The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1920-02-27
HISTORY REPEATING
in USUAL WAY

From an editorial in the Courier.
Journal on Washington's birthday the
following is taken:
I on this, the 22d OF February, II may
not be amiss to recall that the first
President was even more maligned
than the last has been. as wild as that
assertion may appear.
! The opponents OF the adoption of the
Federal Constitution denounced Wash
ihgton as "a fool from nature" and
Franklin as "a fool from age"
President Washington was sneered
at as Sovereign, immaculate, infal-
llble. omniscient." His negotiation OF
the treaty with Great Britain in 1894
brought upon him storm of abuse
and utilization. The opposition party
and the press We're in full cry against
him. what will posterity say of the
man who has done this thing?" asked
"A Calm Observer" I'M New York pa
per. viii 1t not say that the mask OF
political hypocrisy has been worn by
Caesar by Cromwell. and by Wash
ington alike?" The fruits of his oath
TO defend IA system of republican
Government that abhors the insidious
machinery of royal imposture" were
declared to be the seclusion of a
monk and the supercilious distance OF
a tyrant"
In those days IL was the custom at
the beginning OF session of Congress
for the President to address the House
lin person and for that body to frame
a reply. When the House met in De-
cember. 1895, a number of the mem
s.sy 10
TO Washington AT all. and when res
ply was drawn up those portions We're
struck out referring TO the national
happiness" of the country and to the
confidence" of the people in their
Chief Executive.
a more pointed insult TO Washing
ton was offered by the House on the
22d of February, 1896. 1t had been
the usage, invariably observed, for the
House TO adjourn for half an hour on
Washington's birthday, in order that
members might tender their congratu-
lations; but this the House now tlatly
refused to do.
Nothing was neglected by the OPP
ponents of Washington throughout the
young Republic to show their contempt
for the man and his birthday, which
had been celebrated with great fes-
uvities since 1888, He was castignted
as cold" and reserved" He care
fully avoided using the word Ser
want" in signing his letters, He kept
a coach. He never mingled with his
fellows on the street or in the coffee
house. He held no levees. What could
be the meaning of bell-ringing, fire
works, balls odes and toasts In cele-
bration OF the birthday of the Amer
lean Caesar" tah. there I,lihu RootD,
the stepfathcr OF his country" The
American George who issued prOcia-
nations, made treaties and "waged war
upon his fellow citizens with all the
insolenee of an Emperor OF Romeo"
This campaign OF Islander against
Washington probably reached its eli
max in the revival of some letters, al
legged to have been written by him,
which bordered on treason, but which
had been proven fOrgeries nearly 20
years before, when they We're first con-
coctcd; in charges that he was n sal
AIRY grabbcr and thief and Ia the de-
tailed fabrication OF story that he
had once committed murder.
None OF this defamation smirches
the fame OF Washington today. Study
his story with the stories of his sue
cessors. notably Lincoln and Cleve-
land. II YOU would form an opinion OF
the shadows which it win be possible
for the calumnies of 1920 to throw up
on the ngure OF Woodrow Wilson In
2O2O.