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

sure these gentlemen that it il Ii much easier aud
less distressing thing to draw up remooslrances in
Il comfortable room by Il good 1lreside than to &C.
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 superb
hunGautly for Them, and from my soul | pity those
mlseries which it is neither in my power 10 relieve
nor prevent"
Washington made persistent efforts to get 3
guaranty Of half pay for his officers after the war,
himself having no personal interest IN the meas
uIe; he had declared from the first that he would
never profit by it to the amount Of a Single penny.
He deprecated constantly the Jealousy of the mill
tary part of the government by the civil depart
mcnr.
IF w would pursue Il right system Of policy"
he wrote to ii member of congress, Sin my opinion,
there would be none of these distinctions. We
should all. congress and army, be considered as one
people. embarked in one cause, In one interest,
acting on the same principle and to the same end
"Ihat l have not been able to make bows to the
taste Of poor Colonel b.. (who. By the way. I believe
never saw one of them) Is to be regretted" he
wrote in Il letter to David Stuart, especially as
upon these occasions they were Unfortunately be-
slowed, and the best l 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 unskillfulncss of my teacher rather
than to pride and dignity of office, which, God
knows, has no charms for me? For l certainly
say I had rather be at Mount Vernon with a friend
or two about me than to be attended at the seat
of government by the officers of state and the rep
lrsentatives 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 I
them and talk with us many as l can. What ponp
there IL in all this I am unable to discover. Per-
haps It consists in not sitting. To this two reasons
are offered: 1t is unusual: Il more substantial one.
! have no room large enough to contain n third OF
the chairs which would be sufficient to admit It. II
it Is supposed that ostentntion or the fashion Of
courts could give rise to this custom l will boldly
affirm that no supposition was ever more erroneous,
for II l were to give indulgence to my inclinations
every moment that I could withdraw from the fa.
tigue Of my station would be spent in retirement.
That 1t Is not proceeds from the sense / entertain
Of the ~propricty Of giving to everyone MS free nc.
cess ms consists with that respect which IL due
to the chair of government, and that respect l
conceive is neither to be acquired nor preserved
hut by observing a just medium between much
state and too great familiarity"
In 1903 Washington. in his second term as presi-
dent, wrote to congress that while he sought peace
and urged n faithful discharge Of every duty to-
ward others. he recommended prompt measures
not only for defense, but for inforcing just claims.
",There is II rank due the United States among
other nations which will be withheld. II not ahso.
lutely lost, by the reputation Of weakness. II we
desire TO avoid insult we must be able to. repcl It
If we desire to secure peace. one Of the most pow.
erful instruments Of our prosperity. It must be
known that We are ut all times ready for war" he
wrote.
As he wished to avoid wnr, so he also wishes to
avoid alliances which might jeopardlxe the peace
Of the nation.
against the insidious wilcs Of foreign influence
the jealousy of II free people ought 10 be constantly
awake" he said wnrningly.
''rhe great rule Of conduct for us In regard Ia
foreign nations Is In extending our commercial 70.
lations TO hive as little political connection as
III wc remain one people under m efficient gov
crnmcnt. the period Is not fnr off when We may
deny material injury from external annoyance
when we may take such nm attitude ms will cause
the neutrality we may mt any time be resolved upon
TO be scrupulously respected when belligerents. ul
der the impOssibility Of making acquisitions upon
us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provoca.
ton when we inay choose peace or war. ms our H.
terests. guided By justice. shall COUNSEL"