Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-22
G. w.: ANOTHER PATRIOT
WHO HAD TO DIE TO LIVE
Americas Habit Of Giving its Prophets
over TO Martyrdom Began with
the Colonies

TIME. which is impartial. and the evil
dence of events which never can be
twisted in anybody favor. made Of WASH
ington the superb figure that he Is in Amer
lean history. It was not the esteem Of his
contemporaries or the understanding OF the
people who followed Immediately after them.
In his day G. w. was hated, suspected.
libclcd by the politicians and advertised rs
traitor to his country. He moved to the
end of his official career in storm OF criti-
cism generated out OF fear. jealousy and
ignorance and the passionate eumity Of
snobs. In the reaction Of sentiment that
came a generation after his death Wash
ington was msrepresented in other ways.
He was presented rs a sleek embodiment OF
all the small and easy virtues, as a sort Of
cotton wool saint, in attitudes that would
have caused him spasms of nausea IL he had
been alive to read the early histories Of his
time and work.
Washington was. in fact. a two-fsted
man Of unbending honor and limtlcss cour-
age, who brought to the service Of his coun-
try love Of fair dealing and n genius for
leadership combined with n slow. cumulative
hatred of all injustice.
The memory Of Washington. who retired
after oil his matchless service thanking God
for the opportunity of escape from the mean
conflicts OF selishness that ragged around
him. may have sustained Lincoln in the days
when he, too. was being called a wrcckcr
and visionary. 1t may have comfortcd
Roosevelt when. only few years ago. the
folk who now make solemn pilgrimases to
his tomb We're calling him an anarchist who
ought to be locked up. 1t should console
Wilson.
Whether You like 1t or not. IT is necessary
to admit that such triumphs of free gov
ernmcnt as have been achieved in this coun-
try have been due mainly to inspired leaders
rather than to the voluntary force of collcc-
tive opinion. and that the leaders are lucky
II in the end they ar" not martyred in one
way or another for their pains
It will be better TO think of Washington
not as parsonage of celestial character.
such as that which moves in the honryed
and misleading legends. but as man sus-
ceptble to all normal human emotions whose
achievements were the nob!or because they
represented work done in the usual doubts
disappointmonts. sorrows and dsiluson-
mcnts. The British armies pcvcr tried
Washington MS his own people tried him.
II is fashionable to feel that all the
people in this country nre alike in demo-
cratic sHmpathiHs and similarly willing to
subordinate their own special interests 10
the essential interests of the majority. This
is deluson. 1t was dclus!on of the
patriots Of the colonies. When Washing
ton and the remnants of his army were
starving and freezing at Valley Forge. the
native Tories in this city werc warning
among themselves for the privilege of enter
tanning the officers Of the encmy's army.
G. W. was no national hero then. He
was viewed doubtfully and dlsliked because
he was supposed TO have made n sort Of
international scene. He had made what the
snobs OF those days called q sorry exhibit
tion OF himself and the Colonies. He was
in bad taste, If You get what they meant
6. W. was sustained by his own courage,
his own pride. his own faith and his own
vision. There never was n great man in the
service of any nation who didn't find him
self at some time similarly alonc--and sim
larry unu!SlnHEeu ana similarly without the
support Of uninspircd majorites.
Only the very strong men who caro- more
for justice and for mankind than they care
for their own comfort or even their own
lives may dare TO be pioneers Of great new
causes in democracy. Such mcu have 10
travel far without company. After years.
when they are shown 70 have been wise and
brave servants Of the people, monuments are
built for them and we turn out TO mako
speeches which imply that We ourselves
somehow helped them on TO triumph.
Usually We do nothing Of the sort There
are too many Of us who hate Tie thought
of change or progress, too many OF Us who
| are comfortable enough as matters stand.
| too many OF us who forget that time and
| thinking 60 Or relcutIessly no matter wbot
tho individual may desire and that those
! who refuse to move forward intclngcntIy
| and bravoIy 20 face now rcsponsibilltios
! created IN the process Of evolution will he
| violently compelled. sooner or later. by
| forces outside themselves, TO take scrond
third or fourth place in the procession.