New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-10
Harding Pleads for Return
To Ideals of Washington
(contlnvsd from pace ons

(ContinUed from paes ons
feet marked the route a pathway 20
eternal glory. Thither they trudged
through storm and torrent; but from
here. in the hour Of victory, went out
winged messengers 70 let all men know
that liberty was safe in the keeping
of her sons.
The Rougher Road of Strife
point me the field Of strife. 10 which
have converged more roads that led
through encouragement, calamity and
all justification for despair! And point
me, next. that field from where radi-
ated so many highways Of the buoyant
heart. the confident hope, the indomita-
bic purpose. the will TO win Take
down the tones. thumb all the black
est, all the fairest pages, and tell me
where you read Of nobler, fner-aye, or
more fruitful-sacrifces Of men for
their fellOwsl
"Here, among you to whom the ira
ditions Of those events are sacred
trust, is no place for recounting the
discouragement Of the patriot cause,
tie low obb of Continental fortunes.
the seeming that final disaster could
not long be stayed. Almost from the
day in the preceding summer when
the great Declaration had been issued
misfortune had followed on misfor-
tunes heel-Long Island. the loss Of
New York, the surrender Of the Hud-
son forts, the retreat across New Jer-
sey. the refuge in Pennsylvania. IL
was all leading toward the seemingly
inevitable end The army was crum-
bling-only civil authority pretended
70 maintain any central organ. The
enemy delayed 10 finish his task only
because he was so certain OF his quarry
that haste would be unseemly.
"And then the fash Of Washington's
dehancel The crossing Of the Delaware
in storm and ice foes; the march and
the delays which made il impossible to
effect a night attack and complete
surprise; Washington's stern and fate
full decision 70 press on and stake
everything on the issue; finally the
attack and the victory.
Surprise Follows Surprise
Brilliant as was the accomplish
ment, Washington, on the Jersey side,
was faced presently by the superior
strength of the now consolidated Brit
ish forces At last his rival was sure Of
the old fox Then came the strategic
withdrawal by Washington. at night,
in secret from his line on the Assam
pink Greek, the fauking march to
Princeton, and the second surprise and
defeat Of the enemy. In the narrative
Of those magnificent winter days OF
marching and fighting, surprises and
victories. one finds the truest presen-
tation of the indomitable spirit which
sustained and, at last, won the Revo-
luton.
at is not often that the precise i'm
portance and significance Of a particu-
lar military detail can be so accurately
appraised as it can regarding the mid
winter campaign Of Decentralization.
The PRONUNCIATION Of the Declaration Of
INDEPENDENCE had moved the British
authorities TO especially determined
efforts for quick suppression Of the
Revolution. To them il was vitality i'm
nortant that the fires Of revolt be
smothered before the new feeling OF
nationality had risen TO make the col
onists realize the substantial unity OF
their cause and their interests. The
strategy Of the British invasion Of New
Jersey has been bitterly criticized
many times, but it must always be re-
membered that there is an intimate re-
lationship between political conditions
and military operations, and that IN
this case the political situation was
certain to depend very greatly on mill
tary developments.
"The destruction Of Washington s
army would almost have snufed out
tbe revolution. Il would have given
of the overwhelming
Of British power, which
even the most stout-hearted patriot