The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-05
TheyRiSked
TheirAW
and Won
BY CARL C. MAGE

"EORCE WASHINGTON was
" the richest country gentleman
in the colonies. He was surrounded
on lordly estate with great re-
tinue o slaves. The socially ELECT
were f1attered to receive invitations
to functions at Mt. Vernon.
Washington's property was made
safe by the favor Of foreign king,
who asked little in return except
recognition of his mastery. WASH
ington had every reason to be salts
fed with the governmental status
quo. He had every material thing
to keep by sustaining King George.
He apparently had everything to
lose, except his soul, by becoming
a rebel against England. He was
scorning the law which protected
his possessions. He was quarreling
with his socially-elect Tory friends.
He was giving up the easy COM
forts of Mt. Vernon to live in a
snow-covered tent aand on scant
food. He was inviting a wrathful
king to hang him as a traitor if he
failed in his revolutionary venture.
Instead of throwing his terror
stricken arms around his worldly
possessions and abjectly submitting
to tyranny for expediency's sake,
Washington chose to save his soul.
He risked all. Thereby he gained
all
Seeking the easy way, he would
today be merely rich country gen.
tleman of that period. Willing to
take the hard way in service to his
fellow men, he became the Father
of His Country.
A BRAHAM LINCOLN faced Bit
IA ter personal animosity in his
own cabinet. Seward looked upon
him as an ignorant backwoods-
man. Chase used his power in the
treasury to seek the presidential
nomination for himself. Stanton
was sure he was secretary of war
to fool. Lincoln was fully aware
Of those attitudes.
Yet Lincoln did nothing to rec
move these disloyal subordinates.
He felt that America needed their
talents in her crisis. 1t was the
duty to country, as he saw it, to
bear and forbear. He ignored
Sights and disloyalties, but firmly
held the reins of government. Slow
ly the greatness and firmness Of
the man dawned upon these smaller
mems minds.
In the early hours of that fate
full morning in a little room across
from Ford's theater in Washing
ton, these three strong men wept
as the great spirit of Lincoln
poised itself for flight. When Lin
coin was dead the rugged Stanton,
who brief two years before had
referred to the President as "a
damn fool" now with tears stream
ing down his face said in a broken
voice, land now he belongs to the
ages" Today Lincoln ranks with
our greatest. Service exalted.
ID OBERT E. LEE, a general in the
IN federal army, walked the floor
all night. Did he owe his first
loyalty to a union which had hon
ored him and was waiting to heap
added honors upon him. or was mis-
first duty to an independent and
sovereign state, which had seeded
from the union against his will?
That history has decreed that he
made a mistake in his decision
makes little difference. Alone with
his God he fought it out with his
conscience, guided by the best lights
that he had. He honestly believed
Virginia's will to be final.
He chose the hard course through
a sense of duty. He joined the
weaker group. Untold hardships and
humiliations followed in the wake
Of that decision. Yet he never
faltered. In defeat he was a gallant
and serene spirit, sure of having
done his duty as he saw it.
Today, half nation regards him
as an idol. AS bitterness has died,
the other half has begun to see the
greatness of the man. Finally, all
will see him clearly as the self
sacrificing and intelligent leader of
a lost cause.
Lees place in history is secure. He
went without complaint to the hard
places where duty called him and
bore the consequent personal
Affections without a murmur.
We thus recount briefly from the
history of three of our greatest men
for the benefit of those upon whom
responsibilities Of government have
been thrust today.
Note that the self-seekers Of other
days are forgotten. Those willing to
be last" in service are first" in the
hearts of their countrymen.