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diff --git a/41012-0.txt b/41012-0.txt index daf854b..b76eb92 100644 --- a/41012-0.txt +++ b/41012-0.txt @@ -1,36 +1,4 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Wonderful Story of Washington, by Charles M. Stevens - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Wonderful Story of Washington - and the Meaning of His Life for the Youth and Patriotism of America - -Author: Charles M. Stevens - -Release Date: October 10, 2012 [EBook #41012] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDERFUL STORY OF WASHINGTON *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Bergquist, Matthew Wheaton and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41012 *** THE WONDERFUL STORY OF WASHINGTON @@ -4384,361 +4352,4 @@ making of America and the making of the World. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonderful Story of Washington, by Charles M. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Wonderful Story of Washington - and the Meaning of His Life for the Youth and Patriotism of America - -Author: Charles M. Stevens - -Release Date: October 10, 2012 [EBook #41012] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDERFUL STORY OF WASHINGTON *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Bergquist, Matthew Wheaton and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -THE WONDERFUL STORY OF WASHINGTON - -[Illustration] - - "The ingenuous youth of America will hold up to themselves the - bright model of Washington's example, and study to be what they - behold; they will contemplate his character, till all his - virtues spread out and display themselves to their delighted - vision; as the earliest astronomers, the shepherds on the - plains of Babylon, gazed at the stars till they saw them form - into clusters and constellations, overpowering at length the - eyes of the beholders with the united blaze of a thousand - lights."--WEBSTER. - - - _Inspiration Series of Patriotic Americans_ - - - - - THE WONDERFUL STORY OF WASHINGTON - - AND THE MEANING OF HIS LIFE - FOR THE YOUTH AND PATRIOTISM - OF AMERICA - - BY C. M. STEVENS - Author of "_The Wonderful Story of Lincoln_" - - - NEW YORK - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - - - Copyright, 1917, by - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER - - I. INTRODUCTORY CONSIDERATIONS - American Patriotism and the Meaning of America. - Washington's Early Surroundings. - - II. THE BOY WITH A WILL AND A WAY - Early Circumstances of the First American Hero. - A Community Proud of Its Family Honor. - The Self-Pity and Sentimentalism of Youth. - - III. BEGINNINGS OF EXPERIENCE IN BORDER WARFARE - Getting Used to Roughing It. - Land Speculation as the Beginning Leading to - American Self-Government. - The Struggle for the Indian's Hunting Grounds. - - IV. THE RIVALRY AND DIPLOMACY OF THE FRONTIER - The First Great Problems of the Indians. - Alarm for the Future. - Indifference to Great Interests. - - V. THE CONSEQUENCE OF ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE - Annoyances and Antagonisms. - Dishonors and Disasters. - Washington Entering the School of War. - - VI. THE STRUGGLE FOR FORT DUQUESNE - The Separation Beginning Between the Colonies and - England. - Lessons Gathered from Defeat. - Some Personal Interests at Home. - - VII. THE FATE OF THE OHIO VALLEY - Frontier Fears and Panics. - Political Intrigue and Official Confusion. - "A Matter of Great Admiration." - - VIII. THE BEGINNING SIGNS OF A GREAT REVOLUTION - Military Victory and a Happy Marriage. - Life Fulfilled as a Virginia Country Gentleman. - The Momentous Struggle Between Might and Right. - - IX. SOWING THE WIND AND REAPING THE WHIRLWIND - Mount Vernon at First in a Zone of Calm. - Giving the Appearance and Keeping the Substance. - "Soft Words Butter No Parsnips." - - X. ANTAGONISMS AND HOSTILITIES - Blazing the Way to War. - The Double-Quick March to Revolution. - Violence and Flattery as Methods of Mastery. - - XI. GREAT MINDS IN THE GREAT STORM - Suppressing Americans. - The Business of Getting Ready. - Many Men of Many Minds. - - XII. THE HOUSE LONG DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF - Unpatriotic Confusion of Opinions and Interests. - Sometimes Too Late to Mend. - Selecting the Leader of Liberty for America. - - XIII. LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY - The First Commander-in-Chief. - Big Business, Money-Makers and Patriotism. - The Strong Mind for Great Needs. - - XIV. TURNING REVOLUTION INTO GOVERNMENT - Seeking Retirement for Life. - Freedom and the Wrangle for Personal Gain. - Laying the Foundations of Liberty and Law. - - XV. THE PEACE OF HOME AT LAST - Sorrow for the Departed Scenes. - Crowned in the Fullness of Time. - A Life-Like Scene from Washington's Home Life. - - XVI. STANDARDS OF AMERICAN PATRIOTISM - Foundations. - Freedom of the Western Hemisphere. - The Loyalty of Youth. - - XVII. CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS - The Washington Ideal as the American Ideal. - Not Birth But Character Makes Americans. - The American Lesson Learned from the Greatest - Leaders in the Making of America. - - - - -WASHINGTON AND AMERICAN LIBERTY - - - - -CHAPTER I - -INTRODUCTORY CONSIDERATIONS - - -I. AMERICAN PATRIOTISM AND THE MEANING OF AMERICA - -"America for Americans" is a patriotic appeal that has arisen in many -a political crisis, and then gone to pieces in the confusions of what -we mean by "Americans" and "America." American Liberty has been a -goddess of worship from the beginning, and yet we find ourselves in an -endless turmoil concerning what we mean by "American liberty." - -Washington and his associate patriots wrote a great definition in -history and established that definition in the Declaration of -Independence and the Constitution of the United States, but human -meaning, like the skies, seems hard to get clear and to keep clear. To -know clearly what the definition of freedom means and to promote it -in the right-minded way, is the patriotism that identifies anyone -anywhere as being American. The makers of America loved the -right-minded way, and their primary test of justice unfailingly -required, as a basis, the personal liberty that has been described to -us by all as freedom to do the right that wrongs no one. To these -"rights of man," they gave "the last full measure of devotion," as -Lincoln defined patriotism, for "the birth of a new freedom under -God." - -The public-school youth, who is not in one way or another familiar -with the Americanism of Washington and Lincoln, is not yet prepared -either for college or for life, and, still more clearly, is not -prepared to be an American. The number of un-Americans in America may, -in some crisis, become appalling, if, in fact, they do not succeed in -Europeanizing America. Against that possibility there is nothing to -save us, if we do not save ourselves as our hereditary task of -American patriotism. - -Washington and Lincoln are the two incomparable constructive ideals of -American liberty and manhood. The two lives together complete the -meaning of America. Washington began his life with a super-abundance -of everything aristocratic in his age. Lincoln began his life in -worldly nothingness that had indeed nothing for him but the democratic -wilderness till he became a man. And yet both became the same great -soul in the same great cause, the maker and preserver of American -civilization, as the moral law of man and God. - -[Illustration: The Birthplace of George Washington--Bridges Creek, -Westmoreland Co., Virginia.] - -American life and its ideal humanity cannot be understood by American -youth until the wonderful character and struggle of these two -supremely typical Americans are understood as the expression of the -meaning of America, and even no less as a meaning for the world. - -The Great Teacher said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he -will lay down his life for a friend," and no man on earth has a -greater friend than the America of Washington and Lincoln. - - -II. WASHINGTON'S EARLY SURROUNDINGS - -We cannot think with a true vision, in estimating the meaning of -colonial and revolutionary days, if we allow the glamor of fame and -the idolatry of colonial patriotism to obscure our view of those -times. There were heroes immortal with what we know as "the spirit of -'76," but, grading from them were the good, bad and indifferent, that -often seemed overwhelming in numbers. - -George Washington is known chiefly through the rather stilted style of -writing that then prevailed, and the puritanic expressions that were -used in describing commendable conduct. Even Washington's writings -were edited so as not to offend sensitive ears, and so as not to give -an impression to the reader different from the idealized orthodox -character of that severe pioneer civilization. The people were free in -everything but social expression. That was sternly required to conform -to a rigid puritanic or cavalier standard. - -Washington, more than any other great man, seems to have composed his -early life from what some well-meaning reformers have termed -"copy-book morality;" that is, proverbial morality or personal rules -of conduct. Washington in his boyhood wrote out many moral sentences -as reminders for his own guidance. He was a persistent searcher after -the right way toward the right life. - -Washington's mother is described as being stern in business and moral -discipline, even as having a violent temper and being capable of very -severe measures to accomplish needed results. It seems that -Washington, seeing this method in both father and mother, reinforced, -as it were, by the military bearing of his much-admired elder -half-brother, took that form of life as his earliest ideal. He was as -tireless in perfecting models of business and life as Lincoln was in -mastering the unconventional meaning of human beings. Washington at -the ages of eleven and twelve delighted to copy various book-keeping -forms and mercantile documents. His school books at that age are still -preserved and they are models of accuracy and neatness. Besides that, -he loved to discipline himself. He was always subjecting himself, -either mentally or physically, to some kind of orderly training. - -For one who was destined to have such a leading part in framing a new -nation for a new world, such a making of mind seems to have been just -the thing for that great task. - -He enjoyed a great local reputation as the boy who could ride any -horse in that county, and who could throw a stone across the -Rappahannock. He was a leader in every group of boys to which he came. -He drilled them in military parades and umpired them in their disputes -and games. Students of the mind-making process have much to consider -in the comparison and analogy of a boy being first military chieftain -to his playmates, and then step by step, the legislator, judge and -chief executive in their political affairs, with the generalship of a -revolution for national independence, and the statesmanship of a new -empire built in the cause of humanity. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE BOY WITH A WILL AND A WAY - - -I. EARLY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FIRST AMERICAN HERO - 1732 - -George Washington has his place in American history, not only as being -the great commander-in-chief of the American revolutionary army, but -as being no less influential and powerful as a political leader and -constructive American statesman. He was born February 22, 1732, in one -of the wealthiest and most cultured homes in America. From the front -door of his father's house, on the estate that was a few years later -named Mount Vernon, could be seen many miles of the Potomac River, and -a wide sweep of the shores of Maryland. All that can enter into making -life delightful flourished abundantly about the cradle of this child, -and contributed toward his preparation and development for leadership, -that was to produce a new power in the cause of human freedom for the -world. There are easily seen many contributing interests that seemed -to be carefully engaged in fitting him for the consequential task of -taking the divine right from kings and giving it back to the people -who alone have the right to the freedom of the earth. - -Very soon after the birth of this child, the family moved to an estate -owned by the father on the shores of the Rappahannock, across from -Fredericksburg. - -All traditions agree that the boy's father was exceedingly careful -that his son should have his mind built up in the most gentlemanly -honesty. - -Somehow, as we trace the early lives of great men, that word honesty -is always intruding as of first importance. In an age when so many men -seem to arrive at riches and power through intrigue and the -unscrupulous manipulation of means, the word honesty loses -significance and is looked upon either as hypocrisy or a joke. And -yet, such conditions fail and the success does not succeed. - -George Washington was fortunate in his childhood protectors. Besides -having his father and mother to take watchful care of his right views -of life, there was Lawrence, fourteen years older than George. -Lawrence Washington was a son of their father's earlier marriage. He -had been sent away to England to be educated and he returned when -George was eight years old. He has been described as a handsome, -splendid, gentlemanly young man. He dearly loved George and did all he -could to give the boy his honorable ideas of social and political -life. - -In the midst of this fraternal interest, at the most impressionable -age of a child, came a great military excitement. War for the -possession of the West Indies was on between Great Britain and Spain. -Admiral Vernon had captured Porto Bello on the Isthmus of Darien, and -the Spaniards, aided by the French, were preparing to drive the -English out. A regiment was to be raised in the Colonies and Lawrence -Washington was eager to become a soldier. Such was his father's -position in Colonial affairs that Lawrence was given a Captain's -commission and he sailed away in 1740. - -The sound of fife and drum, with Lawrence's enlistment, doubtless -excited the martial spirit in George, as is confirmed by many an -anecdote, and started him on the way to that knowledge and training -which fitted him to become the head of the revolutionary army. - -Augustus Washington, George's father, died suddenly in 1743, at the -age of forty-nine. He was estimated to have been at his death the -wealthiest man in Virginia. At least he was able to leave an -inheritance to each of his seven children, so that they were each -regarded as among the most extensive property owners of that -prosperous colony. - -Lawrence inherited the estate on the Potomac, which he named Mount -Vernon, in honor of his commander in the war with the Spaniards. - -George was eleven years old when his father died, and he, with the -other four minor children, were left with their property to the -guardianship of their mother. - -She was indeed the great mother of a great man. Her management morally -and financially was conscientious, exact and admirable. George, being -her eldest child, was always her favorite, but, with scrupulous care -she served each as needed and with the unstinted affection of a noble -mother. - - -II. A COMMUNITY PROUD OF ITS FAMILY HONOR - -Lawrence Washington showed in many ways that he dearly loved his -reliable, busy little half-brother. George spent much of his time at -Mount Vernon. Lawrence had become quite an important man in the public -estimation. He had what might well be called a princely estate, which -he upheld in princely style, without offence to any one, and with the -admiration of all the people. - -Next to him, on the picturesque Potomac ridge, lived his father-in-law -on the beautiful estate named Belvoir. This very honorable and -high-minded gentleman was of an old aristocratic English family, and -he was the manager of the extensive estates in Virginia of his cousin, -Lord Fairfax. - -George Washington grew up in these severely aristocratic associations, -in which the gentility had no snobbery and the class distinction -nothing offensive beyond the requirements of merit, culture and the -manners of genuine gentlemen. Doubtless in admiration for the -neatness, cleanliness, harmony and scrupulous morality of these -beautiful homes, he was inspired to draw up his famous code known as -"Rules for Behavior in Company and Conversation." We can easily -imagine that the visitors he met at Mount Vernon and Belvoir were the -very well-bred ladies and chivalrous gentleman of a courtly English -period, among whom were mingled numerous heroic captains from the West -Indies, whose chief topics of conversation were thrilling descriptions -and stories of Pirates and Spaniards. Perhaps he was then receiving a -vision of international affairs, from a world view, that was important -to his mission in civilization, even as Lincoln learned his country's -welfare in his struggle upward among the backwoods commoners of his -times. - -That George was greatly influenced by the warship heroes he met is -shown by his eagerness to join the navy. Everybody seemed to think -this was the thing for him except his mother. Even her firm decisions -were at last overcome, a midshipman's place was obtained for him and -his personal effects were sent aboard the man-of-war, but the mother -could not say good-bye to her eldest son. She couldn't give him up and -she didn't. It is hardly likely that the world, a hundred years later, -could have known that there ever was such a person as George -Washington, if his mother had not changed her mind and kept him from -the boisterous turmoil of the uncertain sea. However that may be, he -was sent to school instead of making a cruise in the West Indies. His -study was mathematics and military tactics, the very thing most needed -in the sublime undertaking that was to make his name immortal. - -Strange to say, he was known as a very bashful boy. In fact, all -through his life he was embarrassed in the presence of ladies. A girl -of his own age, who saw much of him when he was a boy, wrote in later -life, that "he was a very bashful young man." She says, "I used often -to wish that he would talk more." - -That his emotional feelings were very early developed is quite certain -from his own diary written at that time. He wrote, with the usual -foolishness of a boy, about some unnamed girl with whom he was madly -in love. He was for a long time exceedingly unhappy. Even his -well-disciplined mind and his severe regulation of conduct were no -proof against the turmoil of unreturned affection. We have never known -anything about this beautiful lodestone that had drawn the heart out -of him. He never described her or told who she was. It was probably -merely a fancy ideal with which he clothed some one utterly impossible -as a real friend or mate to him. Such queer freaks of interest have -often happened to the emotions of a growing mind, and later, the -victim wondered what was possible in the object to cause such -feelings. In all likelihood, there was nothing in the object that -should have caused anything more than a just admiration or respect. -But instead, the feelings caught on fire and had to burn out. So it -was with Washington. As he was loyal to his ideals, even when they -were merely fancy, foolishly wrapped about some inappropriate object, -he remained devoted to his grief until years wore out the memory. - - -III. THE SELF-PITY AND SENTIMENTALISM OF YOUTH - -Those who like their hero to be of chiseled marble may be shocked to -think that George Washington, "the father of his Country," wrote pages -in his journal of foolish love-sighs and more foolish poetry. He -often bewailed his "poor restless heart, wounded by Cupid's dart," and -wrote of this wounded heart as "bleeding for one who remains pitiless -to my griefs and woes." That he never had a confidant to whom he could -tell his sacred heart-burnings is indicated by the lines: - - "Ah, woe is me, that I should love and conceal, - Long have I wished and never dared reveal." - -But such experiences let George Washington come a little closer to us -as a real boy, and is consolation for many a man who had a like -foolish spell in his youth. - -George not only kept a tell-tale diary, which has given us all we know -of his inner life in youth, but he wrote letters in that journal to -many persons. Whether those letters were imaginary or were actually -copies of real letters we do not know. Some of these were written -while visiting the Fairfax family of Belvoir, after Lord Fairfax had -come there from England as the head of the family interests. He wrote -to his "dear friend Robin": "My residence is at present at his -lordship's, where I might, was my heart disengaged, pass my time very -pleasantly, as there's a very agreeable young lady lives in the same -house; but, as that's only adding fuel to the fire, it makes me the -more uneasy, for, by often and unavoidably being in company with her, -revives my former passion for your Lowland Beauty; whereas, was I to -live more retired from young women, I might in some measure alleviate -my sorrows by burying that chaste and troublesome passion in the grave -of oblivion." - -The "lowland beauty" he refers to is said to have been Miss Grimes, of -Westmoreland, who, as Mrs. Lee, became the mother of General Henry -Lee, famous in revolutionary times as Light Horse Harry, and always a -favorite with General Washington. - -Lord Fairfax, to whom he often refers, had a strong influence on his -life. This real nobleman had inherited through his mother the Virginia -lands granted to Lord Culpepper by Charles II. Having been jilted at -the altar, in the very height of a rather famous career, by a lady who -had a chance to marry a duke, Lord Fairfax renounced society and left -England for Virginia. He took a great liking to young George -Washington and they became companions on many a fox-hunt. - -Presently it became necessary for Lord Fairfax to have his lands -surveyed, and Washington, having studied surveying, was chosen for -this task. The boy, though now man's size, was not yet seventeen when -he undertook this very responsible work. But here his careful training -served him well. Nothing was ever undertaken by him until it had been -thoroughly thought out, and success was thus assured in this his first -man-making task. He still kept his journal day by day, but it was now -full of the business of life. The emotional dreams of his Lowland -Beauty are recorded no more. - -This escape from self-pity and individual sentimentalism is in line -with Edison's advice to get busy at something useful if you would -avoid temptation and foolishness. Even one so sternly set as -Washington needed to have his attention occupied with something to do, -as employment for idle hands, in order to be free from devil-ideas -sowing artificial interests in the growing mind. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE BEGINNINGS OF EXPERIENCE IN BORDER WARFARE - - -I. GETTING USED TO ROUGHING IT - -From the aristocratic tables and home comforts of Mount Vernon and -Belvoir, the youthful Washington began roughing it in the forests and -along the streams of the Shenandoah. He had begun to adapt himself to -the primitive conditions of his country and to share the coarse fare -of the commoners that composed the civilization of the new world. - -To one of his friends, he wrote: "I have not slept more than three or -four nights in a bed, but, after walking a good deal all day, I have -lain down before the fire upon a little straw or fodder, or a -bearskin, whichever was to be had, with man, wife and children, like -dogs and cats; and happy is he who gets the berth nearest the fire." - -He wrote in his note-book that he received, when in active service, a -doubloon per day, which was $7.20 in gold and worth much more than -that correspondingly at that time. These first wages are in sharp -contrast to those received by Lincoln, and the preparation for life -coming to the two men was as notably different as their mission and as -their times. - -Soon after this, Washington, though only a boy, was appointed official -surveyor for the government, and so accurate were his surveys that -they have ever remained the undisputed authority. Meantime, he had an -eye to the practical, and, as a result, the choicest parts of the -Shenandoah Valley came into possession of the Washingtons and remained -with them for many generations. - -The able and talented young gentleman was frequently for long periods -the guest of Lord Fairfax, after Lord Fairfax had moved from Belvoir -to his "quarters" beyond the Blue Ridge, which he had made into a -spacious new home named Greenway Court. All the culture of England was -gathered there and nothing was failing to give the young man a clear -idea of the social and political conditions of the world. - -World history has much to do in making individual history and so it -was with Washington. England and France were rivals and at war. The -war came to a close, and, so anxious was each for peace, that they -settled their home differences and left to the future their rivalry -for territory in North America. It then became a race for them, who -could occupy and defend territory the most rapidly. The vast -overlapping claims ran down from the Saint Lawrence River to the Ohio -River and on to the Mississippi. - -French explorers had certainly been the first to pass through that -region and map out the territory, but the English had occupied the -eastern coast and given land titles that ran west to the setting sun. -Evidently, the mother countries had settled their differences in -Europe only to turn their energies to securing and fortifying their -claims in the new world. - -Strange indeed is the course of destiny. The revolutionary -grandmothers used to recite a very vague stanza which ran as follows: - - "A lion and a unicorn - Were fighting for the crown - Up jumped a little dog - And knocked them both down." - -At least, England lost most of its possessions in North America, -France lost all, and a little nation appeared that was the cradle of -liberty for mankind and the unsurpassable maker of a greater world. - - -II. LAND SPECULATION AS THE BEGINNING LEADING TO AMERICAN -SELF-GOVERNMENT - -We may reasonably find a beginning of the American republic, involving -the career of George Washington, in the formation of what is known as -the Ohio Company. If this company had been formed of unscrupulous -speculators, as were other big franchises granted by kings, it could -well have been a near-relative to the get-rich-quick manias that -present so queer a view of men's minds, not only in those days but -even in present times. But such honorable men as Lawrence and -Augustine Washington were prominent in that company, and it was not -long till Lawrence had chief management of the company. - -A very significant controversy concerning freedom of conscience arose -in the endeavor to induce the Dutch from Pennsylvania to settle on the -new land grants. These Pennsylvanians were what is known as -dissenters. They had a religious belief of their own. If they moved -into the territory of the Ohio Company they would have to attend -Episcopalian service and contribute taxes to the support of the Church -of England. - -Lawrence Washington was opposed to the English laws that demanded -such sectarian contribution of means and life. - -"It has ever been my opinion," he argued, "and I hope it will ever be, -that restraints on conscience are cruel in regard to those on whom -they are imposed, and injurious to the country imposing them.... -Virginia was greatly settled in the latter part of Charles the First's -time, and during the usurpation, by the zealous churchmen; and that -spirit, which was then brought in, has ever since continued; so that, -except a few Quakers, we have no dissenters. But what has been the -consequence? We have increased by slow degrees, whilst our neighboring -colonies, whose natural advantages are greatly inferior to ours, have -become populous." - -This view may look as if it had been taken from the old saying that -nothing succeeds like success, and yet this may, in the long run, be -the necessary proof found in a thing being true as it works. In any -event, the Washington idea was that of individual freedom, and this -was the first essential in a mind that was to have such a large share -in founding the government of America. - -The romantic contest was now on for the possession of the great region -of the Ohio and its tributaries. It was a vast wilderness of pathless -forests, rich in the wild game that was then the fortune of new-world -traders. The friendship of the Indians was of the highest importance -to both sides. Every effort was made by both French and English to -form alliances with the Indians. The French addressed themselves in -all their meetings as "Fathers" to the