The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-02-14
HAPPY FORTUNE THAT
GAVE WASHINGTON
TO THE NATION

For many years there WIS IL ulspO
sition to think of Washington as q
good man, but not great one. This
view prevailed even in this country
to very considerable extent. But 1t
Is no longer held by those who are
best Informed, for Washington's great
ness is now everywhere acknowledged
1t would be neutrality-suspicious. impossi-
bie-to point to a more completely
rounded character. John Fiske has
shown that he was great military
commander OF the fine quality of
Washingtons craftsmanship there can
be no question. He was a patriot with
out even the suspicion of faint OF
jingoism. He thought Of his country
not as something to be Dragged about,
but TO be served.
The law of service was. one may al
most say, the fundamental law of the
life OF Washington. He never sought
office. and never desired it. One can
not imagine him suggesting-or con-
senting to-leglslation In order to win
votes. The first Presidents moral
courage was perhaps his most striking
trait He resisted every effort on the
part of politicians and people alike to
force the nation into war with Eng
land on the side of revolutionary
France. One may family imagine
what he would have said in response
to a suggestion that he could win
votes by going to war, and would lose
them by staying out. Not often has
there been a more accurate character
ization of man than Lowelrs of
Washington. "Where the lot turks that
gives life's foremost place." Washing
tor. knew:
Yet Dutys leaden casket holds it still
And but two ways are offered to our will
Toll with rare triumph. ease with safe
disgrace.
The problem still for and all of hu-
man race.
lie chose. men choose, where most
danger showed.
Nor ever faltered meath the load
or petty cares. that gall great hearts the
most,
But kept right the strenuous uphill
strong to the end, above complaint or
The popular tempest on his rock-mailed
coast
Wasted it's wind-borne spray;
The noisy marvel of a day;
His soul safe still in it's unstormed abode
Washington was the master of him
gelf, in subsection only to his con-
science. The English historian says
that mo nObler figure ever stood in |
tile forefront Of nations life" |
tributes to him are fa- |
miIiar All who have studied the char |
acter and work Of this great man |
agree that there was in him nothing |
Of the self-seeker, nothing even OF am |
tition-except in that noble sense In I
which all good men are ambitious. I
Much ne undoubtedly owed to the char
acter with which he was born, and to
Ms inheritance, but much he also owed
20 discipline. He had schooled him
self to generosity in victory, patience
n defeat, and In that 1neness Of soul
which safeguarded him against the
of power. His was that
long -breathed valor and undaunted
kAich like his own, the days disaster
done,
,ould, safe In manhood. suffer and be
still. III
1
Washington's fame grows with the
ears, and shines ever more brightly.
lie was q strange figure to be cast up
ut OF revolution. Demagogues or
yrants are usually the fruit of such
pheavals. Perhaps the difference be-
ween him and other revolutionary
some OF them-refects
i 4 measure the difference between
Or revolution and other revolutions.
t any rate 1t was the happy fortune :
( our country, and Of the world,
hat this nation was led during the I
erileus days of the Revolution and Of
he formative period by man who
wed order and institutional liberty,
nd who coveted for America only the
oDor Of duty-doing and of service to
Il. world.