms. without ammunition, without anything III for
the accommodation Of soldier. little is 10 be
done; and what is mortifylng, know that can
not stand justified to the world without exposing
my own weakness and inJurlng the cause by de-
clarIng my wants. My situation has been such that
| have had TO use art TO conceal II even from my
officers"
JeaIousies hampered him so sorely that he stern
II proclaimed: THE general most earnestly
treats the officers and soldiers TO consider conse-
auences: that we can no way assist our enemies
more than by making divisions among ourselves:
that the honor and success of the army and the
safety OF our bleeding country depend upon hare
,nony and good agreement with each other; that
The provinces are all united to oppose the COM
r,on enemy and all distinctions In the name Of