Indians, while the English -always used the term "Brothers." It was clear to all that if the -"Fathers" won the allegiance of the Indians, the "Brothers" would have -to go, or likewise "t'other way 'round." - -While Mr. Gist, the surveyor of the Ohio Company, was finding the -boundaries of their territory, he was met by an old Delaware Sachem -who asked him a very embarrassing question. - -"The French," said the old Indian chief, "claim all the land on one -side of the Ohio, and the English claim all the land on the other -side, now where does the Indian's land lie?" - -The question was answered at last by time. The French "Fathers" and -the English "Brothers" took it all, after which the new government of -the United States came into possession; and the orator and the poet -could fittingly say of the Indians, "Slowly and sadly they climb the -distant mountains and read their doom in the setting sun." - -But American responsibility, if not its humanity, at last settled "The -Indian Question," and the "good Indian" became a new American. - - -III. THE STRUGGLE OF NATIONS FOR THE INDIAN'S HUNTING GROUNDS - -The wild struggle between the French and English that now took place -in the wilderness, for the possession of the Indian's hunting ground -could hardly be dignified enough to be called war, and the holiness of -its cause could hardly be raised higher than rival commercial -interests working for something in which neither had any clear claims. -But it had a most momentous consequence on whether America should be -French and Spanish or English and Spanish. In those dark forests where -the dusky savages held the balance of power, to make the "Fathers" or -the "Brothers" successful, was played the tragic scenes deciding the -political destiny of the new world. - -The French began to build forts and supply stations along their -northern lines from Canada, and the English began to drill volunteers -for the purpose of defending the Ohio Company's territory, if not even -further to expel the French entirely as a menace to the peace of the -company. - -Virginia was divided into military districts whose commander-in-chief -was an adjutant-general, having the rank of major. Lawrence Washington -secured one of these military districts for his brother George, who -was then only nineteen years of age. Manhood of mind as well as of -body had come to him rapidly and there is no evidence but that he -fulfilled these high duties with complete satisfaction to all -concerned. To American interests, these experiences were indeed a -providential training for the priceless responsibilities to come. - -Method, accuracy and persistence were prime characteristics of George -Washington. He did not assume to know it all without any need of -preparation. He believed he could take a job for which he was not -fitted with the profound belief that before the job got to him he -would be fitted. This reminds us of how Lincoln took the job of -surveyor before he knew how to survey, but when he began the work of -surveying, even with the rudest instruments, his work was correct. - -There was a Westmoreland volunteer, Adjutant Muse, who had served -through the Spanish Campaigns with Lawrence Washington. He was well -informed by both experience and study in the art and theory of war. -George brought him to Mount Vernon and became under him a strenuous -student in military tactics. There was also Jacob Van Braam, a soldier -of fortune, who was an expert in fencing, and who had likewise been -through the West Indies with Lawrence. Jacob was speedily added to -the military academy at Mount Vernon with its one student. But these -teachers might well feel like Plato at the Academy in Athens. The -story is that a stormy day had kept all of Plato's pupils away but -one. Nevertheless, Plato arose and began his lecture as usual. The -pupil protested but Plato continued, saying, "It is true that only one -pupil is here, but that one is Aristotle." - -Adjutant Muse and Swordmaster Van Braam had only one pupil for their -distinguished instruction, but that one was George Washington. - -It was probably about the time when George had learned all he needed -of these teachers, that Lawrence's health broke down, and his -physicians ordered him to go to the Barbadoes for the winter. It was -necessary for George to go with him, and he did so, writing a journal -of all the occurrences and observations he considered worthy of note. - -Within two weeks, after he arrived in that happy-go-lucky colony where -no one was interested in anything but pleasure and pastime, George was -struck down by the smallpox. He recovered in three weeks and was -slightly marked for life, but with no other consequence than a -disagreeable experience. - -Lawrence decided to leave the Barbadoes for Bermuda, and so he sent -George home to bring Mrs. Washington to Bermuda. But she did not go. -Lawrence returned, and died soon after, at the age of thirty-four -years. - -This noble man and genuine American did much toward preparing his -half-brother George for the immortal work to be done, and the name of -Lawrence Washington should ever remain sacred in the memory of the -American people. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE RIVALRY AND DIPLOMACY OF THE FRONTIER - - -I. THE FIRST GREAT PROBLEMS OF THE INDIANS - -From small events in the deep wilderness, human interests were forming -into the flow of incalculable affairs. The Ohio Indians had gathered -in council with their English brethren at Logstown, and entered into a -treaty not to molest any English settlers in the territory claimed by -the Ohio Company. The Six Nations of Iroquois to the northeast had -very haughtily declined to attend the conference. This was because -they were nearer the French and under their influence. - -"It is not our custom," said an Iroquois chief, "to meet to treat of -affairs in the woods and weeds. If the Governor of Virginia wants to -speak with us, we will meet him at Albany, where we expect the -Governor of New York to be present." - -[Illustration: Washington and His Family.] - -On the other side, the Ohio Indians sent a protest to the French at -Lake Erie. - -"Fathers," said the messenger, "you are the disturbers of this land by -building towns, and taking the country from us by fraud and force. If -you had come in a peaceable manner, like our brothers, the English, we -should have traded with you as we do with them; but that you should -come and build houses on our land, and take it by force, is what we -cannot submit to. Our brothers, the English, have heard this, and I -now come to tell it to you, for I am not afraid to order you off this -land." - -"Child," was the reply of the French commander, "you talk foolishly. I -am not afraid of flies and mosquitoes, for such are those who oppose -me. Take back your wampum. I fling it at you." - -It became evident that the French intended to connect Canada with -Louisiana by a chain of forts and so confine the English to the coast -east of the Alleghanies. This meant the ruin of the Ohio Company. A -strong appeal was made to Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia. He was a -stockholder in the Ohio Company and was accordingly a ready listener -to the danger of losing the Ohio country. - -Governor Dinwiddie sent a commissioner with a protest to the French, -who were rapidly breaking their way through from Canada, defeating the -hostile Indians, and breaking to pieces their confidence in their -English brothers. Captain Trent was the man selected for this -dangerous and delicate task. He went to Logstown and then on into the -Indian country, where the French had scattered the Indians and -established their authority. - -Trent could not see anything to do and he returned home a failure. -This made matters worse, and required a still stronger man, able to -restore the lost confidence of the Indians and to impress the French -with the determination and power of the English. There was only one -man who seemed qualified for such a hazardous undertaking, and he was -only twenty-two years of age. This was George Washington. - -He was appointed to the dangerous mission and given full instructions -in writing. With the required equipment, Washington set forth on the -remarkable journey, which was the beginning of his great career as the -maker of a nation. The record of this great adventure belongs to -history and little can be done toward telling any part of it without -telling enough to make a book. The journey contained all the perils of -such a wilderness, the usual intrigues characteristic of the times in -the dealing with the Indians, and the customary experience of frontier -diplomacy between two rival colonies, of which the mother countries -were at peace. But with a thoroughness that was possible only to one -who had made thoroughness an object and a habit of his life, -Washington noted everything he saw among the tribes, at the French -outposts, and at the French headquarters. - -Washington had started with his message from Governor Dinwiddie on -October 30, and he returned with the reply, January 16. The long -journey through the trackless forests of the winter wilderness had -been one of almost incredible hardship and peril, where his life many -times appeared hopeless, but he won out and performed his mission. It -is probable that nothing throughout his wonderful career was more -trying to his character or more evidence of his indomitable manhood. -One who was able to perform successfully such a mission, and bring -back such a clear view of the situation, was henceforth to be rated as -one of the worthiest sons of Virginia, and a reliable guardian of her -fortunes. - - -II. ALARM FOR THE FUTURE - -Washington's journal, covering his journey and his observations, was -printed, and it awakened the colonies to the fact that, if the French -took possession of the Ohio Valley, the English would have no future -beyond the Alleghenies. The French commander's evasive reply, coupled -with his statement that he was there by his superior's orders and -would obey them to the letter, made it plain that, however much the -two home countries were at peace, the American colonies would have to -fight for their rights, as they conceived them to be, in these Western -regions. As is to be seen, this colonial English war with the colonial -French was destined to accomplish three far-reaching results. It would -unite the English colonies, it would give them an extended view of -their human rights, and it would develop a leader in George -Washington. - -At first the support given the Governor, even in Virginia, was very -meagerly and grudgingly given. - -"Those who offered to enlist," says Washington, "were for the most -part loose, idle persons, without house or home, some without shoes or -stockings, some shirtless, and many without coat or waistcoat." - -One of the French officers had boasted to Washington that the French -would be the first to take possession of the Ohio lands, because the -English were so slow, and it proved true. - -Captain Trent had been sent with about fifty men to build a fort at -the fork of the Ohio River, the place recommended by Washington. But, -when it was less than half done, a thousand Frenchmen appeared and -ordered the English fort-builders to leave. They were glad to have -that privilege. A few days after Washington arrived at Will's creek, -with probably two hundred men, the fort-builders came in and told -their story. - -It was known that the French had abundance of war-supplies, could -receive reinforcements on short notice, were already at least five to -one in numbers, and had the assured support of at least six hundred -Indians. - -Washington's men were undisciplined, and Trent's men being volunteers -for other service were insubordinate. There were no supplies, and -reinforcements were doubtful. - -But even in such a forlorn condition, he must be master of the -situation or all would indeed be lost. He decided to fortify the Ohio -Company's storehouses at Redstone Creek, acquaint the colonies of his -condition and await necessary reinforcements. In this management under -difficulties, he had an experience and training, probably of great -service to his country in the nobler cause of political liberty, that -was destined to be his task for grander years to come. - - -III. INDIFFERENCE TO GREAT INTERESTS - -The wilderness, the Indians, the French, and the slow-moving -management coming from the colonies, offered difficulties almost -insurmountable, and it would take a volume to describe in detail the -conditions and affairs. Even the officers were almost in mutiny over -their pay. - -"Let me serve voluntarily," Washington wrote to the Governor, "and I -will, with the greatest pleasure, devote my services to this -expedition,--but, to be slaving through woods, rocks and mountains for -the shadow of pay, I would rather toil like a day laborer for a -maintenance, if reduced to the necessity, than to serve on such -ignoble terms." - -In a letter to his friend, Colonel Fairfax, in which he preferred to -serve as a volunteer without pay, rather than for what he was getting, -he added, "for the motives that have led me here are pure and noble. I -had no view of acquisition but that of honor, by serving faithfully my -king and my country." - -In the midst of all this dissatisfaction and distress, word came -through Indian scouts that the French were marching to attack him. The -tracks of a scouting party having been discovered, an Indian was put -on the trail and he found the camp of the enemy. Washington -determined to surprise them. He planned to slip up on one side of -them, as his Indian allies did the same on the other side. Between -them he believed he could capture them all. But the sharp watch of the -French caught sight of the English and the forest battle began. One of -Washington's men had been killed and three wounded in a fifteen -minutes' battle, when the French, having lost several and becoming -frightened at being between two fires, gave way and ran. They were -soon overtaken and captured, excepting one who escaped and carried the -news to the fort at the forks of the Ohio. Ten of the French had been -killed and one wounded. Twenty-one were prisoners. - -Though this battle, as measured in the deeds of other wars, was indeed -a small affair, it was weighty with consequence for the interests of -America. It was Washington's first experience in battle. In a letter -to one of his brothers, he says, "I heard the bullets whistle, and, -believe me, there is something charming in the sound." - -This statement of a boy, at the age of twenty-two in the first -emotions of military excitement, is hardly to be called mere -rodomontade as Horace Walpole termed it. It is said that George II -remarked, when he was told of this expression used by the young -Virginian commander, "He would not say so, if he had been used to -hear many." Forty years later, when Washington was President of the -United States of America, he was asked about the so-called charm of -whistling bullets, and he replied, "If I said so, it was when I was -young." - -The victory of this battle, small as it was, aroused the colonists and -held the confidence of the Indians. The Indian chief sent the scalps -of the ten slain soldiers to the different tribes and called on them -to come at once to the help of their brothers, the English. - -Washington's difficulty in getting supplies and in obtaining -reinforcements taxed all his powers and all his stability of -character. There was no doubt that the entire success of the campaign -depended upon his patience and resourceful perseverance. It was making -the twenty-two-year-old gentleman of Mount Vernon and Belvoir very -rapidly into a hardy warrior of the wilderness, and a tactful manager -of men. These qualities were being strengthened for the coming great -day, when there should be a new nation. Doubtless the sordid stupidity -of the colonial governors, in their tardy and meager support of him, -had much to do in preparing the way for ideas of independence and a -self-governing body of States. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE CONSEQUENCE OF ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE - - -I. ANNOYANCES AND ANTAGONISMS - -Heroism appears often to be a thankless task. Patience had about -vanished when, most opportunely, Adjutant Muse, Washington's -instructor in military tactics, arrived with much needed supplies, and -also suitable presents for the Indians. A grand ceremonial of -presentation took place. The pompous ceremonial seemed to be very dear -to the heart of those so-called simple children of the forests. The -chiefs were decorated in all their barbaric finery. Washington wore a -big medal sent him by the Governor, intended to be impressively used -on such occasions. Washington gave the presents and decorated the -chiefs and warriors with the medals, which they were to wear in memory -of their brethren, the English, and their father, the King of -England. - -One of the warriors, the son of Queen Aliquippa, wanted the honor of -having an English name, so, in elaborate ceremonial, Washington -bestowed upon him the name Fairfax. The principal chief of the tribes -desiring a like honor was given the name of the governor, Dinwiddie. - -William Fairfax had, about this time, written a letter to Washington -advising that he hold religious services in camp, especially for the -benefit of the Indians. This was done, and the imagination can picture -the motley assembly being so solemnly presided over in that -picturesque wilderness by the boyish commander of a no less motley -army. - -In reading about big wars, in which there are millions striving for -the bloody mastery, with monster machines of modern destruction, it -may sound trivial to read of the fear with which Washington's -wilderness army heard of the approach of ninety Frenchmen. But, in -truth, this handful of men were at the beginning of the greatest human -interests, and were giving direction to human affairs hardly less -consequential than the European War. - -Washington, with the buoyant fervor of youth, sallied forth from the -fort, hoping to have the honor of presenting Governor Dinwiddie with a -choice lot of French prisoners. The scouts had certainly been well -scared. The ninety French warriors were found to be nine deserters -anxious to be captured. But they gave valuable information regarding -Fort Duquesne, which was put to good use by Washington. - -Now began one of those little annoyances which marked the feeling of -British officers toward Colonial officers, and showed the state of -mind which was at last to be an intolerable antagonism between England -and America. - -Captain Mackay arrived with an independent company of North -Carolinians. Captain Mackay held a commission direct from the King, -Washington held his by Colonial authority; therefore, Captain Mackay -believed himself and his company to have far superior standing to that -of Washington and his provincial men. - -The result was that he would not associate himself in any way with -Washington nor allow his men to have anything in common with -Washington's men. No matter what Washington urged as to their common -danger and their common cause, he very haughtily flouted every attempt -made to have the two commanders work together. - -The experience Washington had in managing this delicate and foolish -situation was doubtless very valuable in handling even more delicate -and foolish situations of vastly more consequence in the coming -revolutionary war. - - -II. DISHONORS AND DISASTERS - -Finding that co-operation with the North Carolina troops was -impossible, Washington left Fort Necessity in their charge, and toiled -forward through the forest, making a military road toward Fort -Duquesne, which was at the point where Pittsburg now is, and which was -in the very heart of the region claimed by the English colonies. - -Washington reached the station kept by Christopher Gist. This was the -heroic woodsman who had been his companion through the most perilous -part of his romantic journey when he carried the history-making -message from the Governor of Virginia to the Commander of the French. - -Here he learned that a large force from Fort Duquesne was coming -against him. He hastily threw up fortifications and called in all his -forces, including several companies of Indians. A messenger was -hastily despatched to Captain Mackay at Fort Necessity, thirteen miles -away, and he came on with the swivel guns of the fort. A council of -war soon decided that they could not hold their own at this place, and -must retreat to more favorable grounds for a stand against the enemy. - -In the retreat that followed, the Virginians were greatly exasperated -by the North Carolinians. Mackay's men were "King's soldiers" and so -would not belittle themselves with the labors of the retreat. At Great -Meadows, in the center of which was Fort Necessity, the Virginians, -exhausted and resentful, refused to go any farther, and Washington -decided to make his stand there. - -They had left Gist's station none too soon. At dawn on the morning -following the retreat, Captain de Villiers with five hundred Frenchmen -and several hundred Indians surrounded the place. Finding that the -English had escaped, they were about to return to Fort Duquesne, when -a deserter from Washington's camp arrived. He told them that he had -escaped to keep from starving to death, and that the troops under -Washington were in mutiny over their desperate situation. - -De Villiers set out at once to capture Fort Necessity. - -Meanwhile, Washington set the Virginians at work strengthening the -defences of the fort. The Indians seeing such inferior equipment for -defense, and the discord among the troops, became afraid and deserted. - -On the morning of July 3, 1754, the French arrived at the edge of -Great Meadows and began firing from behind trees, at whatever they -could see. All day Washington kept his men close sheltered in the -trenches, keeping the enemy at rifle's distance in the edge of the -woods. At night a steady downpour of rain began, half drowning the men -in the trenches and ruining their ammunition. - -At eight o'clock the French demanded a parley looking to the surrender -of Fort Necessity. Washington at first refused, but their condition -was hopeless. The only person with them who understood any French was -Jacob Van Braam, the swordsmanship teacher of Washington at Mount -Vernon. - -Van Braam went back and forth in the drenching storm of the black -night, between the lines, with the negotiations. At last the French -sent in their ultimatum. Van Braam tried to translate it by the light -of a candle, under cover of a rude tent, through which the rain was -pouring upon candle, paper and persons. The terms of the surrender -were very humiliating and reflected severely on Washington's honor, -but according to Van Braam's translation the terms, though hard, were -acceptable. - -Washington signed the document and the next morning the bedraggled and -disheartened men marched out with the honors of war, though the -document of surrender, as afterward correctly translated, did not -leave a shred of honor for the defeated colonists. It was then -believed that Van Braam had purposely mistranslated it in the service -of the French, with whom he and Captain Stobo had to remain as -hostages. But subsequent information from the French exonerated Van -Braam from this charge, deciding that the mistranslation was from -ignorance and not intentional. - -The soldiers were put into quarters at Will's creek, and Washington -went on to make his report to the Governor. - -The Virginia legislature took up an investigation of the charges as to -Van Braam's treason and Captain Stobo's cowardice, as well as the -conduct of Washington, and the questions of the surrender. Thanks and -rewards were freely voted to the troops, but it was some time later -before evidence came in, establishing the patriotic character of Van -Braam and Stobo. - - -III. WASHINGTON ENTERING THE SCHOOL OF WAR - -The French were so elated with their victory, and the belief that the -English had been permanently expelled, that they withdrew most of -their troops from Fort Duquesne and abandoned all precautions against -surprise and attack. Before the end of a month Captain Stobo, who was -being held by them as hostage, smuggled a letter out by a friendly -Indian describing all the conditions and laying out a plan by which -the fort could easily be surprised and taken. He mentioned the boasts -of the French and said it was worse than death to hear them. He said -that he and his fellow prisoner, Van Braam, were ready at any time to -lay down their lives for their country. This letter, after much -wandering, reached the Governor of Pennsylvania and was by him sent to -the Governor of Virginia. - -Captain Stobo's plan was practical. As all kinds of Indians were being -allowed without question to come and go as they pleased at Fort -Duquesne, he advised that the fort be first occupied by friendly -Indians, who would hold it till it could be turned over to the -Colonial troops. - -Governor Dinwiddie wanted the honor himself and he planned several -ways of his own to capture the fort. These were rejected by -Washington. - -Now began unceasingly the wrangle and turmoil between the arrogance of -King's authority and the native independence of the colonist's ideals -and character. The colonists were not allowed to have any officer -above the rank of Captain, and Washington quit the service. - -Governor Sharpe, of Maryland, was appointed by the King as Commander -of all the forces used to recover the King's territory from the -French, and he wrote a letter to Washington, trying to enlist his -services. - -Washington's reply gives some insight into his independence and -maturity of mind at this time. - -"You make mention," he replied, "of my continuing in the service and -retaining my colonel's commission. The idea has filled me with -surprise; for, if you think me capable of holding a commission that -has neither rank nor emolument annexed to it, you must maintain a very -contemptible opinion of my weakness, and believe me more empty than -the commission itself." - -He added that it was no desire to quit the service which caused him to -reject the offer, but the call of honor and the advice of friends, -because his feelings were strong for the military life. - -Washington now returned to Mount Vernon, where he took up a quiet -agricultural life, though constantly in association and council with -his countrymen over the rapidly developing questions of war between -the colonies and the French. - -France was secretly pouring troops and means into Canada, and England -was as busy making ready in the equipment of the colonies, though the -two home governments were professing to be profoundly at peace. - -Alexandria, near by, merely a pleasurable horseback ride from Mount -Vernon, was the scene of gathering forces, now under command of an -experienced English General named Braddock. Ships of war and -transports were constantly passing up the Potomac past Mount Vernon. - -What a glorious array over Washington's ragged forces of the year -before! His military ardor was again kindled. The boom of cannon -outranked the moo of cattle in his meadows. The youth of twenty-three, -who had already tasted the glory as well as the defeat of battle, -could no longer endure the peaceful shades of Mount Vernon. He let it -be known that he would like to be attached as an independent volunteer -to General Braddock's staff. The offer was very decorously given and -accepted. He had neither "rank nor emolument" in this position, but it -was also neither subservient nor responsible. He was merely an -attache, a visitor as it were, in General Braddock's family of -advisers. - -His mother, hearing of this move to return to the army, hurried to -Mount Vernon to dissuade him. She wanted him to remain a country -gentleman attending to their property interests, which were hard for -her to manage. But the spirit of Washington seemed to feel a greater -destiny. His mind was made up and he joined the General whose name is -so familiar in the history classes of the public schools in the -United States. - -This conflict, so important in preparing the colonies for the struggle -toward independence and for the causes that made them seek -independence, became known in American history as the French and -Indian war. - -The story of it can nowhere be better told, nor more understandingly -read, for its significance to American independence, than in the -school histories. