The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-02-22
HAPPY FORTUNE THAT
GAVE WASHINGTON
TO THE NATION

For many years there was dispo-
Eition to think of Washington as a
good man, but not a great one. This
view prevailed even in this country
to a very considerable extent. But 1t
is no longer held by those who are
best informed, for Washington's great
ness Is now everywhere acknowledged.
It would be difficult-perhaps impossi-
ble-to point to a more completely
rounded character. John Fiske has
shown that he was great military
commander. OF the fine quality of
Washington's craftsmanship there can
be no question. He was 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 con-
senting to-legislation 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 a man than Lowells of
Washington, "Where the lot turks that
gives life's foremost place" Washing
ton knew:
vet Duty's leaden casket holds 1t still,
And but two ways are offered to our will.
Toll with rare triumph, ease with safe
disgrace.
The problem still for us and all Of hui
man race.
He chose as men choose, where most
danger showed,
Nor ever faltered meath the load
OF petty cares, that gall great hearts the
most,
But kept right ON tho strenuous uphill
Strong to the end. above complaint or
boast;
The popular tempest on his rock-mailed
coast
Wasted its wind-borne spray;
The noisy marvel of day;
His soul safe still in its unstormed abode.
Washington was the master of him
self. in subsection only TO his con-
science The English historian says
that mo nobler figure ever stood in
the forefront of a nations life"
Thackeray's tributes to him are IA
miliar. 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
bition-except in that noble sense in
which all good men are ambitious.
Much he undoubtedly owed to the char
acter with which he was born, and to
his inheritance, but much he also owed
to discipline. He had schooled him
self to generosity in victory, patience
In defeat, and In that fineness Of soul
which safeguarded him against the
establishments of power. His was that
long breathed valor and undaunted
will,
which. like his own. the days disaster
done,
Could. safe in manhood. sufrer and be
still.
Washington's fame grows with the
years, and shines ever more brightly.
He was strange figure to be cast up
out of a revolution. Demagogues or
tyrants are usually the fruit of such
upheavals. Perhaps the difference be
tween him and other revolutionary
Ieaders-or some of them-refiects
In a measure the difference between
our revolution and other revolutions.
At any rate 1t was the happy fortune
OF our country, and of the world,
that this nation was led during the
periious days of the Revolution and of
the formative peIod by man who
loved order and institutional liberty.
and who coveted for America only the