The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-17

"eA1dAe anu principles OF the inhabitants, he
ceives today the homage of the millions who enjo
the heritage of the free America for which b
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. He did 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 unstintedly, risked his all and
withdrew only when government was so well es-
tabllshed that it would not suffer from his retire
ment
Throughout his career the one reward he sought
was that he might partake 'in the midst of my
fellow citizens, the benign influence of good laws
under free government, the ever favorite object
of my heart"
Washington, although possessing wealth and DO
siuon, although observant of forms and ceremonies
was in the best sense a 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-
StantIy exhorted his fellow cOuntrymen TO prepare
themselves for the high destiny that he foresaw for
this country, first, by raising and equpping ade-
quate army, task that frequently hung leaden on
his hands, and second, by properly safeguarding
their rights after they had been won.
George Washington received less education-in
V
He left school before he sixteen years old and
except in mathematics, in which he had advanced
through geometry and trigon0metry, 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 mddy's warrant OBJ
tanned for him when he 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 officer his
majesty'S service
He had been out of school only few months
when he got his first job-as a surveyor. 1t was a
good one, too. for Lord Fairfax having noted the
lads mental equipment and his intrepidity, gave
him commission to survey his wild acres in the
Shenandoah valley. So well did Washington &C
cOmplish the arduous task that he was made pub
lie surveyor. Almost cOincident 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
made major.
When he still in his twentfes he won his first
colonelcy in his gallant but disastrous first cam
paign against the French. 1t there that he
first tasted the bitter fruits of unpreparedness.
When Washington went to Philadelphia as a
member Of the Second Continental congress he
his provincial uniform, an instructive express
sion of his feeling in regard to the crisis that
to come-in its way a fulfllment of prophecy
for during the session he was put at the head OF
the irregular army Boston. He found that
army not only without discipline and equipment,
but without powder. Men who had enlisted only
for few months away. Washington ardently
appealed to the Continental and Provincial con-
crosses to provide for longer enstments and an
adequate system of recruitment.
Conservative and aristocrat as he was cIassed,
Washington favored the radicals, who sought
to break with the home government and set up
their own. I have never entertained the idea of
accommodation he said "since I heard of the
measures which adopted in consequence of
the Bunker Hill fight
His stanch attitude maintained in the midst
of disheartening experiences, only with the
enemy in the field, but with troublemaRers in his
camp. Il know the unhappy preCicament in
which stand,' he wrote; 81 know that much is
pected of me; know that, without men, without
arms, without ammunition, without anything fit for
the accommodation CT a soldier, little is to be
done; and, what is Notifying. know that can
not stand justified to the world without exposing
my weakness and injuring the cause by de
claring my wants Ny situation has been such that
I have had to use art to conceal it even from my
officers"
Jealousfes hampered him so sorely that he stern
ly proclaimed: THE general most earnestly en-
treats the officers and soldiers to consider conse
quences; that way assist our enemies
than by making divisions among ourselves;
that the honor and success OF the army and the
safety OF bleeding country depend upon har-
mony and good agreement with each other: that
the provinces ali united TO oppose the COM
mon enemy and all distinctions in the name OF