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE STRUGGLE FOR FORT DUQUESNE - - -I. THE SEPARATION BEGINNING BETWEEN THE COLONIES AND ENGLAND - -The arrogance and ignorance that so estranged the American colonies -and broke down their spirit of allegiance to Great Britain may be well -exhibited in an extract from the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. -The experiences of this eminent man in making a visit to General -Braddock came to pass through the following series of events. - -Sir John St. Clair was, at this time, in command at Fort Cumberland. -He ordered the colony of Pennsylvania to cut a road through to the -Ohio. The redoubtable commander seemed to think it was only a child's -job or a few days' work. As it was not done promptly, he got into a -rage, and, according to the pioneer woodsman, George Croghan, "stormed -like a lion rampant." He declared that "by fire and sword" he would -oblige the inhabitants to build that road. He said that if the French -defeated him it would be because of the slow Pennsylvanians, and, in -that case, he would declare them "a parcel of traitors," and the -colony should be treated as being in rebellion against the King. - -Likewise, as Braddock got ready to move, Sir John became furious at -obstacles which, not knowing till then that they existed, he -considered that they had no right to exist, and therefore that the -people were to be blamed. In this state of trouble between the people -and the English officers, who knew so little of the wilderness, -Benjamin Franklin, then forty-nine years of age, was called on to act -as peacemaker. He visited Braddock and was received and treated as a -worthy guest. This visit gave him a chance to see into the fatal -ignorance and arrogance of the English government, and to understand -the irreconciliable points of view between the colonies and England. - -"In conversation one day," says Franklin, "General Braddock gave me -some account of his intended progress. 'After taking Fort Duquesne,' -said he, 'I am to proceed to Niagara; and, having taken that, on to -Frontenac, if the season will allow time; and I suppose it will, for -Duquesne can hardly detain me above three or four days; and then I can -see nothing that can obstruct my march to Niagara.'" - -Franklin very tactfully and diplomatically ventured to describe the -long road that must be cut through forests all the way, the thin line -of troops that would have to be stretched out in the march along the -narrow way, and the ambush of Indians breaking out upon that thin, -long line at various places. - -"He smiled at my ignorance," says Franklin, "and replied, 'These -savages may indeed be a formidable enemy to raw American militia, but -upon the King's regular and disciplined troops, Sir, it is impossible -that they should make any impression.'" - -Franklin adds, "I was conscious of an impropriety in my disputing with -a military man in matters of his profession, and said no more." - -To defeat an enemy, it is very clear that one should know how the -enemy thinks and what he does. This was the schooling that George -Washington was now getting. The place he had on General Braddock's -staff was teaching him the tactics of English generals, against which -he was a few years later to wage a glorious war for an ideal of -American freedom and the establishment of a democratic form of -government in America. - -The disastrous defeat of Braddock's expedition and the death of -Braddock has always formed a stirring chapter in American school -histories, until in recent times it has been more and more lessened -in the length of description because of the increasing story of -American affairs. Washington's part in it is interesting largely -because of the preparation it gave him for the great work of leading -the colonial armies in the Revolutionary War. - - -II. LESSONS GATHERED FROM DEFEAT - -General Braddock, with the most stupid disdain of both natural -obstacles and native advice, especially regardless of Washington's -warning, pushed on to overwhelm the French and Indians, as he had -outlined to Franklin. His disastrous defeat and tragic death awoke the -colonists to their danger, but it seemed to have little effect on the -arrogance and ignorance of the supposed military protectors of the -colonies. - -Fugitives from the disastrous battle field spread through the colonies -and the news ran from mouth to mouth along the wilderness roads, -gathering in exaggeration as it went. To counteract this news at his -own home, Washington wrote to his mother as speedily as possible. -Referring to the battle, he said, "The Virginia troops showed a good -deal of bravery, and were nearly all killed. The dastardly behavior -of those they called regulars exposed all others, that were ordered to -their duty, to almost certain death; and, at last, in spite of all the -efforts of the officers to the contrary they ran, as sheep pursued by -dogs, and it was impossible to rally them." - -In writing to his half-brother, Augustine, he said, "As I have heard, -since my arrival at this place, a circumstantial account of my death -and dying speech, I take this early opportunity of contradicting the -first, and of assuring you that I have not composed the latter. But, -by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected -beyond all human probability, or expectation; for I had four bullets -through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, -though death was levelling my companions on every side of me!" - -The defeat of Braddock, we may safely set down as one of the most -extensive liberating forces in the new world. It struck out of the -minds of the colonists the respect and fear which held them captive to -the mastery of hands from across the sea. The disaster was not only a -rout and a slaughter but it was at last revealed as a military -disgrace and an inexcusable blunder. - -The commander of Fort Duquesne had only a handful of men. He was fully -decided on either abandoning the fort at once, or in surrendering -on the best terms he could get, when Captain de Beaujeu obtained leave -to take two hundred and eighteen French soldiers and six hundred and -thirty Indians, eight hundred and thirty-five in all, for the purpose -of delaying the British advance by ambush. These forest rangers met -Braddock's twelve hundred select soldiers, and threw them back in such -a panic that, when the commander, Dunbar, reached Fort Cumberland, -where there were fifteen hundred more seasoned troops, no stand was -made, but the flight was continued on to Philadelphia. - -[Illustration: Washington in Command.] - -Washington's intimate associate, Dr. Hugh Mercer, was so severely -wounded in the shoulder that he could not keep up with the fugitives. -He hid in a fallen tree and witnessed the terrible scenes of the -battlefield after the soldiers had fled. The wounded were tortured, -scalped and all were stripped of everything the Indians could use. -Then the wild horde left, yelling through the woods, waving aloft the -scalps. The Indians were bedecked with glittering uniforms, and loaded -with booty. - -Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography that "this whole -transaction gave us the first suspicion that our exalted ideas of the -powers of British regular troops had not been well founded." - -What Washington thought about it all is well summed up and very -tersely expressed in a letter to his half-brother Augustine. It shows -us what all this had done for the loyal and patriotic mind of -Washington. It reveals how his mind, like that of other colonists, was -being prepared for the event, that led to a break with the -home-country England. - -In that very expressive letter he says, "I was employed to go a -journey in Winter, when I believe few or none would have undertaken -it, and what did I get by it?--my expenses home! I was then appointed, -with trifling pay, to conduct a handful of men to the Ohio. What did I -get by that? Why, after putting myself to a considerable expense in -equipping and providing necessaries for the campaign, I went out, was -soundly beaten and lost all! Came in and had my commission taken from -me; or, in other words, my command reduced, under pretense of an order -from home (England). I then went out a volunteer with General -Braddock, and lost all my horses, and many other things. But, this -being a voluntary act, I ought not to have mentioned it; nor should I -have done so, were it not to show that I have been on the losing order -ever since I entered the service, which is now nearly two years." - -This historical summary was the experience in divers ways of very many -colonists, but they did not have any; suggestion of how that bitter -experience was really to become a great blessing to the cause of -liberty throughout the earth. - - -III. SOME PERSONAL INTERESTS AT HOME - -Here and there we catch glimpses of Washington showing that he was not -the sculptured majesty that was pictured for his youth by writers in -the early decades of the nineteenth century. We prefer to think of him -as sympathetic, gallant, and enjoying the familiar courtesies of -common life. That Washington was not without social friendship is -shown in a note which he received from three young ladies written him -from Belvoir on his return from the French and Indian war. It speaks -for itself: - - "Dear Sir: - - "After thanking heaven for your safe return, I must accuse you - of great unkindness in refusing us the pleasure of seeing you - this evening. If you will not come to us tomorrow morning very - early, we shall be at Mount Vernon. - - "SALLIE FAIRFAX. - ANN SPEARING. - ELIZABETH DENT." - -There is no record to complete the picture of these young ladies' -interest in Washington, but if they could have such a view of his -sociability with such propriety, we may be sure that he was not above -the common human sympathies that fill the hard lines of life. - -Washington's connection with the army had ceased at the death of -Braddock, but he was still adjutant-general of the northern division -of the Province. Braddock's defeat had thoroughly frightened the -colonists, and panic-stricken rumors surged around that French and -Indians were about to make incursions here and there and everywhere. -The slow-going legislative bodies suddenly woke up and voted the -organization of ample supplies and men. An undignified scramble took -place for favorites to be given high commands. Washington was urged by -his friends to be a candidate, but he refused. As to this matter he -wrote, "If the command should be offered me, the case will then be -altered, as I should be at liberty to make such objections as reason, -and my small experience, have pointed out." - -In the midst of this turmoil he received a letter from his mother -begging him not to go back into the war but to return to his home-life -and become a business man. His reply to her is quite significant of -the character of Washington: - - "Honored Madam: - - "If it is in my power to avoid going to the Ohio again, I - shall; but if the command is pressed upon me by the general - voice of the country, and offered upon such terms as can not - be objected against, it would reflect dishonor upon me to - refuse it; and that, I am sure, must, and ought to give you - greater uneasiness than my going in an honorable command. Upon - no other terms will I accept it. At present, I have no - proposals made to me, nor have I any advice of such an - intention, except from private hands." - -But, it so happened that on the same day, after this letter had been -sent away, he received the news that he had been appointed -commander-in-chief of all the forces of Virginia, and upon the terms -he had outlined to his friends. Besides, his closest friends were -appointed officers next in command to him. - -This was a triumph over Governor Dinwiddie, who had a special favorite -whom he had pressed hard for the appointment. It was also made for a -man who had risen to that esteem among his countrymen, not through -victories but through defeats, not through success but through -failure. And, it must be remembered, that Washington was not yet -twenty-four years old. But the general esteem in which he was held -may be gathered from a statement made in a sermon at the time of his -appointment, by the Rev. Samuel Davis. It might have been mere -enthusiasm, but, in the light of such great subsequent events, it -looked like prophecy. - -He turned from his religious theme to the needs of the colonies, and -then spoke of "that heroic youth, Colonel George Washington, whom I -can not but hope Providence has hitherto preserved in so signal a -manner for some important service to his country." - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE FATE OF THE OHIO VALLEY - - -I. FRONTIER FEARS AND PANICS - -There was an abundance of responsibility at once for Washington in his -new official position. All the frontiers were being attacked by -Indians urged on by the French. Washington tried to get his troops -together to meet the Indians at the outposts, but he was unable at the -main post to muster more than twenty-five of the militia. The others -declared that if they had to die they preferred to die with their -women and children. - -In his first report to the Governor, he wrote, "No orders are obeyed, -but such as a party of soldiers or my own drawn sword enforces. -Without this, not a single horse, for the most earnest occasion, can -be had,--to such a pitch has the insolence of these people arrived, by -having every point hitherto submitted to them. However, I have given -up none, where His Majesty's service requires the contrary, and where -my proceedings are justified by my instructions; nor will I, unless -they execute what they threaten,--that is, to blow out our brains." - -This was naturally at the period of Washington's greatest loyalty to -his Sovereign, and also shows that some of Braddock's notions of -military authority still lingered with him. Perhaps it is better to -say that he recognized the military necessity for obedient discipline -in a common purpose and result, or there could be no successful army. - -We may easily guess that the insolence to which he refers was the -frontiersman's disrespect for military authority and his growing -belief in his own right to choose the manner of his service or his -death. These men had been as badly treated by the Braddock style of -authority as Washington had been, and most of his troubles doubtless -arose from their memory of insolence in the officers. - -As an example of the panic and confusion of the times, while -Washington was at Winchester endeavoring to get his troops organized, -a man came running into town, one Sunday afternoon, saying in -breathless terror that a horde of Indians was only twelve miles off, -killing and burning everything they came to. Washington remained up -all night preparing for the attack. At about dawn on Monday morning, -another man arrived, declaring that a host of Indians was now within -four miles of the town. He had himself heard the guns of the Indians -and the shrieks of the victims. The scouts sent out by Washington had -not yet returned, and the terror-stricken people at once guessed that -they had been ambushed and killed. - -All that Washington could get together equipped to meet the Indian -drive was only forty men. At the head of these he rode forth to the -scene of massacre and carnage. All that they ever found was three -drunken troopers who had been yelling in their carousal on the way to -town and firing off their pistols. - -Washington arrested them and brought them in as trophies of the Indian -war. - -"These circumstances," Washington wrote in his report, "show what a -panic prevails among the people; how much they are all alarmed at the -most usual customary crimes; and yet how impossible it is to get them -to act in any respect for their common safety." - -A Captain arriving at that time with recruits from Alexandria, -reported that, in coming across the Blue Ridge, he had met a crowd of -people hastening away in terror, whom he could not stop. They all told -him that the Indians had overwhelmed the country and that Winchester -had been sacked and burned. - -Washington saw that nothing but confusion and cross purposes could -prevail under the conditions as they then existed. Accordingly, he set -about to reform the methods and the laws. Under his management, order -at last came out of chaos. He also learned the uses of military show -to give confidence and he ordered rather gorgeous uniforms to be sent -him from England. This was probably necessary in order also to retain -the respect of the young English officers for whom it was often true -that the clothes made the man. - - -II. POLITICAL INTRIGUE AND OFFICIAL CONFUSION - -Early in 1756, in order to get the necessary co-operation among the -colonies, to settle the bitter quarrels as to rank among officers, and -to give the Virginia colony a better idea of the plan for the war, -Washington decided to visit General Shirley, at Boston. General -Shirley had succeeded General Braddock as commander-in-chief of all -the colonies. - -Washington, with his aides in brilliant uniform, taken care of by a -retinue of colored servants in finest livery, all riding in a pompous -cavalcade, representing the style of aristocratic Southern gentlemen, -made a profound social sensation all along the line of their travel, -especially in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. After ten days' -conference in Boston, his mission being successful, he returned to -Virginia as he had come. - -On Washington's return to his headquarters at Winchester, he found the -people in more desperate terror than ever, and this time with good -reason. The French and Indians were indeed ravaging the country within -twenty miles. Any hour the enemy might sweep down upon the wretched -town and destroy the people. If Washington could not save them they -were indeed lost. It is said that the women surrounded him with -terror-stricken cries, holding up their children, and imploring him to -save them from the savages. - -The feelings of the young commander may be appreciated from the letter -he wrote to Governor Dinwiddie. - -"I am too little acquainted with pathetic language," he said, "to -attempt a description of these people's distresses. But what can I do? -I see their situation; I know their danger, and participate in their -sufferings, without having it in my power to give them further relief -than uncertain promises. The supplicating tears of the women, and the -moving petitions of the men, melt me into such deadly sorrow, that I -solemnly declare, if I know my own mind, I could offer myself a -willing sacrifice to the butchering enemy, provided that would -contribute to the people's ease." - -But the Virginia newspapers very freely cast the blame for the -Indian's success on the military management. Washington was deeply -stung with these attacks and he declared that he would resign at once, -if it were not for the immediate dangers pressing so hard upon them. -Then his friends began writing him encouraging letters and he was -strengthened to see the issues through to some end. - -"The country knows her danger," said one of the Virginia legislators, -"but such is her parsimony that she is willing to wait for the rains -to wet the powder, and the rats to eat the bowstrings of the enemy, -rather than attempt to drive her foes from her frontiers." - -But gradually through more blundering and still more confusion of -purpose, after the French had begun to lose heavily in the North, a -course of concerted action was once more organized against Fort -Duquesne, as the center of supplies for the French and Indians in -their frontier warfare. Scouts continually brought in reports that -Fort Duquesne had become greatly weakened and it was believed by all -that this place should now be taken to make good the success on the -northern frontier. - -At length such an expedition was on the way, and Washington wrote to -the Commander, General Forbes, to be allowed to join the expedition -with his command. This request was accepted, and, on July 2, 1758, -Washington arrived at Fort Cumberland. - - -III. "A MATTER OF GREAT ADMIRATION" - -War was at hand, but getting into action to accomplish results was -distractingly slow. No word arrived as to what they were to do. They -remained at Fort Cumberland to the disgust of Washington, and to the -increased dispiriting, sickly condition of his men, until September. -Then they went forward under Colonel Boquet to a point called Loyal -Hannon, fifty miles from Fort Duquesne. Here they stopped, and, -against Washington's earnest remonstrance, Colonel Boquet detached -eight hundred men from his force of two thousand, and sent them -forward to reconnoiter about Fort Duquesne, under command of Major -Grant. They were not to engage the enemy but were to return and -report. - -However, Major Grant believed they were easily able to whip anything -that might be in or about Fort Duquesne. He could not open an attack -on them according to orders, but if he could induce them to attack -him, it would give him a chance for a fight. Accordingly, he made no -attempt to conceal his approach to the fort. He arrived near the place -in the night and sent some men forward who set fire to a log house -near the walls of the fort. If this was not enough warning to the -enemy, or of a dare to come out and fight, he ordered the drums to -beat the reveille around the camp in the morning. After that he lined -up his troops in battle array, as did Braddock before him, and sent up -some men near the fort, to draw plans of that structure in full view -of the enemy. - -There was not a shot fired from the fort and no sound could be heard -within its walls. Not a soldier or an Indian could be seen. - -The officers became sure that nothing more was needed but to send -forward the order for surrender. The soldiers were allowed to ground -their arms and be at ease. Suddenly the woods around them blazed with -the discharge of rifles. The dreaded warwhoop rang in their ears. The -tomahawk and scalping knife was in their midst. A second Braddock's -defeat had begun. A panic-stricken rout began. Major Grant saved his -life by surrendering to a French officer, but most of his men were -dead and the rest scattered like wild animals. - -Back of them a short distance was Captain Bullitt, who had been left -with fifty men to care for the army stores. He rallied together some -of the fugitives and they made a stand behind the baggage and wagons. -The Indians rushed forward and were momentarily checked by the sudden -fire of the ambushed men. Then, with the on-coming force of Indians -from back of the ones stopped, the rush came on. - -Then Captain Bullitt held up a signal for surrender and the firing -ceased. The besieged men all came forward. When within eight yards of -the Indians waiting to receive their guns, Captain Bullitt gave the -order to fire, the guns having all been loaded for that purpose. From -this destructive volley at close range, the Indians fled in confusion, -and before they could rally, Captain Bullitt got his men and wagons -together, so protected as to make good their retreat. - -General Forbes commended Captain Bullitt's method of saving his troops -as "a matter of great admiration," and rewarded him with a Major's -commission. There has been much discussion as to whether such methods -made the Indians merciless or whether the merciless Indian required -such methods. The problem is doubtless as unprofitable now as it is -unanswerable, from any partisan point of view. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE BEGINNING SIGNS OF A GREAT REVOLUTION - - -I. MILITARY VICTORY AND A HAPPY MARRIAGE - -Washington now had charge of the advance on Fort Duquesne. He left -Loyal Hannon over the road Major Grant had taken. The whole fifty -miles were strewn with the bones of oxen, horses and men. What -remained of the bodies of their comrades, they buried. Then they -arrived at the scene of Braddock's defeat, where the same duty was -done for the dead, a sad reminder of the folly of arrogance and -ambition in commanders. - -They had expected to have a hard fight for the capture of Fort -Duquesne. But the success of the English in Canada, and the fall of -Fort Frontenac had left the French at Fort Duquesne without any chance -for supplies or reinforcements. The fort was already at the point of -being abandoned from necessity. Accordingly, the commander waited -until the English were within a day's march of him, when he withdrew -his force of five hundred men, destroyed what he could not take away, -set fire to all that would burn, embarked at night in their long, -light batteaux, by the flames of their fort, and floated down the -Ohio, giving up their hopeless fight for the possession of the Ohio -Valley. - -On the morning of November 5, 1758, Washington with his advanced guard -marched in and hoisted the British flag over the ruins. The enemy was -gone. The Indians having lost the support of their French friends -withdrew into the depths of the forest. - -Washington rebuilt the place, garrisoned it with two hundred men and -named it Fort Pitt in honor of the illustrious British minister, -William Pitt. - -Washington's military schooling, if we may so term it, in the light of -great events to follow, was now ended. He had been engaged for -marriage several months with Mrs. Martha Custis, a widow of the -noblest womanly character, and considerable wealth. The marriage was -accordingly celebrated January 6, 1759, the month before he was -twenty-seven years of age. He now settled down, away from war, into -the life of a business man, as his mother, herself a business woman, -had so fondly desired. - -The objects for which the French and Indian war had begun were now -achieved for the colonists. But England was carrying the war further, -aiming at nothing less than the conquest of Canada. The first gun had -been fired at Washington at the time he was beaten in the race with -the French for the forks of the Ohio. The last gun was fired at Quebec -when all Canada became a possession seized by might of the British -arms. - -The French were greatly grieved at their loss, but their great -statesmen prophesied that it was a fatal victory for the English -mastery of North America. - -The Duke de Choiseul said that it would awaken the colonies to their -liberty and their power. It would bring the ideals of the wilderness -in sharp contrast with the imperialism of England. "They will no -longer need her protection," said he, "she will call on them to -contribute toward supporting the burdens they have helped bring on -her, and they will answer by striking off their dependence." - -How true this was as a prophecy, the school histories all show to -every pupil of the schools, who will try to get a view of the progress -and development of historical events. Fact will then be stranger than -fiction, and history will be a more romantic story, richer in the -lessons of life, than any novel. - - -II. LIFE FULFILLED AS A VIRGINIA COUNTRY GENTLEMAN - -Washington, after his marriage, at the close of the French and Indian -war, became, as his mother had so long desired him to be, a country -gentleman, not only with a large land-ownership, but also dignified -with a seat in the legislative assembly of Virginia. He was rich, -happily married and a hero! What more was to be desired in the heart -of man! - -On the day when Washington took his seat in the House of Burgesses, -the speaker of the assembly arose and eloquently presented the thanks -of the colony for the distinguished military services rendered by -their fellow-member to his country, and especially to the welfare of -Virginia. - -Washington arose at the conclusion of the eulogy to express his -appreciation for what had been spoken in his honor. - -It is said that he "blushed--stammered--trembled, and could not utter -a word." - -"Sit down, Mr. Washington," said the speaker, "your modesty equals -your valor, and that surpasses the power of any language I possess." - -During the session of the Virginia legislature, Washington lived at -the White House, as was called the home of his bride, and which was -situated on her estate, near Williamsburg. That home has since been -immortalized as the name of the Home of the Presidents of the United -States. - -Mrs. Martha Custis was one of the wealthiest women in the English -colonies when she married George Washington. At her request, the -General Court appointed Washington the guardian of her boy of six and -her girl of four, and the manager of all her property. - -His friends had long wanted him to visit England, believing, -doubtless, from special information, that great honors awaited him -there. No doubt there was in easy reach the usually much-coveted -political preferment, such as might have made him beholden to the King -through all his future career. But we are perhaps entitled to believe -that Washington's views of those honors were not qualified by the -grateful respect that was necessary. An American of his honor and -character probably cherished the good will of his countrymen as -superior to any royal condescension. - -To these suggestions for a visit to England, he returned a -characteristic reply, "I am now, I believe, fixed in this seat, with -an agreeable partner for life, and I hope to find more happiness