New-York tribune., 1921-02-22
The Day of a Hero

The smaller critics in the modern
school of history writer's have at
tackled all heroes. They have writ
ten volumes to prove them over
rated, unimportant, fgureheads,
held aloft only by conspiracy of
the powers that be, who use them
as mask for conservatism, as gods
to frighten the people from unrest
and rebellion.
They have found, they consider,
particularly vulnerable figure in
Washington. His generalship was
laundering, they argue, his contri-
buttons to the science of govern
ment negligible, and his political
influence, such as it was, cast upon
the side Of aristocracy. A typical
myth is the Father Of His Country
these revisers Of the past declare.
Now, there is ample room for a
reconsideration of history, for an
examination into its myths, it's
heroes, in the light of new discov-
cries of fact and of psychology. But
we wish that our brash revisers
would not lose their heads in the
excitement of their chase. The proc
ess of myth-making does tend to
idealize a hero, to drop from him
his mortal shortcomings and con-
centrate attention upon his virtues.
But is this process conscious dis
tortion of history? y Does it pro-
ceed from any ones Nmalevolent de-
sire to mislead and fuddle the popu-
lace? Does it really mislead and
fuddle any one? Does it really foist
a false and unrepresentative idea
upon single soul?
Let us give our answer by to-
days example. Here in America, a
hundred and twenty-five years after
his death, a whole people, barring
only fringe of malcontents, .unites
TO honor their hero, who was, let
as agree, neither surprising gen
eral nor a creator of new govern
mental theory--and who was, by
birth and tradition, an aristocrat.
Is this worship the product of
propaganda? Does it misrepresent
what Washington really was? Are
the small boy and girl of to-day
tricked and deceived by the cele-
bration of the day-and are we all
victims of century of such decep-
tion?
The whole stress of our history as
it is taught in our schools puts the
answer beyond doubt. The very
catch-phrase of the "myth''-the
Father of His Country-overwhelms
the critics. It is neither as a Ma.
poleon nor Madison nor a Lin.
coin that Washington is venerated
His shining, beloved figure stands
to-day for the precise greatness that
was his, greatness of character
rather than of sheer intellect, no.
bility and purity of soul, an indomi
table stanchness Of will, BY right
of his lifetime of work, of his un
dying faith and loyalty, he richly
earned his title to the spiritua
fatherhood of the America he lovee
so we'll. The myth" is, in short, sc
far from being distortion of the
facts, an amazingly accurate anc
imaginative summary of them.
So if studious and subtle prop
aganda Of conservatives has con
structed and maintained this myth
it has at least shown an amazing
genius for the truth. But to state
such perversity is to exhibit its
absurdity. Great popular convic
tions are not foisted upon a peoples
mind and heart against their will
1t is much nearer the truth to say
that they are the product of that
mind and heart. In seizing upon the
noble figure of Washington anc
making his very human character a
sign and symbol Of American char.
acter and faith the American people
honored themselves as they honored
a great soul. And, we are glad to
believe, they expressed the essential
truth of their character as they un-
questionably expressed the truth of
Washington.