The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-22

spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights OF republication Of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
Washington's Example
One wonders little, on Washing
toms birthday anniversary. how the
Father OF His Country would view
the current scene. What light would
he shed on our problems? How would
he view the attitudes and actions OF
his successors in American citizen
ship?
No estimate is possible, to be sure,
but one thing we do know and that
is, II Washington were to return to
this life today, he would have pa.
thence neither with those people who
want to change everything overnight
or those who would fight to the last
gasp for the things that are.
We know that Washington, in the
face Of present conditions, would dis
play Z commendable spirit Of forti-
tude: that his efforts would be d..
rected toward getting something done
rather than In trying to get the other
fellow to do something. The phrase.
''let George do It," did not originate
with this first American.
Most young Americans get . dis
torted picture Of George Washington
early In life and never are able wholly
to dispel 1t. They learn that Wash
ington was the boy who could not tell
lie about chopping down q cherry
tree: that he was a surveyor at II,
militia colonel at 10. They learn
that he saved the British troops from
humiliation in the retreat from Fort
Duquesne and their favorite picture
Of him is that at Valley Forge, rally
ing his men to Withstand the deadly
dullness and the sapping cold Of
northern winter. Thus he Is pre-
sented to the public as a man Of ac-
ton, q winner Of battles, . glamorous
figure.
Many never learn that Washington
lost more battles than he ever won
and few reach the realization that
the most important contest in which
he was victor was that over himself.
The cherry tree incident cannot be
proved, but everything points to the
fact that he was extraordinarily
truthful. AS result, he probably
would have difficulty getting elected
to anything In our day.
As young man he had something
OF violent temper which OCCASION
ally got out Of hand, but time and
the self-discipline Of . strong char
acter brought It under control, made
him a temperate man when clear
thinking was the greatest need Of
the nation.
Great a. was Washington's useful
ness In the military maneuvers of the
Revolution, his value increased rather
than diminished when the war was
over. It was his calm counsel and
gift for leadership which helped make
the constitutional convention . sue
cess. 1t was largely hts prestige and
popularity which got the states to
approve that document and thus
escape the status Of 10 individual ma
lions.
There is no denying Washington's
part in liberating the country from
England. and that very fact gives us
pause. for Washington was one Of
The richest men OF his day. He and
a good many others who fought for
the principle Of freedom might prop
erly have been expected to align
themselves with the vested interests
as represented by the crown. Instead
he risked his neck as well as his for
tune to fight for his ideals. for had
the Revolution been unsuccessful he
probably would have been convicted
Of treason. It Is evident, therefore,
that Washington was in no sense
Standpatter. Had he been Of this
type he would have been q tory.
There is no need and less oppor-
tunity to emulate Washington,s mill
tary deeds but the way IS open for
US all to initiate the civic virtues
which he displayed. II we would be
truly worthy Of our glorious heritage
we can show the same kind Of citizen
ship which he practiced during the
eight years It took to put the infant
nation on its feet.
All Of US can read his farewell ad.
dye1 and CLEAN the wisdom which
came to Warrington during our
formative years. All Of u can try
to think Of the general welfare rather
than in terms Of personal gain. All
Of Us can rededicate ourselves to
the fundamental principle Of democ-
racy, which y that tho citizen owes
service to the state rather than the
state to the citizen.
i = easy enough to pat out tho
nag and give lip service to Washing
ton on his birthday, but this win do
neither Us nor the country any good.
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