in -retirement than I ever experienced in the wide and bustling world." - -At the end of the session of the Virginia legislature, Washington and -his family left the "White House" and made their home at Mount Vernon. -Here he fully believed he was settled in a life of happiness and -peace. It was the home of his childhood which he had spent with his -beloved mother and his half-brother Lawrence. - -This home on the beautiful highlands of the Potomac was indeed the -center of a little empire. It was a system of cultured, wealthy -people, graded on down to the colored servants, in which everything -needed for luxury, pleasure or enterprise was made and ready on the -grounds. - -The home life of the Washington family is a revelation of the -aristocratic democracy of the times. Many a story is told showing the -wilderness culture and luxury mingled with the common interests of the -lowly life. - -The treaty of peace, now including all affairs in the colonies, which -was signed in 1763, between England and France, was greeted as a happy -ending of all border troubles for the colonies. But, unfortunately, it -seemed to let loose the savagery of the Indians, whose tribes were now -going to pieces before the advancing English Settlements. The right to -the wilderness was a hand-to-hand conflict, in which the pioneer -frontiersmen won the great victory for modern civilization. - - -III. THE MOMENTOUS STRUGGLE BETWEEN MIGHT AND RIGHT - -The border warfare continued as ferociously as ever before. -Washington, being out of military life, with heavy business -responsibilities upon him, did not become involved in these conflicts. - -Meanwhile, the prediction of the Duke de Choiseul that the colonies -would rapidly see they had no need of England, and would as rapidly -cease to fear its military power, was coming true. Irritation followed -fast upon irritation, and arrogance bred resentment and retaliation so -rapidly that it requires many a volume to tell it all. The colonists -had to fight the battles of the border warfare, pay the costs, support -the arrogant officers sent across the water, and yet find themselves -regarded as inferiors fit only as producers for a land across the sea. -But it should be understood from the beginning that history deals -mainly with the makers of history who have been almost exclusively -generals and kings. The commoners, except as their minds are -state-made, have no quarrel with the commoners of other countries. - -The first outbreak came against taxes placed on personal necessities -in which the people had no rights or voice. The resentment was -crystallized into an outcry against "taxation without representation." -The bitter feeling found voice in a daring defiance uttered by Patrick -Henry. He brought forward a resolution in the Virginia House of -Burgesses, declaring that the General Assembly of Virginia had the -exclusive right and power to lay taxes upon the people of Virginia, -and that whoever claimed to the contrary was an enemy of the colony. -With that view the commoners of England were in general sympathy, -including many of the most influential men in that country. But the -British court was foreign, that is, continental. History tells us that -King George the First, grandfather of George the Third, could speak -only his native German, and held in profound contempt the English -people. - -The Speaker of the House tried to have Patrick Henry's resolution -modified as being too strong, but, in his speech for the resolution, -the young orator, after a brilliant address, concluded with the -memorable and history-making words, "Cæsar had his Brutus; Charles his -Cromwell; and George the Third,--(here cries of 'Treason! Treason!' -was heard) may profit by their example. Sir, if this be -treason----(here he bowed to the Speaker)--make the most of it!" - -The idea of liberty to make their own laws had now sprung forth, and -it was taken up with immense enthusiasm throughout the colonies. - -The British Parliament seemed to look upon the colonies as Braddock -had done upon the colonial soldiers,--they were only half-civilized -inferiors, and suitable only for menial service or to contribute -profit to the mother country. Accordingly, month by month and year by -year, the interference and resentment on both sides increased, by the -passage of obnoxious laws on one side, and resistance to their -enforcement on the other side. - -All this time, Washington was in the midst of the turmoil, not as a -leader but more as a peacemaker, though always in full sympathy with -the fast growing American idea. As we take a swift view of those -times, we are apt to suppose that the change of mind, uniting the -colonies in opposition to Great Britain, came suddenly and -unanimously, but, as in all places and situations, where there is -freedom of thinking, the general conviction came slowly, especially -the conviction to use force in the defense of the rights of of man as -learned in the hard freedom of the wilderness. What we might call the -high-water mark of mind, in favor of force for maintaining colonial -liberty, was that of Patrick Henry, whose slogan was "Give me liberty -or give me death." - -On the other hand, there were many, from the aristocratic mansion -to the log cabin in the forest, who looked upon force against the -mother country as a horror and a crime. Between these extremes, -Washington labored for patience among the colonists and a change of -policy among the law-makers of Great Britain. In writing to his wife's -uncle, an influential man in London, he said, "The Stamp Act engrosses -the conversation of the speculative part of the colonists, who look -upon this unconstitutional method of taxation as a direful attack upon -their liberties, and loudly exclaim against the violation." - -[Illustration: Washington Surrendering His Commission.] - -In the New England colonies, the people were far more fierce in their -resentment toward the requirement that they must buy stamps to make -legal almost every transaction. This method of getting money for the -British government was so offensive to Boston that a publicly -encouraged mob hanged the stamp distributor in effigy, the windows of -his house were broken, and the building to be used as his office was -broken to pieces, and the fragments burned in the streets. The -officers of the town, trying to disperse the crowd, were driven away -with stones. The next morning the stamp distributor renounced his -office in the public square and no one could be found willing to take -his place. - -Down in Virginia, the stamp distributor did not try to fulfill his -office, but came on to Williamsburg and amidst much applause publicly -denounced the Stamp Act and vacated the office. - -On the first of November, 1765, when the act was to become law and go -into operation, there was tolling of bells throughout New England. -Ships in the harbors displayed their flags at half-mast. Shops were -shut, business was suspended, and every form of defiance they could -invent was displayed all day and that night. - -At New York, the poster announcing the law was stuck on a pole, under -a death's head, from which floated a banner bearing the inscription, -"The folly of England and ruin of America." The lieutenant-governor -with all his official household went into the fort and surrounded -himself with marines from a ship of war. Then the mob went to his -stables, brought out his carriage, put his effigy into it, dragged it -up and down the street till they were tired, and then hung his effigy -on a gallows. That evening they took the effigy down, put it again -into the carriage, this time by the side of an image of the devil, had -a howling torch-light procession to Bowling Green, and there, under -the guns of the fort, burned the carriage with the effigies in it. So -bitter and so general was the disapproval that no one attempted to -enforce the law. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -SOWING THE WIND AND REAPING THE WHIRLWIND - - -I. MOUNT VERNON AT FIRST IN A ZONE OF CALM - -In all this storm, Washington remained engrossed in his extensive -business affairs. It can not be inferred that this meant any -indifference on his part. It must be remembered that by nature he was -of a retiring disposition and never put himself forward as a leader in -any agitation. He was one who believed in regularity and discipline. -He could not destroy except as a process of building. His fighting -spirit was always in accomplishing a definite design for foreseen -ends. It is thus always seen that the man who is an agitator and a -leader of agitation, however heroic and noble he may be in the cause -of right, is never the calm, judicial mind necessary to construct -material and form forces into a constitutional government. The mind of -man seems first to require a forerunner. There was the determined, -uncompromising John the Baptist for the gentle and peace-loving -Christ, and there were numerous colonial Patrick Henrys for -Washington, even as there were Lovejoys, Garrisons and John Browns for -Lincoln. Thus it appears, without irreverence, that agitation is as -essential to education as legislation is to government. - -Washington's large interests in trade with England, and his many -Old-England friends and connections, would have turned any man, who -would serve his own personal profit, into partisanship for Great -Britain. There is no doubt that the inducements to favor the mother -country were large, and the promise of loss for doing otherwise was -very heavy and convincing. But he had seen much of English arrogance -and tyranny. He had also seen much of American freedom and human -rights. There was probably never any debate in his mind as to which -meant the most to him in personal duty or as an American. He had a -deeper view of humanity than business interests. But his hour had not -yet struck. The time had not yet come when the colonies needed -Washington. - -Something of great significance took place in 1766. Benjamin Franklin -was called before the House of Commons and questioned concerning the -Stamp Act. - -"What," they asked him, according to the Parliamentary Register of -that year, "was the temper of America towards Great Britain, before -the year 1763?" - -"The best in the world," was his reply. "They submitted willingly to -the government of the crown, and paid, in their courts, obedience to -the acts of Parliament. They were governed at the expense of only a -little pen, ink and paper. They were led by a thread. They had not -only respect, but an affection for Great Britain, for its laws, its -customs, and manners, and even a fondness for its fashions, that -greatly increased the commerce. Natives of Great Britain were always -treated with particular regard; to be an Old-England man was, of -itself, a character of some respect, and gave a kind of rank among -us." - -"And what is that temper now?" - -"Oh! it is very much altered." - -"If the act is not repealed, what do you think will be the -consequences?" - -"A total loss of the respect and affection the people of America bear -to this country, and of all the commerce that depends upon that -respect and affection." - -"Do you think the people of America would submit to pay the stamp duty -if it was moderated?" - -"No, never," Franklin replied, "unless compelled by force of arms." - - -II. GIVING THE APPEARANCE AND KEEPING THE SUBSTANCE - -On March 18, 1766, the obnoxious Stamp Act was repealed, but the -repeal contained a clause that took all the merit out of the repeal, -by maintaining the principle that the King, with the consent of -Parliament, had the authority and power to "bind the colonies, and the -people of America, in all cases whatsoever." - -If the colonies consented to this repeal with its clause, they would -be affirming the very thing they were opposing in the Stamp Act. Such -"sharp practice" could not win. It was not the stamps they were -opposing alone, nor the imposing of taxes. They repudiated the idea -and the motive of the right to tax them without their consent, one of -the ways of which was to make them buy stamps to legalize any of their -business transactions. This explicitly proves that the Revolutionary -War was not "an economic war," as some theorists endeavor to prove, -but a war of principle, liberty and justice, as it claimed to be. - -The King was now asserting a right over the colonies which he did not -have anywhere in his own country. This was his will, his "divine -right," as it were. If he tried to establish and enforce that will and -the colonies endeavored to establish and enforce their will against -that will, then it would be, as had so often happened before in -English history, a war of the King against the People. So it is often -described in history as "the King's war" against the colonies. To such -an extent did the people refuse to fight it that the Hanoverian King -had to hire Hessian mercenaries. - -We have long since learned that it was not the people of England -against the people of America, but the war of a foreign-minded King to -retain a personal mastery over a branch of the English people, a right -lost forever among English-speaking people through the successful -revolt of the American Colonies in the name of American liberty. - -The King through Parliament hastened to verify his right to tax the -Colonies by various taxes against single articles. This was especially -resented at Boston where the taxes were most oppressive. The General -Court of Massachusetts became a hot-bed of agitation against those -taxes. The excitement of every day increased. Violent collisions were -of frequent occurrence between the authorities and the people. At -last, it became public that two regiments were held at Halifax ready -to be sent to Boston to quell the remonstrances there. The colonists -looked upon these signs of coercion as nothing less than despotism. -The two regiments soon arrived with seven war vessels. The commander -reported that he was sure these "spirited measures" would soon quell -all disturbances and restore order. - -But the colonists now had a greater grievance. They held town meetings -and resolved that the King had no right to send troops into the -colonies without their consent. They claimed that the charters of all -the colonies were now broken by this act of the King in sending troops -into their midst without their consent. It was many times worse than -taxation without representation. It was a violation of their -allegiance to Great Britain. - -The Boston selectmen refused to have anything to do with the soldiers. -The council would not recognize that they had any rights in the town. -Accordingly, the commander quartered them in the State-House and in -Faneuil Hall. The public was enraged at the cannon planted around -these buildings and against the sentinels that challenged the rights -of free citizens to come and go. Besides, their religious ideas were -equally outraged by the fife and drum on Sunday, with the oaths and -loud commands of officers, where heretofore all had been peace and -quiet. - -Virginia was far away from these stirring scenes and news went slowly. -However, Washington recognized the grave significance of it all. A -letter written April 5, 1769, by him to his friend George Mason, -shows what he thought. - -"At a time," he wrote, "when our lordly masters in Great Britain will -be satisfied with nothing less than the deprivation of American -freedom, it seems highly necessary that something should be done to -avert the stroke, and maintain the liberty which we have derived from -our ancestors." - -He continued by discussing what was the best way to do this necessary -thing. He advised that the use of arms should be the last resource and -resort. His moral view is expressed farther on in the letter where he -says, as he discusses the effect on the colonists in the war cutting -off their trade, "There will be a difficulty attending it everywhere -from clashing interests, and selfish, designing men, ever attentive to -their own gain, and watchful of every turn that can assist their -lucrative views." - -This shows us that very far from all of the revolutionary people could -be called heroes of principle and entitled to be regarded as the -founders of American freedom. Democracy had the usual percentage of -sordid parasites, as well as its many noble martyrs and heroic -champions. - -Still farther on in the same letter, he says, "I can see but one class -of people, the merchants excepted, who will not, or ought not, to wish -well to the scheme,--namely, they who live genteely and hospitably on -clear estates. Such as these, were they not to consider the valuable -object in view, and the good of others, might think it hard to be -curtailed in their living and enjoyments." - -Now it must be taken into consideration that Washington not only -belonged to the genteel freeholders to which he refers, but he was -also one of the largest merchants who would lose heavily in any -stoppage of trade with Great Britain. But we have clearly seen through -all his military and public service, that principle, and not gain or -comfort, was the vital motive of his conduct and his life. - - -III. "SOFT WORDS BUTTER NO PARSNIPS" - -For several reasons, the Southern colonies fared much better than the -Northern colonies, and were, therefore, not stirred to such feelings -of violent opposition. The spirit of the Puritans, their severe -economy, rigid form of piety, and their hatred of Kings, animated the -Northern people in private and in public. Their ancestors had been -refugees from the tyranny of English Kings, and there was not that -respect for England which would cause them to be patient under bad -treatment. Besides that, they had seen most of the arrogance and -insolence of the English officers during the French and Indian wars, -and had suffered longest from the presence of war. The officers of the -King came to the Northern colonies with the idea that nothing would -serve the purpose but severity and coertion. On the contrary, the -people of the Southern colonies were believed at the King's court to -be vain and luxurious. They were represented as being easily pleased -by showy parade. Accordingly, a court favorite, Lord Botetourt, was -chosen to win the admiration of Virginia. The descendants of the -Puritans were to be overawed into subjection by military force, the -Cavaliers of Virginia were to be overawed into compliance by -aristocratic splendor. - -Lord Botetourt was supplied with a dazzling equipment. He arrived in -Virginia with glittering pomp and circumstance. On the opening of the -Virginia legislature, he arranged a brilliant procession, in which he -was conspicuous in gorgeous uniform, riding in a state-coach drawn by -six milk-white horses. He opened the session of the Virginia -legislature as if it were a royal parliament and he were the King. -Then the ostentatious parade returned him to the governor's mansion. - -But to the amazement of Lord Botetourt, this grand display did not -work. The House of Burgesses drafted some drastic demands to be sent -to the British King. At noon of the day after these resolutions were -passed, the governor in dismay went in haste to the Capitol, and -appeared before the assembly. - -"Mr. Speaker, and gentlemen of the House of Burgesses," he cried, "I -have heard of your resolves, and auger ill of their effects. You have -made it my duty to dissolve you, and you are dissolved accordingly." - -But his brain-storm had only the effect to cause them to be called to -order by their Speaker, Paton Randolph, in another house. Washington -brought forward the draft of an association pledged not to buy -anything from Great Britain on which there was a tax. This could not -be enacted into a law, because they were no longer a legislative body, -but, as a voluntary pledge, it was just as effective. - -But, wonderful to relate, Lord Botetourt appeared to have a better -ordered intelligence than most of the governors sent over from -England. He saw at once the folly of his first ideas about the -Southern colonies, and he set about at once to pacify them in more -reasonable ways. He put away his royal show, actually addressed -himself to the grievances of the people, became a strong opponent to -the taxes, did what he could to have them repealed, and assured the -Virginians that this would be speedily done. The people soon had full -confidence in him, and the scenes of excitement so common in the -Northern colonies were unknown in Virginia. - -But there was one thing after another of repression and retaliation in -the Northern colonies. Such was the opposition in the colonies and the -unpopularity of it all among the ruling classes in England, that the -King's Manager, the Duke of Grafton, resigned and a favorite of the -King, Lord North, took his place, as chief councillor in England. Now, -the King gave up the fight for the taxes, but he still held to his -right to tax the people as something that was none of their business. -The tax was taken off of everything except tea. This one tax was kept -up, though a very light one, merely as the King said, "to maintain the -parliamentary right of taxation." Even the duty was taken off of tea, -so that it was sold in America ninepence cheaper a pound than it could -be bought in England. - -"Now," said the King, "if the colonists object to this, it proves that -they are determined to rebel against our government." - -He could not conceive of such a thing as a principle against which -they were opposed, and many a mind since his has been as blind to -principle and as full-eyed toward the question of profit and loss. It -is this indescribable thing that usually divides people on public -affairs. It likewise defends the Makers of America against the -historical interpretation that their revolution was for any such -sordid origins as "economic necessity." - -There was strong opposition in parliament, not only against all such -taxation but also against asserting the right of such taxation. Lord -North, however, reflecting the will of King George, said, "The -properest time to exert our right of taxation is when the right is -refused." - -So it is with all set wills. The colonists thought the same thing from -an opposite point of view. It was an irresistible body meeting an -immovable body. Something had to break. - -Lord North declared that "a total repeal can not be thought of, till -America is prostrate at our feet." That is, the master determines not -to hear the complaint of the slave until the slave's will is broken at -his owner's feet. The wilderness-made minds with their self-made -freedom were not built that way. The King's mind-evil could not be met -by resistence, but, as it emerged into colonial wrongs, the only way -to defeat them and save the freedom of moral law was through -revolutionary war. The evil mind using coertion to enforce its -slave-making wrongs went out of the mental regions of non-resistence -into the physical regions of wrongs where nothing but force can save. - -Lord North's promise could have nothing to do with the case. The -colonists had no idea of taking such a position as being prostrate at -the feet of the King. They had felt the freedom that is born of the -wilderness and that freedom was life. It was American and it remains -the hope of the world. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -ANTAGONISMS AND HOSTILITIES - - -I. BLAZING THE WAY TO WAR - -Nothing illustrates better the conditions of mind in the long, bitter -turmoil, than an incident, infuriating the people of Boston, which -happened March 5, 1770. A number of young men and boys, probably fifty -or sixty of them, gathered on Boston Common to throw snowballs. A -company of militia being near, offered too tempting an object, and -they began to pelt the soldiers. The claim was that some of the -snowballs contained rocks, though no one was seriously injured. The -soldiers charged the bunch of boys, not with weapons, but with fists, -and put them to flight. This was not enough for the victors, and so -the soldiers pursued the flying enemy. Seeing this, some citizens rang -alarm bells. A mob assembled around the custom house and was ordered -away. The troops were assailed with clubs and stones. They fired into -the crowd and killed four, wounding several others. The town was -aflame with wrath and the troops were removed to the barracks outside -to prevent further bloodshed. Though it was hardly disastrous enough -to deserve the name, "Boston Massacre," yet there was no doubt that -nothing in the early days of the revolution, had more effect in -setting the minds of the people against England. It was a sign of the -times, and was like a little word that may sometimes mean as much as a -whole discourse, especially when a social group of minds is unified in -one interest of opposition or defense. - -It was during these stirring times in the North that Washington was -prevailed on by the Colonial government to visit the Indian tribes on -the Ohio for a better understanding of the right of each side under -the existing treaties. His journey to the site of old Fort Duquesne, -renamed Fort Pitt, where Pittsburg now stands, was full of romantic -memories, and was met with many assurances of friendship among the now -reconciled Indians. - -Through the many interesting scenes, still somewhat perilous from the -uncertainty of Indian friendship, he arrived at the mouth of the Great -Kanawha. It was at this place where Washington was visited by an old -Indian Sachem, who approached him with great reverence as if he were -in the presence of a very superior being. Through the interpreter, -the Indian chief said that he had heard of his coming to their country -and had come a long way to see him. He explained his unusual interest -by saying that he had led his warriors against the English under -General Braddock. It was he with his band of braves who had lain in -ambush on the banks of the Monongahela and had done such deadly -slaughter to the English troops. But his reverence for Washington had -a special reason. The Indians saw Washington as one of the boldest, -riding fearlessly over the battlefield, carrying the General's orders. -The chief and his warriors had singled Washington out as one they must -kill. They had tried their best but their bullets never found him. At -last they would not waste their bullets on him because he had a -charmed life, under the protection of the Great Spirit. And who knows -about these things! Everything may not be of inevitable physical -order! The simple Indian may have been nearer the truth than would be -any psychological or scientific explanation. - -The Indians very generally believed that the Great Spirit exercised -power over bullets, and, in many instances, faced death fearlessly in -the faith raised by their "medicen-man" that the enemy's bullets could -not harm them. Religious assurance of some kind is the consolation of -every mind. - - -II. THE DOUBLE-QUICK MARCH TO REVOLUTION - -That Washington could be righteously indignant and unmercifully -sarcastic may be inferred from a letter written to Colonel George -Muse, who had been Washington's military instructor at Mount Vernon in -1751. Colonel Muse had been accused of cowardice in the campaign with -Washington to the Ohio in 1754, and Washington had with difficulty -obtained for him a grant of ten thousand acres of land in the Ohio -territory, as was given to the other officers in the expedition. -Colonel Muse was dissatisfied and so wrote a letter to Washington, the -contents of which we can surmise only from Washington's reply. - -"Sir,--Your impudent letter was delivered to me yesterday," he wrote. -"As I am not accustomed to receive such from any man, nor would have -taken the same language from you personally, without letting you feel -some marks of my resentment, I advise you to be cautious in writing me -a second of the same tenor; though I understand you were drunk when -you did it, yet give me leave to tell you that drunkenness is no -excuse for rudeness." - -After describing what had been done for the ungrateful man, Washington -closed his letter by saying, "All my concern is that I ever engaged -myself in behalf of so ungrateful and dirty a fellow as you are." - -Meanwhile, the King of England was searching for means to wear down -the opposition of the colonies to his assertion of the right to -personal rule over them through Parliament. So complete was the -refusal of the colonies to use tea, that the warehouses of the East -India Company were full of tea, and their profit dwindled. A happy -suggestion was made to the King. Let the tea go free duty, and so -cheap on account of the surplus, to the colonies, that they will buy -it and thus not only relieve the warehouses but also establish the -principle of the right to tax articles sold in the colonies. The -proposition was put into effect. The contents of the warehouses were -emptied into ships and sent to various ports in the American colonies. -The King depended on human nature as he