The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-16
Frederick Haskin' S Letter.
MEMORIAL FOR HISTORIC CROSSING

sues AuVAuusCAtO, UuStn, or t0ulefa
be erected Of men and women vho
have contributed notably tov.rS
the welfare Of the nation by ths;.
services In military or civil nur.
suits.
Funds for the project will con..
largely from the federal treasury
from the several states and frcm
the numerous organizations Of fha
character mentioned. but indiyidnsI
citizens will be offered an opnor.
tunity to make voluntary confirms.
tons. This is proposed throush
the formation of a Washington.
Crossing National Park association
life memberships in which NAV ~
secured by contributing sums of
one dollar or more.
I'VE are approaching a period az
celebration" said Mr.. Halnmitt, in
discussing this phase OF the mn.
ject, (which will extend for MANY
years and continually remind the
American people of the struggle for
liberty. They will bring to miAd
the price paid, which will doubtless
result in inspiring more feryent
patriotism throughout the land and
in making people more anxious To
visit such an historical spot A
Washington's Crossing.
Philadelphia's Celebration.
"The Sesquicentennial at phila.
delphia will bring to that city and
to- this section millions of patriotic
citizens from all parts of the coun.
try, many of whom will wish to SEQ
Washington's Crossing. Less than
five years are left for the great
task of putting this park III the
condition it then should be-"
It is understood that we'll or.
gained campaign will be carried
on to arouse popular interest in
the memorial. Congress will be
asked for an appropriation to carry
out the plan proposed for the gov
ernment's participation, and ap-
peals will likewise be made to tie
legislatures of the various states.
Many historians are of the opin-
ion that when Washington and his
forces crossed the Delaware on
Christmas day, 1776, the turning
point in the Revolutionary war was
HoAehed. After forcing the British
to 0s1cuate Boston early in that
year the American leader hastened
with his army to New York, where
it was expected the enemy would
strike next. Congress urged him
to hold the city at all hazards. and
against his better judgment Wash
ington attempted what was an i'm
possible task. Disaster resulted
and the war might have been end
ed then and there if the British
commander had been awake to his
opportunity.
Then followed the retreat
through New Jersey in which the
character OF Washington was test-
ed to the utmost. His generals grew
insubordinate, his men deserted BY
whole companies, thousands Of
people throughout the Jerseys took
the oath of allegiance to George
III, and everywhere there were
murmurs of discomfort and dis
heartenment. Barely 5000 men
answered to roll call when tie
army reached the far side Of the
Delaware, but in this crisis Wash
ington was able not only to hold
that number together, but to add
as many more. He was compelled
to resort to extraordinary meas
ures, and in explaining these he
wrote to congress: "A character
to lose, an estate to forfeit, 1he
inestimable blessing of liberty lat
stake, and a life devoted must be
my excuse"
Before the holidays the great
American was ready to striEs
blow for liberty and for his own
vindication. Crossing the Della
ware December Is, in spite Of
pitchy darkness and grinding ice,
he marches his i army nine niles
through a sleeting storm to Tren-
ton, where he surprised the Hes
SLAMS. Almost a thousand prison.
ers were captured and taken to the
other side of the river, and then
Washington crossed again to win
another victory at Princeton. The
entire situation was thus reversed.
Triumph had succeeded disaster.
The wretched retreat was forgot
ten or considered only the prelin,-
mary to the startling and brilliant
victories which commanded the re-
spect OF England and all Europe
and renewed the confidence OF
Americans in their leader.
For a year and a half afterward
the ColOnials met with almost con-
slant reverses and misfortunes, but
the genius that led Washington to
his master stroke in crossing the
Delaware was never forgotten and
its moral effect was never lost.