The Wilmington morning star., 1946-02-24
Walter WincheU
In Ne1u York
GEORGE WASHINGTON, AMERICAN

GEORGE WASHINGTON, AMERICAN
First Patriot now, as never before,
Your people need your voice, your vision,
The shield of faith your courage bore
Against all danger and der1s1on.
In prayer and your stout heart you found
The strength that put your foes TO rout;
Today on every side abound
The fool within, the foe without.
In times as vigilant and grave,
o fortify our souls to face
The coward and the traitorous knave
And crush them both, with Gods good grace!
Joseph Auslande1
Washington was a victim of scurrilous jour-
nalism. Editorial attacks plunged to the oepths
of vituperation Yet Washington never attempt
ed to suppress Cor investigated any OF MS
newspaper belittlers. He once said: Il fought
for liberty and when I'refuse to deprive my
foes of their freedom--I am defending that
liberty
The first Presidents astute diplomatic sense
can best be illustrated by the following tale:
powerful French politician asked him Tor
a letter of recommendation to the American
people. Washington didn't agree with many
of the Frenchman's ideas, but he, didn't want
to offend him. So he wrote: This man needs
no recommendation from George Washington"
1solat1onist have always used the Farewell
Address" to remind Americans that Washing
ton warned us against "entangling alliances
Actually the phrase does not appear in the
Farewell Address, It was first used by
Thomas Jefferson in his first Inaugural adj
dress-sixteen months after Washington died!
The Father Of Our Country also had his
difficulties with congressman He once attend
ed Senate meeting, expecting to discuss, a
proposed treaty with the Indians. Instead OF
discussing the treaty, the Senate referred it to
a committee, and the indignant Washington
let the meeting. He never went back to the
Senate.
When Washington visited Providence, the
whole population assembled to greet him. He
was surrounded by crowd Of children carry
ing torches, and everybody pressed so closely
around him that they hindered him from pro-
ceeding. Washington was deeply affected and
said: "We may be beaten in war; it is the
chance of war; But the people are an army
who can never be conquered"
Washington was devout man. He set aside
a part of each day for meditation and devotion
At Valley Forge, a soldier strolling on the
outskirts of the camp heard quiet voice. He
walked in the direction of it and saw the
Chief-on his knees In prayer
Our initial Chief Exec refused to pamper
sed1tionlsts. When group OF malcontents held
a large mass meeting, denounced law and
declared that they would not obey it, Wash
ington called on the State militia to queI the
instruction. He later pointed out: IF any
body of the people are allowed unpublished
to rise and disobey any law all law and order
would soon vanish. We must never parley or
haggle with sedition, treason or lawlessness,
but must strike blow that cannot be parted
and at once!''
Punctuality was one of Washington's strong
points. When company was invited to dinner,
he made an allowance of only five minutes for
variation in watches. L the guests came late
he would say: 1--WE are too punctual for you
I have a cook who does not ask if the COM
pany has come. but if the hour has come"
Washington would have been amused by the
legend that he never fibbed. He once related
the story of the father who informed his tot
that he never told lie. The youngste-
looked up and said: why couldn't you lie?
Didn't you know how to talk?''
Amazing how seemingly unimportant events
in the lives of great men have tremendous
effect on history. Washington originally
intended to join the Navy. A British admiral
man. But Washing tons mother objected so
strongly that he gave up the opportunity.
If he had Joined the Navy, he never could
have become the leader of Americas Army
and the U. S. A. might not have been born
When George was asked to define the basis
of patriotism, he replied in few well-chosen
words worth 1nemoriZing: Labor to keep
alive in your breast that little spark of &c.
lestial fire, conscience
The Founding Fathers lie is an open book.
He knew he was making history, and he kept
careful copies of all his important letters and
writings, SO it is impossible that there should
be any doubts on any important points. So
jealous was he of his own honorable repu.
tation that his last act as P, tsident was to
file denial of the authenticity of some
spurious letters attributed to him by his po-
ltical enemies. He said: "a lie can gain
much circulation, but history always catches
up with the truth
One May day Washington rode from Mount
Vernon to carry dispatches to Williamsburg.
On the way he stopped for dinner with
friend. At the same table was a lady named
Martha cambridge. He spent the afternoon
with her. The next day he returned from his
mission, called on Martha cambridge and pro
posed. She accepted.
Because he devoted his life to fighting for
liberty, Washington naturally loathed bigotry
Hebrew Congregation in Newport, R. l.: May
fhn ohi - ,40 0f VIII