understood it to be. Like many -another ruler who believes he can rule by juggling ideas and -manipulating minds, he deceived himself. The people were starving for -tea! They had long lived without tea like foolish children who would -play no way but their own way. Now, they would tumble over one another -to get the long desired tea. There would be a carnival carousal of tea -drinking in America! But somehow the thing didn't work. There was -still a wonderful perverseness in the half-civilized subjects of the -King in the American wilderness. They seemed suddenly to be all alike. -No doubt there were many who would gladly have profited by the King's -contempt for principle, but profit was timid and principle was bold. - -New York and Philadelphia turned the ships around and ordered them to -set sails at once for England. In Charleston they stored the tea in -cellars where it remained untouched until it was ruined. In Boston, -upon which the King's anger was centered, as the cause of all the -strife, the conflict of wills was more desperate. The captains found -that they could not unload the tea and when they tried to get -clearance papers to leave the harbor, they were refused. They could -not come in nor go out. But this meant, as the people soon saw, that -the tea was to be held there on the ships until the soldiers could be -used to enforce the sale of tea, and thus coerce the people into -acknowledging the claims of the King "to rule and reign over them," -according to his will. - -The two sides had now "chosen up," as it were, and had begun to climb -the steps to war. - -To forestall the landing of the tea under cover of the soldiers, a -company of Boston people assembled on the night of December 18, 1773, -disguised themselves as Indians, boarded the ships, broke open all -the chests of tea, and emptied the object of all the trouble into the -sea. - -There was no excitement apparent in doing this. When all the tea in -Boston harbor was floating on the waves, the make-believe Indians -returned peacefully to their homes, and went to bed, doubtless -sleeping "the sleep of the righteous." - -All the wrath of the King and his associates were now centered -definitely on Boston. In swift retaliation the Boston Port Bill was -passed by Parliament, closing the harbor and transferring the capital -to Salem. A little later, the charter of the province was changed so -as to bring the colony directly under the control of the English -government. Then a Riot Bill was passed so that any person, if -indicted for a high crime, could be sent to England for trial. First, -it was taxing without representation, then it was quartering soldiers -upon them without their consent, and now it was a violation of the -right to be tried by a jury of their peers. The intolerable had -climbed the swift steps of war to the impossible. American freedom -could not thus be made the puppet of any king. - -It was historical evidence how "one thing brings on another" in a -quarrel of wills, and how force can not control rebellious minds. -Brain-storms of feeling, whether in child or mob, are not to be -stilled by retaliation or despotism. - - -III. VIOLENCE AND FLATTERY AS METHODS OF MASTERY - -In wide contrast to the use of force for Massachusetts, was the plan -being carried out to pacify Virginia. Lord Dunmore was sent as -governor to Virginia with the same idea of princely show as -characterized Lord Botetourt. He established a court circle with -almost kingly pomp and splendor. He began the great game of playing to -the aristocracy of the "Ancient Dominion." All the wealthy families -were entertained at the Governor's mansion in gorgeous style. -Washington was among the first to be so honored and entertained. It -looked as if all Virginia was at the feet of the royal governor, -rapturously "eating out of his hand." - -The House of Burgesses convened and everything seemed to be going the -King's way, when a letter was received stating what had been done to -Boston. Then things were different. Principle, freedom and sympathy -joined hands, and court-flattery went to the scrap-heap. - -The letter was read before the assembly. At once all other business -was thrown aside. A protest was adopted to be sent to England, and a -resolution was passed setting apart the first day of June (the day on -which the port of Boston was to be closed), as a day of fasting, -prayer and humiliation, in which all minds should be united firmly -opposing the contemplated suppression of American liberties, and to -avert the evils of civil war. - -Repeating what his predecessor, Lord Botetourt, had done and seeming -to learn nothing from that really well-intentioned man's experiences, -Lord Dunmore, the next morning ordered the House of Burgesses to -appear before him in the council chamber. - -"Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses," he began, "I -hold in my hand a paper, published by order of your House, conceived -in such terms, as reflect highly upon his Majesty and the Parliament -of Great Britain, which makes it necessary for me to dissolve you, and -you are dissolved accordingly." - -But as before, the assembly did not disperse. It gathered in a hall -where the members unanimously passed the most drastic resolutions of -defiance, and, what was most significant of all, ordered the Committee -of Correspondence to communicate with the various colonies on the -expediency of appointing deputies to meet annually in a General -Congress of British America. - -Every word and deed of Washington, and there is abundance of them on -record, shows that he was in full and hearty sympathy with all -these sentiments against Great Britain, though he and Lord Dunmore, -and their families, mingled frequently in a social way. Washington's -mind was not one to be swayed by particular instances of pride or -profit. The goal before him was never obscured by side issues or -temporary interests. - -[Illustration: Washington and His Cabinet.] - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -GREAT MINDS IN THE GREAT STORM - - -I. SUPPRESSING AMERICANS - -General Thomas Gage was, in the approaching crisis, made military -commander at Massachusetts, as the man most experienced and able to -enforce the Parliamentary laws. He had led the advance guard at -Braddock's defeat, had married an American girl and had lived long in -the colonies. It would seem that he ought to have known well the -character of the colonists. But, he had already advised the King that, -"The Americans will be lions only as long as the English are lambs." - -The idea still prevails that there is a lamb-coward always in the -presence of a lion-hero. General Gage promised that he would enforce -all laws if given five regiments. - -As suggested by the Virginia Assembly, "a solemn league and covenant" -was circulated throughout the provinces, in which the subscribers -bound themselves to cease from all intercourse with Great Britain, -from the month of August, until Massachusetts should regain its -chartered rights. Furthermore, it was an iron-clad use of the boycott -and lock-out. It pledged the signers that they would have no dealings -with any one who refused to enter into that compact. This meant that -home-principle had to have a method against home-profit. Capital was -timidly cowering between what seemed to it as "the devil and the deep -sea." - -General Gage declared in a proclamation that the document was illegal -and the signers traitors. He planted a force of infantry and artillery -on the Boston Common and prepared himself to enforce the edict of the -British Parliament and his own judgment. Thus, another high step was -taken in the climb to war. The great drama was developing scene by -scene that was to bring forth Washington as a warrior, president and -statesman, the titular "Father of his Country." - -As we proceed on our historic journey, needed to understand the making -of Washington, and his meaning for Americans, we are now approaching -his first appearance as a leader. This comes to pass after he decides -that every resource and means have been used in vain for justice -toward the colonies. - -On July 18, 1773, a meeting of Fairfax County was held, with -Washington as the presiding officer, to discuss their attitude toward -the English government and its methods toward the colonies. This -general meeting of protest was held immediately after Washington's -return from the session of the House of Burgesses at Williamsburg. - -As Chairman of the committee on resolutions, he had probably much, if -not all, to do with the language used, and it is significant, that the -resolutions ended with a phrase which contained the threat of -independence through war. They called on the King to reflect that -"from our Sovereign there can be but one appeal." This shows the idea -that was in Washington's mind for he had already decided, as shown by -his letters, that the King could not be changed, and, therefore, that -the only appeal was to be made to the higher authority of right -through the might of war. - -Washington was now entering heart and soul into the great controversy. -He was chosen as a delegate from the county to the colony meeting at -Williamsburg on the first of August, 1773. - -The Virginia delegates assembled at the capital as planned. Washington -presented the resolution adopted by his county and made a fervid -address in its support. It is said he declared himself ready to raise -a thousand men at his own expense, and march at their head to the -relief of Boston. It is safe to say that if Washington and Patrick -Henry could have lived through to 1861, there would have been no Civil -War, or even if the Spirit of Washington and Henry could have lived in -the hearts of the people. - -The Virginia convention adopted resolutions based on the Fairfax -resolution, and Washington with six others, destined to become famous -in American history, were appointed delegates to the General Congress, -that was to meet in Philadelphia. - -The high-handed measures against Boston had ruined that town. The rich -became poor and the poor were at the verge of starvation, but there -was no outcry. The silent misery and calm determination were a puzzle -to the General who could not subdue such opposition with cannon. The -people went in crowds to hear their speakers placidly arguing the -conditions. There was no excuse to order the people to disperse, so -that Gage found it necessary to have a law passed that the people -should not assemble to discuss government affairs. But the whole -problem had now taken on a larger form. On September 5, 1774, -delegates from all the colonies, excepting Georgia, met in Carpenter's -Hall, Philadelphia. - -Patrick Henry and Edmund Pendleton came on to Mount Vernon, and from -there the three giants of moral rights and human liberty rode on -together to the meeting, affecting so deeply the eternal meaning of -America. - -When the question arose in the meeting concerning the voting of -delegates, some colonies having more than others, Patrick Henry, with -his fiery zeal, declared any idea of sectional distinctions or local -interests to be absurd. - -"All America," he cried, "is thrown into one mass. Where are your -landmarks--your boundaries of colonies? They are all thrown down. The -distinction between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New -Englanders, are no more. I am not a Virginian but an American." - -What a great pity that eighty-six years later, the patriotism of -Patrick Henry could not have been felt, and the one great horror of -American history would then never have occurred. - - -II. THE BUSINESS OF GETTING READY - -The first General Assembly in the history of the New World came -together in great solemnity. They felt that it should be opened by -some religious service, and yet, they feared to introduce religious -antagonism, for it was a period when religious controversies were -often more extreme and bitter than any political controversies. - -Then Samuel Adams of reverend fame arose and said, "I shall willingly -join in prayer with any gentleman of piety and virtue, whatever might -be his cloth, provided he is a friend of his country." - -Samuel Adams was a very rigorous Congregationalist, but religion with -him had no claims that did not include justice and patriotism. He -nominated the Reverend Mr. Duche of Philadelphia, who was an -Episcopalian, to open the session with prayer. - -The reverend Duche appeared in his canonicals attended by his clerk. -He read the morning service of the Episcopal church. The Psalter for -that day of the month, the seventh, included the thirty-fifth Psalm. -The central idea of the Psalm was that of the Assembly. - -"Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me; fight against -them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand -up for my help. Draw out, also, the spear, and stop the way of them -that persecute me." - -It is said that when the assembly was organized and ready for the -introduction of their momentous business, that a long, deep, -death-like silence fell upon them. Every one hesitated to begin. The -sense of inaction was becoming oppressive when Patrick Henry arose. -Such a great occasion was suitable to his eloquence and when he sat -down amidst the murmurs of astonishment and the shouts of applause, he -was conceded to be the greatest orator in America. - -This history-making convention had fifty-one delegates and it remained -in session fifty-one days. The meetings were held in secret, and it is -now unknown the part that Washington took in it, but, when Patrick -Henry returned home, he was asked who was the most powerful councillor -in the convention, and he unhesitatingly said, "Washington." - -That Washington foresaw the course of events may be readily gathered -from a letter he wrote at this time to a very close friend, Captain -Robert Mackenzie, who had severely criticised the colonies from the -British point of view. Like too many who are now charged with the -destiny of the great American republic by their votes, Mackenzie could -reason only on the visible results, and could not give any attention -to the causes of the events. He had no spiritual valuation. He could -reason only from material interests. Washington closed a very emphatic -and radical letter to him with the warning and prophecy, "and give me -leave to add, as my opinion, that more blood will be spilled on this -occasion, if the ministry are determined to push matters to extremity, -than history has ever yet furnished instances of in the annals of -North America." - -England had been what might be termed good to the Southern colonies. -As for harsh measures, the worst from a political point of view was in -dissolving the Virginia legislatures. The Southern Colonies were under -the business management of descendants from the royalist cavaliers who -had been driven from England by the forefathers of the descendants -making up the colonies of New England. There was thus an inherited -tradition of antagonism, which many well-meaning patriots assume as -their basis of justice and judgment. Political welfare must be -estimated from present conditions. Avengers of the ancient wrong want -to punish history rather than make history. They assume that it is -better to begin with what was than with what is. But in the common -need, all such differences were forgotten. The differences were -remembered only by the great grand-children of the revolutionary -heroes. - -The Northern Colonies and the Southern Colonies were, true enough, -antagonistic in their origin, entirely opposite in the social -differences between the severe Puritan and the aristocratic Cavalier, -and worse than all, they were antagonistic in their religion, the -North being many kinds of dissenters, and the South, in its governing -classes, being Episcopalian. Their social, religious and material -interests never had been the same, and they had little in common even -in the French and Indian wars. This outline contrast is given to show -how the question, especially for the South, was not material profit or -of opposition to oppression from force, but was the expression of an -American Ideal uniting all minds, as a meaning for the equal rights of -all in our humanity. It shows that there is an ideal of human rights -that has the allegiance of human hearts above all considerations of -flattery, or coertion, or for any of the thousands of considerations -that may cause an individual judgment or fix the will. There may be -amazing differences in personal and party interests, but there can be -none, even in the varieties of intelligence or conditions, when it -comes to the rights to freedom in the views of genuine Americans. Only -partisans attack the motives of persons who are trying to advance -human liberty and peace according to the duties and rights of -civilization. By such signs shall ye know them and beware. They are -not Americans and their moral deformity is the peril of America. The -real idealist lives the vision of moral order, not only for his group, -but for all the world. The moral law for each and all is our idealism -of the universe. - - -III. MANY MEN OF MANY MINDS - -England could not manage its American colonial interests because the -government had no ideal of the colonies beyond that of a commercial -business, and the colonies could not handle the interests of England -in America because each colony was a separate organization having -political interests together in common only in the British Parliament. -On that account they never felt together, except as their mutual -interest in Parliament was injured. Notice this fundamental origin of -social union, and see how it had to be wrangled over from the close of -the Revolutionary War in 1781, to the adoption of the Constitution, -and the election of a president under it in 1789. And even then, a -fundamental origin for social interests, and, therefore, of -patriotism, was not achieved until a frightful civil war closed the -struggle for separate units of interest, as independent -sovereignities, in 1865. - -Mr. Curtis, an English philosopher-historian, writing about one -hundred and fifty years after the beginning of these world-making -origins of the American ideal, quotes Doyle's history referring to the -revolt of the colonies, in which it is said, "If the Southern Colonies -were to take their full share of interest in the struggle, it was -clear that it must not be left to a New England army under a New -England general. But we may be sure that the choice, desirable in -itself, of a Southern general, was made much easier by the presence of -a Southern candidate so specially fitted for the post as Washington. -Not indeed that his fitness was or could be as yet fully revealed. -Intelligence and public spirit, untiring energy and industry, a fair -share of technical skill, and courage almost dangerous in its -recklessness,--all these were no doubt perceived by those who -appointed Washington. What they could not have foreseen was the -patience with which a man of clear vision, heroic bravery, and intense -directness, bore with fools and laggards, and intrigues; and the -disinterested self-devotion which called out all that was noblest in -the national character, which shamed selfish men into a semblance of -union. Still less could it have been foreseen that, in choosing a -military chief, Congress was training up for the country that civil -leader, without whose aid an effective constitution would scarcely -have been attained." - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE HOUSE LONG DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF - - -I. UNPATRIOTIC CONFUSION OF OPINIONS AND INTERESTS - -In order to appreciate the difficulties which Washington had to -overcome, and therefore to make any just estimate of his character, -his patriotism and his services in the cause of political liberty, the -conditions in which he worked must be understood. It must not be -assumed that he had a united country, a solid backing, and that there -was unanimous patriotism sustaining him. To do so would not only be -untrue, but it would belittle the almost superhuman task which gave -birth to American government, and made possible the final organization -through Abraham Lincoln of a land of the free, able to sustain its -freedom against all the struggling masteries of the world. To suppose -that Washington did his revolutionary work in the midst of reliable -patriotism is as erroneous as to suppose that Lincoln did his -nation-saving task in the midst of a unanimous North. - -There was no such thing as patriotism at the time of Washington, -according to the usual definition of patriotism, because there was no -geographical territory holding a united people, for whom or for which -to feel a national patriotism. - -American patriotism, therefore, began in the patriotism for human -rights, not thus making "a man without a country," as patriotism for -humanity has been sometimes defined alike by extreme pacifists and -extreme militarists, but in the fact that American democracy and -humanity are synonymous terms, in all they can mean for the rights of -man. - -There was then no political country to be patriotic for. There were -only colonies. Patrick Henry's cry, so pathetic in its divine need, -and so little true for his fellows as shown in 1861, "I am not a -Virginian, I am an American," rang through the congress at -Philadelphia with the thrill of a new vision of human faith, but it -was almost a century, through an age of desperate reconstruction, -before it could be even approximately called true; before American -democracy and humanity could face the warring world, the King-made -world, with one meaning, one service and one moral law. - -John Adams, of indisputable authority, tells us that more than a third -of the property owners and men of affairs, were opposed to the -revolution throughout the war. - -Lecky, in his history of England, declares that an examination of the -correspondence of the revolution at any period shows that, "in the -middle colonies at least, those who really desired to throw off the -English rule were a small and not very respectable minority. The great -mass were indifferent, half-hearted, engrossed with their private -interests or occupations, prepared to risk nothing till they could -clearly foresee the issue of the contest. In almost every part of the -States--even in New England itself--there were large bodies of devoted -royalists." - -After the war more than a hundred thousand, it is estimated, of -irreconciliable royalists were expelled from the colonies. - -When General Gage evacuated Boston, more than a thousand royalists -from that immediate territory went with him to Halifax, Nova Scotia, -so that our American grandmothers, even a hundred years later, when -exasperated, would exclaim against their tormentor, with much of the -ancient vehemence, "You go to Halifax!" - -If we want to appreciate Washington and to understand his wonderful -service for mankind, we must understand the difficulties and -obstacles he had to overcome. The "Spirit of '76" belonged at first to -only a few inspired souls, who had a wonderful vision of human rights -for a new world. Right was might with them and their might-right won -the great cause as the immortal "Spirit of '76." - -General Washington's description of the conditions are vividly -portrayed in a letter to Joseph Reed, from Cambridge, dated November -28, 1775: - -"Such a dearth of public spirit, and such a want of virtue, such stock -jobbing and such fertility in all the low arts to obtain advantages of -one kind or another in this great change of military arrangement I -never saw before, and pray God's mercy that I may never be witness to -again. What will be the end of these manoeuvers is beyond my scan. I -tremble at the prospect. We have been till this time enlisting about -three thousand five hundred men. To engage these I have been obliged -to allow furloughs as far as fifty men to a regiment, and the -officers, I am persuaded, indulge as many more. The Connecticut troops -will not be prevailed upon to stay longer than their term, saving -those who have enlisted for the next campaign and are mostly on a -furlough; and such a mercenary spirit pervades the whole that I should -not be at all surprised at any disaster that may happen. In short -after the last of this month our lines will be so weakened that the -Minute Men and Militia must be called in for their defense; and these -being under no kind of government themselves, will destroy the little -subordination I have been laboring to establish, and run me into one -evil whilst I am endeavoring to avoid another; but the less must be -chosen. Could I have foreseen what I have experienced, and am likely -to experience, no consideration upon earth would have induced me to -accept the command." - -At the meeting of the colonies in congress at Philadelphia in 1774, -George the Third saw that it was a conquest of wills and he exclaimed, -"The die is cast, the colonies must either submit or triumph." But -even when the British government was sending Hessian mercenaries over -against the colonies, a thing regarded as a supreme outrage by those -opposed to England, it was almost impossible to get together enough -American patriotism to adopt a declaration of independence. - -John Adams says that a large section of Congress regarded such a -declaration with both terror and disgust. To those who have believed -that a unanimous patriotism made only a little severe fighting -necessary, backed by some clever generalship, there can be no proper -appreciation of the great American achievement. - -Then, as now, the prosperous did not want their prosperity disturbed -by any change. They didn't want to lose their business, not to speak -of their lives, by going into an army. But there had been a generation -of people pouring into the colonies from the poverty-devastations of -English misgovernment in Scotland and Ireland. They had never had any -chance to protest against their wrongs in the old country, but -fortune, or fate, or Providence, had banished them across the ocean -directly into an opportunity to express their sentiments with guns, -and they took the opportunity. They flocked to the recruiting stations -of Washington's army. - -But so unsafe were business transactions with the party fighting Great -Britain that the revolution was coming to the gates of despair because -of the impossibility of getting military supplies and army equipments. -There was fast growing a vision of collapse unless there was received -the encouraging help of a foreign power. France in almost unceasing -war with England was the only hope, and France could have no interest -unless the colonies were fighting for separation from England, instead -of against a tax on tea, as it bore the appearance, at the beginning, -from a foreign point of view. France wanted to know what the colonies -were fighting for. France wanted a bill of particulars. This brought -American interests to a crisis. France had no interest in a mere -family fuss. The French government could have no interest unless it -was for something that lessened the power of England. - -Under the early troubles, a peace party among the business interests -was fast coming into power. Against this the commoners were aflame -with the patriotic pamphlets of Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson, the -eloquence of Patrick Henry, the statesmanship of John Adams, and the -work of the powerful-minded few who saw the sublime vision of American -freedom. At last they were enabled to pass the Declaration of -Independence, and France began, at first secretly and then openly, to -give encouragement through money-loans, supplies, and volunteers. -Burgoyne's surrender in October, 1777, showed that America could be -successful with France's help, and early in the next year France -recognized the independence of the colonies. They soon made the cause -of America their own, and sent over not only necessary supplies but -soldiers and ships. Known budgets of expenses, used in aid of the -Colonies, exceed $500,000,000, not a cent of which was ever returned -or asked for. Though there was the political interest to humble -England, yet France was at heart a profound lover of human freedom and -political liberty. Despite the implacable enemies of republican -government in Europe, France has successfully kept the dead-lines -across which "they shall not pass." The moral debt which human liberty -owes to France can never be paid except as it is paid to humanity, -and, to that social justice, is dedicated the meaning of America. - - -II. SOMETIMES TOO LATE TO MEND - -The English parliament, becoming suddenly aware of the growing power -in the American subjects, now conceded every right asked for by the -colonists, and enacted those rights into law. But it was too late. The -middle-class mass of property owners and business men began to see the -vision of an American republic and the tide swelled toward success. As -the cutting off of supplies from the colonies had been the chief cause -of American weakness, England tried to prevent supplies being sent to -America, with the result that Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Holland -declared an armed neutrality to enforce their right to sell military -supplies to America. The dispute led to a war with Holland in 1780, so -that by the close of that year Great Britain had not a friend on earth -and was confronted by the united armies and navies of France, Spain, -Holland and America. At the same time there was rebellion in India -against the English rule, insurrections in Ireland, and so deep the -discontent in England itself that a London mob was able for several -days to make itself master of the city. The English lost control of -the sea before the close of 1780, and on October 19, 1781, Cornwallis -surrendered his army to Washington, from which historic hour a -world-champion of the rights of man over the divine rights of kings -was born in the Western world. - -The difficulties which Washington had encountered and overcome in -Virginia previous to the French and Indian war were in full exercise -throughout New England at the opening of the Revolutionary War. They -could act together in small, free groups for a particular object of -their will, but to obey superior officers and to sacrifice their own -private judgment to higher authority, which was so necessary in war -and such a war as this, was utterly repugnant to their dispositions. -That subserviency to authority was the very reason they were opposing -the idea of taxation without representation, and why should they be -required to do the very thing they were fighting against! That -quandary and query has been the puzzle of every mind unable to see the -vision of means necessary to future results. It is the blindness -always of the fanatical pacifist who would sacrifice nothing for -peace, and of the non-resistant doctrine that right and moral law have -no need for material might in a material world. - -The colonists had never known of anything but local patriotism. They -seemed to be unable to distinguish between English king-made authority -and American people-made authority, notwithstanding how much had been -discussed the relations of representation and taxation. That -difficulty has always existed concerning American militarism. It -almost defeated Lincoln during the Civil War. It almost delivered the -Union to Secession. If democratic militarism cannot be different from -dynastic militarism, then American freedom and human liberty will be -lost in the next American or world war. - -The colonist would fight with the heroism he displayed in Indian -warfare, but when the enemy was driven away from his neighborhood, it -was the duty of the next neighborhood to take care of itself. Besides, -the New Englander with a home had the same idea as the Virginian -soldier twenty years before, and this was that, when he wanted to go -home, why shouldn't he! He was not a deserter, and in no sense a -coward, but the discipline of army service was mere enslavement and -any compulsion was despotism. To understand the making up of an -efficient army under such circumstances is the only measure to -estimate the greatness of Washington and the debt to him of the -liberty-loving world. - -Curtis, in his history of American Commonwealth, says, "Washington -overcame these difficulties by dint of a patience and a selflessness -almost without parallel in history, which gradually communicated -itself to his fellow countrymen. In seven years he created a -continental army which ended the war at Yorktown." - - -III. SELECTING THE LEADER OF LIBERTY FOR AMERICA - -Washington had to write many letters, endeavoring to spur up the -really patriotic leaders to consistent work for the cause. In his -letter to Joseph Reed he was almost in despair over the indifference -of people from whom he expected the most patriotic service. - -"It grieves me," he wrote, "to see so little of that patriotic spirit -which I was taught to believe characteristic of this people." But this -did not mean that the so-called "spirit of '76" was not strong among -them. Washington needed so much of the patriotic spirit that a little -would not be any, and, to half-heal the wounds of a friend, was not -very friendly to the cause, nor a sufficient friendship toward the -needs of Washington's work for America. - -Ten years later, when Washington had matured, through the mind-making -experiences of revolutionary times, he wrote to John Jay, saying, -"Experience has taught us that men will not adopt and carry into -execution measures the best calculated for their own good without the -intervention of coercive power." This meant that human society -requires law, and the right of law is devoid of appreciation or -application unless it is clothed with the might to keep its forms and -values true. - -Lecky says, "The common saying that you cannot make people virtuous by -law is a dangerous half-truth. The virtue innate in a people may be -utterly destroyed by bad institutions, for 'the virtue,' as Jay wrote -to Washington, 'like the other resources of a country, can only be -drawn to a point by strong circumstances ably managed, or strong -governments ably administered.'" - -When it came to a question of who should be commander-in-chief of all -the armies, the disruptions and jealousies of the sections seemed -dangerously near wrecking any united action, which obviously must be -fatal to any independence more than they then had from Great Britain. -The Southern leaders were unanimous for Washington, and, with the -efficiency of shrewd politicians, supported measures largely -according to the pressure they brought to bear in the cause of having -Washington for the commander-in-chief. But this support did not bring -together any antagonism, because it was not made by any faction of -admirers or supporters. Washington himself, though present, refused to -lend any aid to the presentation of his own name. - -[Illustration: Mount Vernon--Washington's Residence, Virginia.] - -It was John Adams, the whole-souled patriot from Massachusetts who was -the leader in advocating the selection of Washington. In his diary, -during these consequential times, Adams wrote, "I had no hesitation to -declare that I had but one gentleman in my mind for that important -command, and that was a gentleman from Virginia, who was among us, and -very well known to us; a gentleman whose skilled experience as an -officer, whose independent fortune, great talents, and excellent -universal character would command the approbation of all America, and -unite the cordial exertions of all the colonies better than any other -person in the Union." - -There were many men who were able leaders, and who had already made -great sacrifices in the cause of liberty, who believed with their -friends that they were entitled to be selected for the head of the -Army. Nevertheless, when the nomination was made, the election by -ballot was unanimous for Washington. - -The salary of Commander-in-Chief had been set at five hundred dollars -a month, but Washington in his address of acceptance, while declaring -that no salary could have been made large enough to tempt him from the -comforts and business interests of his home, said he would accept no -salary, but would keep an exact account of his expenses, which they -would no doubt refund to him. - -"There is something charming to me," said John Adams, who became the -second president of the United States, when writing at the time to a -friend, "in the conduct of Washington, a gentleman of one of the first -fortunes upon the continent, leaving his delicious retirement, his -family and friends, sacrificing his ease, and hazarding all in the -cause of his country. His views are noble and disinterested." - -Washington now wrote to his half-brother, Augustine Washington, a -characteristic letter. - -"I am now to bid adieu to you, and to every kind of domestic ease for -a while. I am embarked on a wide ocean, boundless in its prospect, and -in which, perhaps, no safe harbor is to be found. I have been called -upon by the unanimous voice of the Colonies to take command of the -Continental army; an honor I neither sought after nor desired, as I am -thoroughly convinced it requires great abilities, and much more -experience than I am master of." - -But he added his belief that the Divine Providence, which had called -him into such a dangerous duty, was wisely ordering the affairs of -men, and would enable him in due course of time to perform all his -tasks justly and with success. - -What that task was through the revolutionary war can be appreciated -only in the details of events that require volumes of description in -telling. One cannot read it through with its ignoble intrigues, -unpatriotic dissentions, and dangerous rivalries without feeling that -Washington combined great manhood, great leadership, great -statesmanship and great generalship, and that no other man of less -character and genius than that could ever have welded together such -discordant and diversified elements into a means sufficient to achieve -the independence and liberty of America. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY - - -I. THE FIRST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF - -There are events enough during the progress of the revolutionary war -to give a complete analysis of Washington's mind and character, -enough, indeed, to make a large volume in itself. But these incidents -are easily available to any student of the revolutionary war. Of all -his wonderful career, as a child born to the wealth and luxury of his -times, as a landed proprietor of one of the greatest fortunes in -America, as soldier, statesman and first President of the United -States, there is nowhere on record a single ignoble, immoral or -dishonorable word or deed in any way relating to the principles or -interests fundamental for his character, mind and life. It is -supremely gratifying to American ideals that Washington was in -everything morally worthy of being known as "first in peace, first in -war and first in the hearts of his countrymen," standing forth a -great figure of American nobility, crowned with high title in being -known as the "Father of his Country." - -The army was anxious to see their chief and the people were eager for -a look at the man who inspired them all with so much confidence. -Washington's appearance could not disappoint them. No more -born-commander of men, at least in appearance, ever sat in military -uniform upon a horse. The emotions of the people in those troubulous -times all went out to him, as they cheered him wherever he went. To -know Washington is to know that his feelings responded heartily to -their interests, and no doubt were strengthened by their trust for the -wonder-working task before him. - -One of the most intellectual and charming of the cultured women of New -England was the wife of John Adams. After meeting Washington she wrote -to her husband, "Dignity, ease and complacency, the gentleman and the -soldier, look agreeably blended in him. Modesty marks every feature of -his face. Those lines of Dryden instantly occurred to me: - - 'Mark his majestic fabric! He's a temple - Sacred by birth and built by hands divine; - His soul's the deity that lodges there; - Nor is the pile unworthy of the God.'" - -As an incident of the multitudinous varieties of problems that -Washington had to solve may be mentioned the treatment of the American -prisoners taken by the British. The Americans were regarded as rebels, -having no more standing in law than traitors. If the student looks -carefully at the dates of progress in the freedom of the colonies and -their formation into a nation, he will see that many years of wrangle -and debate took place. Nothing went by leaps. Opinions grew and they -grew very slowly and uncertainly. Therefore, when a crisis came, -Washington had to make momentous decisions that were not only of -far reaching consequences, but that he could execute and that his -people would sanction. He was not a silent man. He wrote and spoke -much, thus clearing the way for action, and unifying the mind of the -people on the needs and rights of the times. - -An extract from a letter to the British General Gage, in the beginning -of the war, shows on what grounds Washington demanded the right -treatment of American prisoners, who had so far been grossly -mistreated. - -"They suppose," he wrote, concerning American prisoners, "that they -act from the noblest of all principles, a love of freedom and their -country. But political principles, I conceive, are foreign to this -point. The obligations arising from the rights of humanity, and claims -of rank, are universally binding and extensive, except in cases of -retaliation. - -"My duty now makes it necessary to apprise you that, for the future, I -shall regulate all my conduct towards those gentlemen who are or may -be in our possession exactly by the rule you shall observe toward -those of ours now in your custody." - -Though General Gage's reply was full of the words "criminals," -"rebels," and "hanging," the harsh treatment became generally modified -as he realized that Washington meant what he said. - - -II. BIG BUSINESS, MONEY-MAKERS AND PATRIOTISM - -Public sentiment when not aroused by immediate danger gets into action -very slowly, and especially if it is divided into numerous rival -sections as was the case in the colonies. The army at first consisted -of two extremes, the real patriots and the many army adventurers. It -was an age of travelling soldiers. Especially was there an -overwhelming offer from foreign officers to go into service. To refuse -them looked like ingratitude. It brought up the old saying of "looking -a gift horse in the mouth." But the wisdom and firmness of Washington -was never put to better use than here. He believed that Americans -should win the war. In the darkest period he said, "Put none but -Americans on guard tonight." - -In one of his letters he speaks of the "hungry adventurers," whose -endless applications for commands were one of his worst annoyances. -And, still more, many of these soldiers of fortune came from Europe -with great recommendations and they secured powerful influences in -Congress to force themselves upon Washington. - -The mind of the times stood in great awe of British power, therefore -it is additional credit to the mind of Washington that he had no such -fear or awe toward British might. Besides, the country was always -asking impossible things. Congress urged Washington to surround the -enemy and cut off their supplies. They had no vision of Washington's -inadequate means. Therefore enemies arose asserting they could do what -Washington was not doing, and the American army had not only the -confusion of interests in its own ranks to contend with, but was -between a contentious congress and a hardly more contentious British -army. Washington's methods now look so reasonable and practical that -we wonder how the people could be so ignorant, blind and obstructive, -but a century later than our time may show us to be stoning our -prophets and killing our saviors, just as they have done through all -the periods of history. It is the disastrous tribute that democracy -pays to partisanship, and that humanity has always paid partisan -leadership. - -The malignant intrigues that tried to take advantage of the slow -progress of the war, and have hungry rivals put into Washington's -place, are matters of special history. But Washington met those -ill-begotten schemes with the cold indifference and calm dignity which -were the unfailing measures of his life and character. Though he was -sensitive, and high-spirited, he would not let that trait in his -nature work to the advantage of his enemies. They worked up slights -and insults all around him, but he never replied unless he dealt a -stinging blow, or showed up the treacherous character of their work. -Much of the rivalry developed against Washington was of sectional -prejudices, but the real intelligence and patriotism of the colonies -would have nothing to do with it. In all those schemes to injure -Washington we see the same method in politics used on up to the -present time. Newspapers and speakers distort the achievements of -political opponents into the most fanatical accusations, and bewilder -the voter with charges and countercharges till he feels as if he were -between the firing lines of two fighting armies, for one or the other -of which he must cast his votes. But "belonging to a party" is happily -not the honor it once was. The good of the country is found to be, not -so much in the political platform of parties but in the character of -men, harmonizing with the rights of man. It is thus that the -congressional resolutions and the party wrangling of Washington's -time, as in that of Lincoln, are wholly discredited in estimating the -lives of those great leaders of the American mind. In its full view, -the American ideal is seen to be that the man or woman who presides -decently and righteously over the humanity of self or family or group -is president of the human world. - -The ignorant criticism of the time is well illustrated from the dark -winter days of Valley Forge. There, so little had Congress done for -the army, the soldiers were literally starving. Most of them were -barefoot, and so poorly provided that they had to sit up all night -close to their camp-fire in order to keep from freezing. And yet the -legislature of Pennsylvania issued a stern remonstrance against their -going into winter quarters. Washington must keep to the open field and -be in continual operation against the well-fed, thoroughly trained and -highly equipped British troops. - -Washington closed a letter to Congress, saying, in referring to those -who thus condemned him, "They seem to have little feeling for the -naked and distressed soldiers. I feel superabundantly for them, and -from my soul I pity those miseries which it is neither in my power to -relieve nor prevent." - -As in our own times, big business found opportunity to fatten itself -on the needs of the people. The greatness of Washington is in -startling evidence when it is seen how he not only had to conduct a -war and guide an unprovided army split up into rival sections, but he -had to be statesman and diplomat enough to manage a menagerie of ideas -ranging through the congressional sessions like animals broken loose -in a circus. Each one was trying to perform something that was in -effect worse than nothing. The representatives of the people gathered -in the American capital have often since that time repeated the -original show. - - -III. THE STRONG MIND FOR GREAT NEEDS - -The union that is strength is always slow in the making. Minds get -together slowly wherever there is freedom in thinking for thought-out -individual responsibility. - -In writing to Benjamin Harrison, Washington pointed out how -detrimental it was for each colony to be centering itself on its own -prosperity. To Colonel Joseph Reed, December, 1778, he wrote more -freely of the "monopolizers, forestallers, and engrossers" who were -"murderers of our cause." - -"It is much to be lamented," he said, "that each state, long ere this, -has not hunted them down as pests to society and the greatest enemies -we have to the happiness of America. I would to God that some one of -the most atrocious in each state was hung in gibbets upon a gallows -five times as high as the one prepared by Haman. No punishment, in my -opinion, is too great for the man who can build his greatness upon his -country's ruin." - -This shows how Washington loathed meanness and treachery and how he -minced no words in saying so. Only such men are leaders of men. No man -who believes anything and is afraid to say it has a place in the -political meaning of America. - -Benjamin Harrison, full of the same righteous resentment, writes at -the time, "If I were to be called upon to draw a picture of the times -and of men, from what I have seen, heard, and in part know, I should -in one word say that idleness, dissipation, and extravagance seem to -have laid fast hold of most of them; that speculation, peculation, and -an insatiable thirst for riches seem to have got the better of every -other consideration, and almost every order of men; that party -disputes and personal quarrels are the great business of the day." - -And so, to one patriot and then to another, Washington appealed for -help to save the wasting fortunes of his country. - -To George Mason he wrote that we are "fast verging to destruction." -The widespread demoralization of both army and people, the scramble -for profit, and the unpatriotic plunder of vital interests at last -became so evident under Washington's ringing denunciations that the -real patriots of the country awoke to the peril. Lafayette and the two -Morrises took the lead in their respective fields of work. Writers and -speakers took up the task of arousing the people and their officers in -Congress, and at last the tide turned. The strong minds at last -prevailed in uniting the people into a reliable force for the great -need, and the American republic became an acknowledged part of the -humanity of the earth. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -TURNING REVOLUTION THROUGH FREEDOM INTO GOVERNMENT - - -I. SEEKING RETIREMENT FOR LIFE IN THE PEACE OF A COUNTRY HOME - -The Revolutionary war had extended over a period of eight years, -through almost unparalleled discouragements and intolerable trials of -faith and purpose, when the British troops were finally withdrawn from -American soil. The differences in the appearances of the British and -American troops are described by an American lady living in New York, -while the British held possession there. She wrote, "We had been -accustomed for a long time to the military display in all the finish -and finery of garrison life; the troops just leaving us were as if -equipped for show, and with their scarlet uniforms and burnished arms -made a brilliant display. The troops that marched in, on the -contrary, were ill-clad and weatherbeaten, and made a forlorn -appearance; but then they were our troops, and, as I looked at them -and thought of all they had done and suffered for us, my heart and my -eyes were full, and I admired and gloried in them the more, because -they were weatherbeaten and forlorn." - -In a letter to Baron Steuben, written on the 23rd of December, 1783, -Washington concludes as follows, "This is the last letter I shall -write while I continue in the service of my country. The hour of my -resignation is fixed at twelve today, after which I shall become a -private citizen on the banks of the Potomac." - -At noon on that memorable day the Hall of Congress was filled with a -notable assemblage of prominent people. The members of Congress -remained seated with their hats on, as was the custom of the times, -but the spectators were standing with uncovered heads when Washington, -conducted by the secretary of Congress, entered and was given a seat -appointed for him. - -The President of Congress arose, and, after stating the purpose of the -meeting at that hour, said to Washington, "The United States in -Congress assembled are now prepared to receive your communication." - -Washington arose and delivered a short address, at the close of which -he said, "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last -solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our -dearest country to the protection of Almighty God; and those who have -the superintendence of them to His holy keeping. Having now finished -the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of action; -and, bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose -orders I have long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my -leave of all the employments of public life." - -A writer who was present, speaking of this scene, says, "Few tragedies -ever drew so many tears from so many beautiful eyes as the moving -manner in which his Excellency took his final leave of Congress." - -The President of Congress replied to his address, and, after reciting -the wisdom and valor with which Washington had accomplished the great -task assigned him, said, "You retire from the theatre of action with -the blessings of your fellow citizens; but the glory of your virtues -will not terminate with your military command; it will continue to -animate remote ages." - -Washington arrived at Mount Vernon on Christmas eve, where the -home-coming was duly celebrated as could be done only in the colonial -plantation days. - -"The scene is at last closed," he wrote to his friend, Governor -Clinton of New York. "I feel myself eased of a load of public care. I -hope to spend the remainder of my days in cultivating the affections -of good men, and in the practice of domestic virtues." - -How little Washington or his friends knew of the future! A task and a -responsibility of no less importance than the conduct of the -Revolutionary war was yet to devolve upon him. The repose of a soldier -had to give way to the mind-work of a great statesman. - -In a letter to that great friend of America, without whose aid there -could hardly have been a free America, General Lafayette, Washington -wrote, "Free from the bustle of a camp and the busy scenes of public -life I am solacing myself with those tranquil enjoyments which the -soldier, who is ever in pursuit of fame; the statesman, whose watchful -days and sleepless nights are spent in devising schemes to promote the -welfare of his own, perhaps the ruin of other countries,--as if this -globe were insufficient for us all; and the courtier, who is always -watching the countenance of his prince in hopes of catching a gracious -smile, can have very little conception." - -Later, in writing to the Marchioness de Lafayette, inviting her to -visit America, where her husband had earned such glory and where -everybody loved and admired him, he gave a charming picture of the -simplicity of his life. - -"I am now enjoying domestic ease under the shadow of my own vine and -fig tree, in a small villa, with the implements of husbandry and -lambkins about me. Come, then, let me entreat you, and call my cottage -your own; for your own doors do not open to you with more readiness -than mine would. You will see the plain manner in which we live, and -meet the rustic civility; and you shall taste the simplicity of rural -life. It will diversify the scene, and may give you a higher relish -for the gayeties of the court when you return to Versailles." - - -II. FREEDOM AND THE WRANGLE FOR PERSONAL GAIN - -Knowing that Washington would be at continual expense to entertain -distinguished guests who would come to see him, Congress tried to -grant him a reward for his distinguished services, but he had served -his country without pay and he refused. In the meanwhile, the -hospitality of Washington was taxed to the utmost, and his time was -much taken up in important conferences over political affairs. The -country was being governed by Congress under the Articles of -Confederation which then bound the states, but probably with less -efficiency than thirteen horses in a single rein and rope harness to -draw a rattling, curtain-flapping carriage. The old state patriotisms -were revived and with them the rivalries and jealousies of political -sections. Whatever one state wanted seemed to be the signal for its -neighbor to want something else. The United States were indeed plural -with a vengeance! "E Pluribus Unum" that had so laboriously and -valiantly come true, as meaning one out of many, in war, had changed -about to its first condition and was again many out of one. - -In 1786, in a letter to General Knox, Washington wrote, "I feel, my -dear General Knox, infinitely more than I can express to you for the -disorders which have arisen in these states. Good God! who, besides a -Tory, could have foreseen, or a Briton predicted them? I do assure you -that, even at this moment, when I reflect upon the present prospect of -affairs, it seems to me to be like the vision of a dream. After what I -have seen, or rather what I have heard, I shall be surprised at -nothing; for, if three years since, any person had told me that there -would have been such a formidable rebellion as exists at this day -against the laws and constitution of our own making, I should have -thought him a bedlamite, a fit subject for a mad-house." - -He wrote to James Madison, saying, "How melancholy is the reflection -that in so short a time we should have made such large strides toward -fulfilling the predictions of our transatlantic foes, who said, 'Leave -them to themselves and their government will soon dissolve'? Will not -the wise and good strive hard to avert this evil?" - -The only remedy which "the wise and good" could use to avert the -calamity of having thirteen feeble little nations at war with one -another was to supplant the "Articles of