White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-02-21
WAsHINGTON's BIRTHDAY

"There is destiny which shapes our ends''--
are all familiar with the oft-quoted squib from
school days. probably because we so often see
examples Of persons through no conscious efforts
of their own, but rather through an apparently
pre-ordained schedule, travelling course which
eliminates in an unsupported goal.
destiny is undeniabe. Neither can it be denied, Of
course, that he the possessor of inherent quail
tiles OF leadership, but it was the long chain of
circumstances which brought about their full de-
velopment.
Consider the series of incidents which lead to
his unanimous election to the presidency. First
as youth of sixteen, he commissioned to sur
vey vast estate in Virginia. Quite job for a boy
but from it he emerged young man of splendid
physique with an intimate knowledge Of the
try and the people surrounding his home and the
assuring knowledge of responsibility accepted
and carried out with honesty and vigor
After this character building interlude, we find
him IN attendance upon his consumptive brother
The latter's death made Washington heir to the
Mount Vernon estates. If he had remained in the
role of second would he have become the
Washington know today?
His first contact with the French who were to
be OF such decisive aid in the revolution, resulted
IN defeat and surrender But WashingtOn due to
the death of his superior rose from major to com
nader of the British forces The order, issued at
this time from headquarters, that any field officer
holding royal commission should be counted Sc
nor to any colonial officer was of far-reaching in
fuence in his career. He resigned but was induced
to serve on Braddock's personal staff. He jour
neyed to Boston to argue for his fellow officers
about the Discrimination and became known
throughout New England.
The common sense he had necessarily acquired
IN the handing of his own domain combined with
the fact that he was the one American soldier of
national reputation made him a leader i'm the first
and second continental congresses and paved the
way for his appointment as commander-n-chief
OF the sodiery during the revolution.
So circumstances played their part in the life
OF this man who requested, at the close of the
revolution, to become ruler of the newly -formed
country. But Washington proposed stronger
constitutional government and presided over the
constitutional convention and in 1889, when the
government began to function, he was the first
chief-magistrate.
Again circumstance affected both the existence
of Washington and the country which he had fa-
thered. Although Washington resigned at the end
OF his term and would not be persuaded to accept
denomination, the people called upon him con-
stantly. Had he not been chidless it has been sug-
gested that Washington, who had lost faith in
American institutions, might have consented to
reign as monarch over the new land and establish
his family on the throne.
Thus George Washington, first in war, first in
peace and first in the hearts of his countrvmen,
was also, it would seem, first in destiny's machina
TONS
Friday, the twenty-second of February, we Gel
citrate the 2O3rd anniversary of the birth of this
giant of the colonial days, the man who might have
been king over a nation Of his own moulding had
he so wished and had he followed the pleas of his
friends And today we honor him as the strongest
character of his time who-often nearly single
handed-helped shape the destiny of the United
States.