Milford chronicle., 1931-11-13
George Washington And
Peace

States George Washington Bicen
tennial Commission points out
should recall to every American
mind George Washington as the de
vOut believer that he was in peace
Throughout the eight years of this
Revolutionary War, General Wash.
ington fought with the aim of peace
forever in mind. During his Presi-
dency his scrupulOus efforts to keeI
the United States out of foreign en-
tanglements had as their aim the
single thought of peace.
For Washington, particularly in
his later and more mature years,
war had lost whatever glamOr ii
might have had in his eyes. To him,
peace was a personal blessing as
much as a goal for the people.
Peace meant to him the enjoyment
OF his beloved Mount Vernon with
its gracious life and its warm hOspi-
tality. This right to peace ne felt
he had won, by whole-hearted deVo-
tion to military victory. He knew the
value of an honorable peace by hav-
ing paid its price in sacrifice, in
trial, and even in the exposure of
his person on the field of battle.
He proved the sincerity of his
love of peace again and again, by
the very readiness to resort to arms
once more. when occasion demand
/ ed When what is known as the
! "Whiskey Rebellion" threatened for
a time, early in his second admins
istration, he lost not a moment in
/ despatching troops to put it down.
When he had retired from the Pres
idency to the enjoyment of Mount
Vernon, he cheerfully accepted the
responsibility of Commander in
Chief once more, when our differ
ences with France brought threat of
war. Fortunately the storm-cloud
passed, but Washington had proved
his readiness to resort to the battle
field had necessity beckoned.
But the necessity of war alone in
duced Washington to take up arms.
History records what a Fighter he
was, when the cause was just and
the fight was forced upon him. In
every other respect he was a war
liOr who abhOred war.
George Washington had his Arm
istice Day when England signed ar
ticles of peace with the victorious
Colonies in 1888. The moment the
cause for which he had fought was
won and triumph was a reality, lie
turned his back on military glory.
AS soon as decorum permitted, he
resigned his commission to Con-
sress and turned his face toward
home, never again, he hoped, to be |
drawn away from peaceful pursuits |
as private citizen. An1 this was
the act of a man who, but a year
before, had but to lift his hard to |
grasp the dictatorial pow er tender
ea him by an army that adored him |
and that ragged at the neglect of |
Congress. His devoted officers yir-
tually begged him to assume mon
achial powers, and his only answer
was indignant refusal.
So one of the greatest of soldiers
remained one of the greatest advo-
Gates of peace, but, be it r;inember-
ed, always the peace of hon II. As
head of the army he proved how
hOnorably a war may be won; as
President of the United States lie
proved how a statesman may pre-
serve peace with hOnOr On more
than one occasion the country. dur
ire his two administrations, faced
the risk of being drawn into Euro
rean conflicts. Washington saved
the country from the peril, but he
saw to it equally well that its hon
Jr was in no way sullied.
In the great political classic he
left us, the Farewell Address, deliv-
cred to the American people as he
laid down the Presidency, the note
of peace is sounded in lines that
should be forever branded in mem
Dhy:
6. nothing is more essential
than that permanent, inYeterate
antipathies against particular la |
tfons and passionate attachments c
for others should be excluded;
and that in place of them just and I
amicable feelings toward all )
should be cultivated. The Nation
which INDUCES towards another
an habitual hatred or an habitual !.
fondness, is in some degree a !
slave. 1t is a slave to its animos-
ity or to its affection, either of
which is sufficient to lead it
astray frcm its duty and it's inter-
est"
The passage ends on a note which Il
freedom from these en- -
for the sole purpose of -
our peace.
On Armistice Day this year the
ountry was reminded again of >,
hose who gave their lives for coun- -
ry and who sleep in the peace of y
eath. Over their bodies George n
Washing would pronounce his
lessing. In deeds as eloquent as
is words, they proclaimed Amer p,
ra's faithful adherence to the prin- n
iple that he laid down for our per n
etual sujdance-peace as long as r.
is honorable, but war to the q,
cath when it is forced upon us, and f,
lways for the purpose of restoring @,
eace again. p,