Confederation" with a Federal -Constitution, and, at last, this was accomplished, with so many -compromises and concessions to so-called "state rights" that it -required a frightful four years' civil war to establish the meaning of -the Federal Constitution, so that the United States grammarians and -politicians could agree to say the United States "is" instead of -saying that the United States "are." - -With the adoption of the Federal Constitution, it was provided that -electors should be chosen whose duty it was to select a president for -the United States. - -There could be but one man seriously considered. The landed gentleman -who had become a soldier and won liberty for the Western world was -soon seen to be destined, by the nation he had made, to be its first -president, and henceforth by nature, if not by the providence of God, -to be statesman, and the "First Citizen of America." Accordingly, -George Washington was chosen first president of the Western republic, -to begin a term of four years from the fourth of March, 1789. - - -III. LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF LIBERTY AND LAW - -Through the desperate eight years of war, in which the devastations of -the British could hardly be called worse than the wrangling -differences of opinion and sordid interests among the colonies, -Washington had conserved and guided the struggle for American liberty, -so that, at the close of the war, with the disembarkation for Halifax -of troops, royalists and tories, there was a unanimous voice of -harmony for a new America. - -Then came the divisions under the rivalry of the colonies as a loose -confederation of separate republics. After that Washington was again -at the head of American interests and for another eight years. It was -a period of reconstruction. The opportunity to have a new nation, that -human beings might have a place of freedom in the sun, was supplied by -the eight years of revolutionary struggle, but the foundations for -that nation were not laid firmly until there were eight years' labor -upon the Constitutional form of government under Washington. - -Probably no man, with the exception of Lincoln, has been so loved and -so hated, or ever will be in America, as Washington. It is the most -pathetic thing in all the weakness of intelligence, or rather the -strength of prejudice, that the world always hates, and sometimes -kills, its benefactors, its friends and saviors. - -But somehow, with all the storm and stress of things, notwithstanding -the hate and revenge of disappointed greed, the rights of life are -carried on, and the values of humanity prevail. - -The time for the third election of a president was drawing near. All -the malignant virulence possible to destroy the name and services of -Washington were coming into use. He was accused of every public evil -and private unfitness under the sun. And yet there is hardly any doubt -worth consideration that he could have been elected for the third term -if he had desired it. But he had done his share of the work of the -world. He saw that his example would be used as a precedent for the -ambitions of future politicians. There must be a reasonable time limit -even to the restricted governing powers of a president. He declined to -serve more than two terms. Only once since then has there been an -organized attempt to break that precedent. The politicians tried their -utmost means to give General Grant a third term, but the hostility of -the nation against the danger of such prolonged power at last -prevailed and the attempt was defeated, probably never to be -successful. - -Washington's farewell address on retiring from the presidency has ever -remained a beacon-light for the guidance of American views of American -government, especially in its relation with foreign nations. - -The reply of the House of Representatives gave strong praise for the -wisdom, firmness, moderation and magnanimity with which he had guided -the affairs of his country. But the kicker was there and his voice was -heard. A prominent representative from Virginia was disgusted with any -praise of Washington's wisdom and firmness. He raised his voice in the -halls of Congress and put himself on historical record as especially -opposed to giving Washington any praise for the administration of -foreign affairs. He declared that "the weakness and feeble judgment of -Washington in our foreign relations" has brought us under "the -contempt of foreign nations," and had conducted our country to "the -verge of a greater calamity than had ever been threatened before in -our history." That patriotic scare sounds strangely like the calamity -prophecies of politicians against every president in every national -crisis. In such cases it is well to remember that political partisans -are not thus qualified to be American patriots. They are special -pleaders for their own particular party greed. - -Twelve other members believed as this one from Virginia. They would -much rather have censured Washington for weakness than to have praised -him for strength. Among these thirteen partisans was a young man from -Tennessee named Andrew Jackson, who afterward became one of the famous -Presidents. - -These violent differences of opinion and the vicious personal attacks -on motives, attributed each to each, has been one of the pitiable -signs of injustice and incompetency in American politics. Time after -time, as the presidential campaigns arrive, the fist-like will of each -side is thrust into the other's faces, as those "belonging" to a party -fight to get votes for the party candidate, not for a patriotic cause. -In times of great national peril, whether in times of war at home -or abroad, the president who preserves, as Washington did, the rights -of his country in conformity to the rights of man, which is the only -possible rights of either, is hated by the extremists on both sides. -They both call him weak, and, therefore, though hating each other, -unite to defeat the man who would not lead his country into taking up -with their special interests. But, fortunately, we sometimes have -presidents with mind, patriotism and character greater than any party. -Most hopefully, there are increasingly greater numbers who belong to -their country instead of to a party, and who elect human principles to -rule and to reign over us rather than the ring-managers of prejudice -and partisanship known as "parties." Presently there will be enough -independent thinking for any one to consider it as unpatriotic to -belong to a "party" as to belong to any other political fragment, -clique, or social group, presuming to dictate what is weakness and -what is strength for the individual mind as its only choice in -patriotism and Americanism. America, composed of every element of -humanity from every part of the earth, is the strongest nation of all -time, and capable of being the clearest and most just for the freedom -of the world. Here we strive for the peace of freedom in law. We war -only against war. American intelligence and mercy are rapidly -devising ways to eliminate the various forms of enslavement, -dissentions and divisions that weaken American civilization, so that -democracy may be safe in itself. In the great European war, President -Wilson announced the purpose of the United States to be for the right -that is greater than peace, in which the world must be made safe for -democracy. And so, humanity gains "a place in the sun" and the kingdom -of heaven is among us. For the sake of peace on earth, America must be -strong in the might of right, and be willing and ready to save to the -uttermost. America is president of the peace-nations of the earth -because it alone is federated upon the principles of human justice, -eternal and universal. - -[Illustration: Washington Statue in United States Capitol, Washington, -D. C.] - -France and America, in the name of liberty, will be forever crowned -together in the praise of human history. The mutual friendship that -existed during Washington's presidency is illustrated by a toast drunk -at a banquet of French and Americans in New York, February 22, 1795: - -"To the President of the United States: May the day that gave him -birth mark an epoch in the annals of liberty! - -"To the French Republic: May she triumph over her enemies and obtain -the tranquillity of peace founded upon justice and reason! - -"To the memory of the heroes of all nations who have gloriously fallen -for the defense of the rights of man!" - -Friends and allies of France have changed during the tumultuous years, -but, republic to republic, France and the United States still pledge -fealty to liberty, justice and reason and do honor to the heroic -defenders of the rights of man among all nations. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -THE PEACE OF HOME AT LAST - - -I. SORROW FOR THE DEPARTED SCENES AROUND MOUNT VERNON - -At the close of his term of office, March 4, 1797, Washington retired -to his home at Mount Vernon loved by all the understanding world. - -In a letter to Mrs. S. Fairfax, then in England, he wrote, "It is a -matter of sore regret when I cast my eyes toward Belvoir, which I -often do, to reflect that the former inhabitants of it, with whom we -lived in such harmony and friendship, no longer reside there, and the -ruins only can be viewed as the mementoes of former pleasures." - -The home interest of Washington can be seen in a letter he wrote to -Miss Nelly Custis, a granddaughter of his wife. Her father had died -when she was a child, and Washington, having no children, had adopted -Nelly and brought her up in his family. She was of a beautiful nature -and was much beloved by Washington. - -She appears to have had some very decided social notions, and one of -these was, as she expressed it, "a perfect apathy toward the youth of -the present day," and a determination never to give herself "a -moment's uneasiness on account of any of them." - -That was perhaps the rather high-sounding notion that romantic young -folks sometimes acquire of independence from usual life and of -superiority to their associates. Evidently Washington did not regard -her resolution with any grave alarm. He perhaps knew the ancient -privilege allowing women to change their minds. Nevertheless, it was -worthy of his experienced consideration, at least against letting too -many know her "irrevocable determination" because, when she did -change, as was doubtless inevitable, it should not bear any likelihood -of being embarrassing. - -"Men and women," he wrote her, "feel the same inclination toward each -other now that they always have done, and which they will continue to -do until there is a new order of things; and you, as others have done, -may find that the passions of your sex are easier raised than allayed. -Do not, therefore, boast too soon nor too strong of your -insensibility. - -"Love is said to be an involuntary passion, and it is therefore -contended that it cannot be resisted. This is true in part only, for, -like all things else, when nourished and supplied plentifully with -aliment, it is rapid in its progress; but let these be withdrawn, and -it may be stifled in its birth or much stinted in its growth. - -"Although we cannot avoid first impressions, we may assuredly place -them under guard. - -"When the fire is beginning to kindle, and your heart growing warm, -propound these questions to it: Who is this invader? Have I a -competent knowledge of him? Is he a man of good character? A man of -sense? For, be assured, a sensible woman can never be happy with a -fool. What has been his walk in life? Is he one to whom my friends can -have no reasonable objection? - -"If all these interrogations can be satisfactorily answered, there -will remain but one more to be asked. That, however, is an important -one. Have I sufficient ground to conclude that his affections are -engaged by me? Without this the heart of sensibility will struggle -against a passion that is not reciprocated." - -Sure enough, it was but a short time until romance came to Mount -Vernon, and Miss Nelly changed her mind very promptly. Lawrence Lewis -arrived, the clouds of doubt vanished, and the love-bells were set to -ringing until the wedding-bells took up the melody that passed on into -the music of the spheres. - - -II. CROWNED IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME 1799 - -The beginning of the year 1799 was full of the romantic happiness of -immortal youth for the household of Washington, but the close of the -year brought to an end the career of the first great American. On the -twelfth of December he rode as usual around the estate at Mount -Vernon, and was caught in a sleety rain. From this he developed acute -laryngitis and died on the night of the fourteenth. He said, "I die -hard but I am not afraid to go," and his last words were, "'Tis well." - -His loved ones were around him and his last look was lovingly upon -them. The doctor saw his countenance change in death. He put his hands -over the eyes out of which the light had forever gone, and one of the -noblest souls of the earth passed away. There was not a struggle or a -sigh. - -Mrs. Washington was sitting at the foot of the bed, and she asked -bravely, "Is he gone?" - -The doctor could not speak, but he held up his hand as a sign that the -spirit of their beloved was no longer there. - -"'Tis well," she said, repeating his last words. "All is now over; I -shall soon follow him; I have no more trials to pass through." - -The tributes of America and the world to his honor and his name may be -noted in the words of Lord Brougham, an eminent British statesman, who -reflected the feeling of the nation against which he had waged a -successful war: "It will be the duty of the historian, and the sage of -all nations," he said, "to let no occasion pass of commemorating this -illustrious man, and, until time shall be no more, will a test of the -progress which our race has made in wisdom and virtue be derived from -the veneration paid to the immortal name of Washington." - -The great nations having any sort of democratic ideal fully recognized -the fact that in his death had passed away one of the great men of the -earth. The English Channel fleet lowered their ships' flags at -half-mast in token of respect, and in the land of Napoleon, who was -then master of France, there was crepe draped about all their -standards. Talleyrand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and one of the -greatest orators and statesmen, prepared a report to the French -government in which he said: "A nation which some day will be a great -nation, and which today is the wisest and happiest on the face of the -earth, weeps at the bier of a man whose courage and genius contributed -most to free it from bondage and elevated it to the rank of an -independent and sovereign power. The regrets caused by the death of -this great man, the memories aroused by these regrets, and a proper -veneration for all that is held dear and sacred by mankind, impel us -to give expression to our sentiments by taking part in an event which -deprives the world of one of its brightest ornaments, and removes to -the realm of history one of the noblest lives that ever honored the -human race. - -"His own country now honors his memory with funeral ceremonies, having -lost a citizen whose public actions and unassuming grandeur in private -life were a living example of courage, wisdom and unselfishness; and -France, which from the dawn of American Revolution hailed with hope a -nation, hitherto unknown, that was discarding the vices of Europe, -which foresaw all the glory that this nation would bestow on humanity, -and the enlightenment of governments that would ensue from the novel -character of the social institutions, and the new type of heroism, of -which Washington and America were models for the world at -large,--France, I repeat, should depart from established usages, and -do honor to one whose fame is beyond comparison with that of others. -The man who, among the decadence of modern ages, first dared believe -that he could inspire degenerate nations with courage to rise to the -level of republican virtues, lived for all nations and for all -centuries." - -These tributes from the two greatest nations were sincere despite the -fact that one of them had just been humiliated, beaten and dismembered -by his leadership, and the other was only recently in the midst of -open hostilities toward the United States, against which Washington -was again made the national commander-in-chief, thus on the very verge -of war with France. Only in his own country had Washington been the -object of the bitterest personal slander and political calumny. But, -at his death, all ignorant prejudice and foul-mouthed envy became -silent and sought to be hidden from the public presence. In him there -was greatness that could not be questioned and character that could be -known only to be praised. The vision of him never fails from the sky -of American ideals, and the young people of this nation have only to -know his life to know for what kind of political interest each one -should labor in the name of American liberty and the progress of an -American humanity. - -Washington regarded parties as one of the most inexcusable and -disturbing elements in the political life of a nation. He believed in -men and principles, not in parties and platforms. It was more than a -hundred years after his death before the people of the United States -began to discard allegiance to parties and platforms in favor of men -and the principles of humanity. - -When misrepresentation began its assault upon him in the presidency as -it had done in the army, Washington wrote, "The man who means to -commit no wrong will never be guilty of enormities; consequently he -can never be unwilling to learn what are ascribed to him as foibles. -If they are really such, the knowledge of them in a well disposed mind -will go halfway towards a reform. If they are errors, he can explain -and justify the motive of his actions." - -It is thus that a well-balanced disposition willingly receives -criticism, whatever its motive, for any value he can get out of it, -with little concern for the intentions of the criticism, if his own -purpose is fair and just. - -He greatly deplored the misrepresentation of the partisan newspapers, -believing that the people of a nation would never go wrong if they had -the truth before them upon which to make up their minds. It is very -generally true that parties have governed for the spoils of power and -office. Political parties have very often fostered false argument and -worse distortion of their opponents' meaning, so that large numbers of -honorable and honest-minded persons have been misled into truly -fearful fanaticism, and more fearful support of purposes, which, if -they had known, they would have abhorred. - - -III. A LIFE-LIKE SCENE FROM WASHINGTON'S HOME LIFE - -John Bernard, a noted English actor, who came to play an engagement in -America soon after Washington had retired from the presidency, tells -an experience which gives us quite a picture of our own, in which we -can see Washington free from all the glamor of fame that usually half -hides the real man from our view. - -Bernard says that he was playing at Annapolis in 1798 when, one day, -he went out riding down below Alexandria. Just as he was coming in -sight of a man and young woman riding toward him in a chaise, the -carriage was overturned and the two were thrown violently out. The man -was not hurt but the woman was struck unconscious. The actor rode -hurriedly up, and, dismounting, began at once to see what could be -done for the woman. Soon she returned to consciousness with a volley -of fierce scolding at her husband that was extremely ludicrous, if not -ridiculous. - -Bernard now noticed that another man had ridden up and was helping the -unfortunate husband to extricate the horse and get the animal upon its -feet. The three men then set to work to get the heavy carriage, still -heavier loaded with baggage, back into service. It was a hot July day -and the half hour's work was a rather exhausting task for two who -seemed to be out riding for mere recreation. - -When the man and his wife were once more in the carriage, ready to -drive on, they invited the two strangers to go on with them to -Alexandria and have something to drink in appreciation of their timely -service, but both declined, and the chaise started afresh upon its -journey. - -Bernard says, "My companion, after an exclamation at the heat, offered -very courteously to dust my coat, a favor the return of which enabled -me to take a deliberate survey of his person. He was a tall, erect, -well-made man, evidently advanced in years, but who appeared to have -retained all the vigor and elasticity resulting from a life of -temperance and exercise. His dress was a blue coat buttoned to his -chin and buckskin breeches. Though the instant he took off his hat I -could not avoid the recognition of familiar lineaments, which, indeed, -I was in the habit of seeing on every sign-post and over every -fireplace, still I failed to identify him, and to my surprise I found -that I was an object of equal speculation in his eyes. - -"'Mr. Bernard, I believe' he said after a moment's pause, and then -spoke of having seen me play in Philadelphia, following at once with -an invitation to spend a couple of hours in rest and refreshment at -his house, which he pointed out in the distance." - -It then came clear to the actor who was his distinguished-looking -companion. - -Mr. Bernard thus continues his description of this experience, "'Mount -Vernon,' I exclaimed; and then, drawing back with a stare of wonder, -'Have I the honor of addressing General Washington?' - -"With a smile whose expression of benevolence I have rarely seen -equalled, he offered his hand and replied: 'An odd sort of -introduction, Mr. Bernard; but I am pleased to find you can play so -active a part in private without a prompter.'" - -In the conversation that ensued over the refreshments at Mount Vernon, -Mr. Bernard studied his distinguished host with deep earnestness, and -has left us a vivid picture in description as the actor saw him. - -He says that in the conversation Washington's face did not present -much variety of expression. It wore always a look of profound -thoughtfulness. Neither was there much change in the tones of his -voice, but its intonations were rich with the depths of expression. - -The keynote of his talk seemed to be summed up, as the actor believed, -in one of the sentences of this conversation: "I am a man, and -interested in all that concerns humanity." This is in truth the -keynote of any mind that ever achieves anything worth while. One does -for self or party or nation only as it is for humanity. Any other deed -or thought is not patriotism but partisanship. America is that manhood -interested with all its available means in the humanity of the world. - -Mr. Bernard, with what seems to be the deep insight that a great actor -must have into character and human nature, says, "He spoke like a man -who had felt as much as he had reflected, and reflected more than he -had spoken; like one who had looked upon society rather in the mass -than in detail, and who regarded the happiness of America but as the -first link in a series of universal victories." This vision, opened up -to America in the devastations of the Great European War for "a place -in the sun," was enlarged by American patriots, not for any closed-in -nation, but for the rights of humanity. - -It chanced, during the conversation, that, while Washington was -comparing English liberty as surrounded by walls, with American -liberty as in the open, a black man came in with a jug of spring -water. - -Washington saw the actor look at the slave and smile with an inward -thought. He quickly guessed at the thought and responded, "When we -profess, as our fundamental principle, that liberty is the inalienable -right of every man, we do not include madmen or idiots; liberty in -their hands would become a scourge. Till the mind of the slave has -been educated to perceive what are the obligations of a state of -freedom, and not confound a man's freedom with a brute's, the gift -would insure its abuse." - -He expressed his belief that slavery must some time be banished for -the unity of American principles, and, in this connection, it should -be remembered that, by will, he freed all his own slaves, to take -place at the death of his wife. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -STANDARDS OF AMERICAN PATRIOTISM - - -I. FOUNDATIONS - -The fundamental statement of American democracy and freedom is to be -found in the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence -and in the preamble of the Constitution. That keynote of humanity -there expressed is as follows: - -"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created -equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable -Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of -Happiness; that to secure these rights Governments are instituted -among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the -governed; that, whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of -these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, -and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such -principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall -seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." - -The unity of purpose, hereditary in responsibility to all native -Americans, and sworn to as the accepted duty of all naturalized -citizens, is expressed in the last sentence of the Declaration: - -"And, for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the -protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our -lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." - -The preamble of the Constitution reaffirms and reinforces the American -ideal of a progressive and perfective striving toward a government "of -the people, by the people and for the people." - -It is as follows: - -"We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect -Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for -the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the -Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and -establish this Constitution of the United States of America." - -The oath of allegiance into which we are born, and which becomes the -measure of every possible American, contains the following inescapable -responsibility: - -"I, ----, do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend the -Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and -domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that -I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or -purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the -duties of the office which I am about to enter: So help me God." - - -II. FREEDOM OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE - -The Farewell Address of Washington to Congress contains advice on our -foreign relations which is part of any study of his life. The most -important of this is as follows: "The great rule of conduct for us in -regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations, -to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far -as we have already formed engagements let them be fulfilled with -perfect good faith. Here let us stop. - -"Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none, or a -very remote, relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent -controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our -concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate -ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her -politics or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her -friendships or enmities. - -"Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a -different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient -government, the period is not far off when we may defy material injury -from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will -cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be -scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the -impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard -the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our -interest, guided by justice, shall counsel. - -"Why forego the advantages of as peculiar a situation? Why quit our -own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny -with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in -the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice? - -"It is our duty to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion -of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do -it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity -to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public -than to private affairs that honesty is always the best policy. - -"Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on -a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary -alliances for extraordinary emergencies." - -Washington in his will, disposing of his swords, says, "These swords -are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheath them for the -purpose of shedding blood except it be for self-defense, or in defense -of their country and its rights, and in the latter case to keep them -unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands to the -relinquishment thereof." - -Related to the Farewell Address and as a corollary to it is what is -known as "The Monroe Doctrine." - -The "Monroe Doctrine" as a policy of the United States is founded upon -two passages in President Monroe's message to Congress on Dec. 2, -1823. These passages follow: - - "In the discussion to which this interest has given rise, and - in the arrangements by which they may terminate, the occasion - has been deemed proper for asserting, as a principle in which - rights and interests of the United States are involved, that - the American continents, by the free and independent condition - which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be - considered as subjects for future colonization by any European - power.... - - "We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations - existing between the United States and those powers to declare - that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend - their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to - our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or - dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and - shall not interfere. But with the governments who have - declared their independence and maintain it, and whose - independence we have, on great consideration and on just - principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition - for the purpose of oppressing them or controlling in any other - manner their destiny by any European power in any other light - than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward - the United States." - -Two notable explanations have been given, as follows: - -Secretary of State Olney in his dispatch of July 20, 1895, on the -Venezuelan boundary dispute, said: - - "It (the Monroe Doctrine) does not establish any general - protectorate by the United States over other American States. - It does not relieve any American State from its obligations as - fixed by international law, nor prevent any European power - directly interested from enforcing such obligations or from - inflicting merited punishment for the breach of them." - -President Roosevelt, in a speech in 1902 upon the results of the -Spanish-American war, said: - - "The Monroe Doctrine is simply a statement of our very firm - belief that the nations now existing on this continent must be - left to work out their own destinies among themselves, and that - this continent is no longer to be regarded as the colonizing - ground of any European power. The one power on the continent - that can make the power effective is, of course, ourselves; for - in the world as it is, a nation which advances a given - doctrine, likely to interfere in any way with other nations, - must possess the power to back it up, if it wishes the doctrine - to be respected." - -President Wilson in an address to the Senate of the United States, -Jan. 22, 1917, advised an American interest in an extension of the -Monroe Doctrine. The main points were as follows: - - "No peace can last, or ought to last, which does not recognize - and accept the principle that governments derive all their - just powers from the consent of the governed, and that no right - anywhere exists to hand people about from sovereignty to - sovereignty as if they were property. - - "I am proposing, as it were, that the nations should with one - accord adopt the doctrine of President Monroe as the doctrine - of the world: That no nation should seek to extend its policy - over any other nation or people, but that every people should - be left free to determine its own policy, its own way of - development, unhindered, unthreatened, unafraid, the little - along with the great." - - -III. THE LOYALTY OF YOUTH - -Rome and Greece in their age of world dominion were great because of -the loyalty and nobility of their youth. Patriotism is by no means a -modern virtue, and it is often wondered if the youth of the new world -is alive to their country's honor equal to the youth of the ancient -world. - -[Illustration: Washington Tomb--Mount Vernon, Virginia.] - -An example of that ancient patriotism may be shown in the oath of the -young men of Athens. It is as follows: - - "We will never bring disgrace to this our city by any act of - dishonesty or cowardice, nor ever desert our suffering comrades - in the ranks. We will fight for the ideals and sacred things of - the city, both alone and with many; we will revere and obey the - city's laws and do our best to incite a like respect and - reverence in those about us who are prone to annul or set them - at naught; we will strive unceasingly to quicken the public's - sense of civic duty. Thus in all these ways we will transmit - this city not only not less but greater, better and more - beautiful than it was transmitted to us." - -The young men of revolutionary times were full of "the Spirit of '76." -During the troublous days of near-war with France, in the -administration of John Adams, the young men were eager to sustain -their country's honor. As a good example, we may read with profit the -address of the Harvard College students, which was published in _The -Boston Centinel_, May 19, 1798: - - "ADDRESS TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN ADAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED - STATES - - "Sir: We flatter ourselves you will not be displeased at - hearing that the walls of your native seminary are now - inhabited by youth possessing sentiments congenial with your - own. We do not pretend to great political sagacity; we wish - only to convince mankind that we inherit the intrepid spirit - of our ancestors and disdain submission to the will of a - rapacious, lawless and imperious nation. Though removed from - active life, we have watched with anxiety the interests of our - country. We have seen a nation in Europe grasping at universal - conquest, trampling on the laws of God and nations, - systematizing rapine and plunder, destroying foreign - governments by the strength of her arms or the pestilence of - her embraces and scattering principles which subvert social - order, raise the storms of domestic faction and perpetuate the - horrors of revolution. We have seen this same nation violating - our neutral rights, spurning our pacific proposals, her - piratical citizens sweeping our ships from the seas and venal - presses under her control pouring out torrents of abuse on men - who have grown gray in our service. We have seen her ministers - in this country insulting our government by a daring, - unprecedented and contemptuous appeal to the people, and her - agents at home offering conditions which slaves whose necks - have grown to the yoke would reject with indignation. We have - seen this, sir, and our youthful blood has boiled within us. - When, in opposition to such conduct, we contemplate the - measures of our own government, we cannot but admire and - venerate the unsullied integrity, the decisive prudence and - dignified firmness which have uniformly characterized your - administration. Impressed with these sentiments, we now - solemnly offer the unwasted ardor and unimpaired energies of - our youth to the service of our country. Our lives are our - only property; and we were not the sons of those who sealed - our liberties with their blood if we would not defend with - these lives that soil which now affords a peaceful grave to - the mouldering bones of our forefathers." - -That address lets us into the feeling of patriotism that animated the -people in the days of Washington and the making of America. We can -easily imagine the makers of that address as being fired with fervor -from the eloquence of Patrick Henry, the bold assertions of Thomas -Paine, and the unanswerable logic of Thomas Jefferson. - -Only a few years before, in the dark hours of his country, Thomas -Paine had put new life into the sorely pressed people by his patriotic -pamphlets, from one of which we quote these words: - - "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier - and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the - service of his country; but he that stands it _now_ deserves - the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like Hell, is - not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, - that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. - What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: 'tis dearness - only that gives everything its value. - - "Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it - would be strange indeed if so celestial article as _freedom_ - should not be highly rated." - - Washington's labor was likewise lightened by the inspiring - patriotism of many other noble makers of the new America. - Thomas Jefferson, who became the third president, was of - priceless service. His call to American patriotism may be well - illustrated in a few of his most quoted statements: - - "The man who loves his country on its own account, and not - merely for its trappings of interest or power, can never be - divorced from it, can never refuse to come forward when he - finds that it is engaged in dangers which he has the means of - warding off." - - "The first foundations of the social compact would be broken - up were we definitely to refuse to its members the protection - of their persons and property while in their lawful pursuits." - - "The persons and property of our citizens are entitled to the - protection of our government in all places where they may - lawfully go." - - "We must make the interest of every nation stand surety for - their justice, and their own loss to follow injury to us as - effect follows its cause." - - "The times do certainly render it incumbent on all good - citizens, attached to the rights and honor of their country, - to bury in oblivion all internal differences and rally round - the standard of their country in opposition to the outrages of - foreign nations." - - "We are alarmed with the apprehensions of war, and sincerely - anxious that it may be avoided; but not at the expense either - of our faith or our honor." - - "It is an eternal truth that acquiescence under insult is not - the way to escape war." - - "When wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be - borne, resistance becomes morality." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS ON THE CHARACTER AND CAREER OF WASHINGTON - - -I. THE WASHINGTON IDEAL AS THE FIRST GREAT AMERICAN IDEAL - -Washington's religious belief has been the object of considerable -controversy, because there is no standard or measure for a man's -religious belief until the one investigating it gives his precise -definition of what he means by religion, and that probably can not be -done, for any basis of general agreement. It is not so easy to map out -the interest and meaning of human feeling. Somehow no great man has -ever felt that what he accomplished was done by his unaided self. -Everyone has in some form believed in a superior Guide. So a statement -of Washington in 1778 may be taken as the keynote of his religious -belief. He said, "The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in -all this that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and -more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his -obligations." - -His faith in the benevolence of order and law as divinely designed is -shown in his statement in 1791 that, "The great Ruler of events will -not permit the happiness of so many millions to be destroyed." In -1792, he said, "As the All-Wise Disposer of events has hitherto -watched over my steps, I trust that, in the important one I may be -soon called upon to take, he will mark the course so plainly as that I -cannot mistake the way." - -That this faith was necessary to his purpose and mind, to help him -through the long series of trials, in both the war and presidency, no -one can doubt, who reads the detailed history of those periods,--they -were so often desperately discouraging, so often both helpless and -hopeless to any human foresight or judgment. - -A few phrases taken from the "Mount Vernon Tribute" express the -Americanism of Washington. The author of that inscription is unknown, -but whoever it was he knew. The tribute was transcribed from a -manuscript copy on the back of a picture frame containing a portrait -of Washington, found hanging in one of the rooms at Mount Vernon -after Washington's death. There he is called "The Defender of His -Country," "The Founder of Liberty," "The Friend of Man," and -"Benefactor of Mankind." "He triumphantly vindicated the Rights of -Humanity," "Magnanimous in Youth, Glorious through Life, Great in -Death"; "His Highest Ambition the Happiness of Mankind." According to -this definition of patriotism, the meaning is not limited to a -political area of square miles or boundary lines. - -The noble tributes to Washington's character and work would fill many -volumes, but a few will show how his life is regarded as a model for -the youths of America. - -Senator Vance of North Carolina said, "The youth of America who aspire -to promote their own and their country's welfare should never cease to -gaze upon his great example, or to remember that the brightest gems in -the crown of his immortality, the qualities which uphold his fame on -earth and plead for him in heaven, were those which characterized him -as the patient, brave Christian gentleman." - -James Bryce, the English statesman, publicist, and historian, said, -"Washington stands alone and unapproachable, like a snow-peak rising -above its fellows into the clear air of morning, with a dignity, -constancy, and purity which have made him the ideal type of civic -virtue to succeeding generations." - -Henry Lee, who was beloved by Washington like a son, has given us the -great picture of him, "First in war, first in peace, first in the -hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and -endearing scenes of private life; pious, just, humane, temperate, and -sincere, uniform, dignified, and commanding, his example was as -edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example -lasting." - -Lord Byron wrote, - - "Where may the wearied eyes repose, - When gazing on the great, - Where neither guilty glory glows, - Nor despicable state? - Yes,--one, the first, the last, the best, - The Cincinnatus of the West, - Whom envy dared not hate, - Bequeathed the name of Washington, - To make men blush, there was but one." - -Louis Kossuth, the great Hungarian patriot, said, "Let him who looks -for a monument to Washington look around the United States. Your -freedom, your independence, your national power, your prosperity, and -your prodigious growth are a monument to him." - -Lord Macaulay says that he had in his character, "The sobriety, the -self-command, the perfect soundness of judgment, the perfect rectitude -of intention, to which the history of revolutions furnishes no -parallel, or furnishes a parallel in Washington alone." - -The tribute of the greatest American to the greatest American, for, so -alike are these two in divinity of mind for the divinity of America -and humanity that they can thus be thought of only as one, should be -known to all. Abraham Lincoln says, "Washington's is the mightiest -name on earth--long since mightiest in the cause of civil liberty; -still mightiest in moral reformation. On that name no eulogy is -expected. It cannot be. To add brightness to the sun, or glory to the -name of Washington, is alike impossible. Let none attempt it. In -solemn awe pronounce the name, and in its naked deathless splendor -leave it shining on." - - -II. NOT BIRTH BUT CHARACTER MAKES AMERICANS - -Washington and Lincoln are two names inseparately connected in the -making and preservation of America. Each became the leader in his -country's interests at a period of almost unspeakable dissention and -of indescribable peril to freedom as the condition of social -civilization. In the midst of that terrible turmoil, through every -form of abuse, intrigue and obstruction, they kept clear the way that -America should go, and upheld the America that all freeborn men -believed to be the ideal and opportunity of humanity and mankind. - -Washington is often declared to have been so much of his life an -Englishman that he cannot be regarded as a real born American. With -this declaration it is also asserted that Lincoln was the first -complete representative of real Americanism. This is as much as to say -that one born into the richest family in the early days of a town is -not as much of a citizen as one born in the poorest house in the town -when it has become a city. Search can nowhere reveal any Americanism -in either of those great souls that was not also in the other. -Physical surroundings had much to do with the details of their minds, -characters and careers, but nothing to do with their principles of -humanity which were indistinguishably the same. The glorious largeness -of their hearts and their manhood made the same supreme American. -Though less in leadership and in effect upon the life of their -country, there were thousands, if not millions, as perfectly -synonymous with Americanism as either Washington or Lincoln. It is -thus character and not birth that makes Americans, and therefore it is -not place but humanity that makes America. - -The hereditary mansion and the log hut were but the outer form of -those two great men. The faith, hope and love within for the freedom -of humanity, in the truth that makes men free, were the same in both -hut and mansion. - -Those numerous malcontents who vilified Washington, and whose -subsequents poisoned the atmosphere around Lincoln, could not see an -hour beyond their own dog's day, and were unable to measure any value -greater than their own personal interests. The very names which they -strove to make great in the historical vision of posterity have -vanished, or their perversions have been forgiven as repented fully. -In contrast to them are such noble heroes illustrated, for instance by -John Dickinson, who did not believe it was their duty to leave wealth -to their children, but it was necessary to leave them a heritage of -liberty; by Samuel Adams, who was impoverished by his stand for -American freedom, and yet scornfully refused an honored office that -was meant to bribe him away from the American cause; by Robert Morris, -who gave his fortune to feed the starving troops in the darkest period -of the war; and by Benjamin Franklin, rich, famous and old, past -seventy years of age, accepting the dangerous, laborious and -sacrificing mission to France, in the name of human union, for a -liberty-loving world. It required the profoundest devotion and heroism -for one so old as Franklin to break with friends of a lifetime, as -shown when he wrote, - - "You and I were long friends; you are now my enemy and I am - yours, - "B. FRANKLIN." - -Likewise, when he signed the Declaration of Independence, saying, "We -must now all hang together or hang separately." - -The foundations of Americanism rest on Americans and when they are -needed they always come forth to keep the faith. - - -III. THE AMERICAN LESSON LEARNED FROM THE GREATEST LEADERS IN THE -MAKING OF AMERICA - -Washington was no prodigy, and it belittles both him and Lincoln to be -rated as miracles. The study of their lives teaches us above all -things that there was no accident about them. They built themselves -up out of the material of their experiences and circumstances into -manhood and character, ready for the tasks of their human world. - -No man of colonial times lived more under English aristocratic -influence than Washington, and yet it only served as a contrast in -which to define his principles of liberty, his meaning of manhood and -his vision of humanity. So, also, no man of his times was more under -the belittling trivialities of frontier destitution and ignorance than -Abraham Lincoln, but it only served as inspiration and revelation for -his moral duty in the supreme crisis of the American nation. - -The lives of these two great men, from such widely different origins, -and yet coming to oneness in such a mutual cause and character, are -vital inspiration to every aspiring youth, showing that the value of -character is in every one's own hands if he will but look around and -get the true measure of what are life, and mind, and humanity. Those -careers show that the rights of man are never found in fragments, nor -exclusive in parties or single nations. - -Larned says, in his "Study of Greatness in Men," that "A man more -perfectly educated than Abraham Lincoln, in the true meaning of -education, did not exist in the world. When the time came for his -doing a great work, he had perfected his powers, and the simple story -of the simple methods of self-culture and self-training, by which he -was nature-led to that perfect result, holds the whole philosophy of -education." - -Washington's life was a fine human model through all the periods of -his career, but the heartening lesson of Lincoln was in his -unconquerable struggle to master a way of life, in the course of which -could appear his worthy human task. - -Lincoln's man-making process especially proves, even as Washington's -life had already shown, that there must be a fundamental honesty of -purpose in building up the mind or no one can ever arrive at manhood, -character or more abundant life. - -Washington and Lincoln were continuously expressing themselves in word -or deed, but always striving for the reasonable in a clear-minded way. -Their mind-making was always the process of achieving a humanity-mind -capable of clear world-wisdom. In that kingdom alone is the -Americanism that is human liberty, the rights of man and the moral -redemption of the world. - -The cruel martyrdom of Lincoln's death no doubt threw a glamor of -hero-worship over Lincoln, which does him more injustice than honor, -for the simple reason that the merit of his life belongs to his own -heroic soul, and its desperate struggle up to the light. Washington's -real life and character have been much obscured by the romance of his -times and the hero-worship which so much prevailed in the literature -of his period. It is doubtless of more real value to American -patriotism, personal character and moral humanity, for both the heroic -and the trivial to fade from our interest in the lives of Washington -and Lincoln, and from the meaning of their lives for the rights of -man. We need to appreciate the human struggle within themselves that -made them admirable men, and we need to know it in relation to the -human work around them that made them admirable Americans. More and -more we can see in their earnest endeavor for the right-minded way, -not only the making of men and the making of Americans, but also the -making of America and the making of the World. - - END - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonderful Story of Washington, by -Charles M. 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Stevens - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Wonderful Story of Washington - and the Meaning of His Life for the Youth and Patriotism of America - -Author: Charles M. Stevens - -Release Date: October 10, 2012 [EBook #41012] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDERFUL STORY OF WASHINGTON *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Bergquist, Matthew Wheaton and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41012 ***</div> <div class="figcenter"> <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="583" alt="" /> @@ -4765,383 +4726,6 @@ making of America and the making of the World.</p> <p class="book-end">END</p> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonderful Story of Washington, by -Charles M. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Wonderful Story of Washington - and the Meaning of His Life for the Youth and Patriotism of America - -Author: Charles M. Stevens - -Release Date: October 10, 2012 [EBook #41012] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDERFUL STORY OF WASHINGTON *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Bergquist, Matthew Wheaton and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -THE WONDERFUL STORY OF WASHINGTON - -[Illustration] - - "The ingenuous youth of America will hold up to themselves the - bright model of Washington's example, and study to be what they - behold; they will contemplate his character, till all his - virtues spread out and display themselves to their delighted - vision; as the earliest astronomers, the shepherds on the - plains of Babylon, gazed at the stars till they saw them form - into clusters and constellations, overpowering at length the - eyes of the beholders with the united blaze of a thousand - lights."--WEBSTER. - - - _Inspiration Series of Patriotic Americans_ - - - - - THE WONDERFUL STORY OF WASHINGTON - - AND THE MEANING OF HIS LIFE - FOR THE YOUTH AND PATRIOTISM - OF AMERICA - - BY C. M. STEVENS - Author of "_The Wonderful Story of Lincoln_" - - - NEW YORK - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - - - Copyright, 1917, by - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER - - I. INTRODUCTORY CONSIDERATIONS - American Patriotism and the Meaning of America. - Washington's Early Surroundings. - - II. THE BOY WITH A WILL AND A WAY - Early Circumstances of the First American Hero. - A Community Proud of Its Family Honor. - The Self-Pity and Sentimentalism of Youth. - - III. BEGINNINGS OF EXPERIENCE IN BORDER WARFARE - Getting Used to Roughing It. - Land Speculation as the Beginning Leading to - American Self-Government. - The Struggle for the Indian's Hunting Grounds. - - IV. THE RIVALRY AND DIPLOMACY OF THE FRONTIER - The First Great Problems of the Indians. - Alarm for the Future. - Indifference to Great Interests. - - V. THE CONSEQUENCE OF ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE - Annoyances and Antagonisms. - Dishonors and Disasters. - Washington Entering the School of War. - - VI. THE STRUGGLE FOR FORT DUQUESNE - The Separation Beginning Between the Colonies and - England. - Lessons Gathered from Defeat. - Some Personal Interests at Home. - - VII. THE FATE OF THE OHIO VALLEY - Frontier Fears and Panics. - Political Intrigue and Official Confusion. - "A Matter of Great Admiration." - - VIII. THE BEGINNING SIGNS OF A GREAT REVOLUTION - Military Victory and a Happy Marriage. - Life Fulfilled as a Virginia Country Gentleman. - The Momentous Struggle Between Might and Right. - - IX. SOWING THE WIND AND REAPING THE WHIRLWIND - Mount Vernon at First in a Zone of Calm. - Giving the Appearance and Keeping the Substance. - "Soft Words Butter No Parsnips." - - X. ANTAGONISMS AND HOSTILITIES - Blazing the Way to War. - The Double-Quick March to Revolution. - Violence and Flattery as Methods of Mastery. - - XI. GREAT MINDS IN THE GREAT STORM - Suppressing Americans. - The Business of Getting Ready. - Many Men of Many Minds. - - XII. THE HOUSE LONG DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF - Unpatriotic Confusion of Opinions and Interests. - Sometimes Too Late to Mend. - Selecting the Leader of Liberty for America. - - XIII. LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY - The First Commander-in-Chief. - Big Business, Money-Makers and Patriotism. - The Strong Mind for Great Needs. - - XIV. TURNING REVOLUTION INTO GOVERNMENT - Seeking Retirement for Life. - Freedom and the Wrangle for Personal Gain. - Laying the Foundations of Liberty and Law. - - XV. THE PEACE OF HOME AT LAST - Sorrow for the Departed Scenes. - Crowned in the Fullness of Time. - A Life-Like Scene from Washington's Home Life. - - XVI. STANDARDS OF AMERICAN PATRIOTISM - Foundations. - Freedom of the Western Hemisphere. - The Loyalty of Youth. - - XVII. CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS - The Washington Ideal as the American Ideal. - Not Birth But Character Makes Americans. - The American Lesson Learned from the Greatest - Leaders in the Making of America. - - - - -WASHINGTON AND AMERICAN LIBERTY - - - - -CHAPTER I - -INTRODUCTORY CONSIDERATIONS - - -I. AMERICAN PATRIOTISM AND THE MEANING OF AMERICA - -"America for Americans" is a patriotic appeal that has arisen in many -a political crisis, and then gone to pieces in the confusions of what -we mean by "Americans" and "America." American Liberty has been a -goddess of worship from the beginning, and yet we find ourselves in an -endless turmoil concerning what we mean by "American liberty." - -Washington and his associate patriots wrote a great definition in -history and established that definition in the Declaration of -Independence and the Constitution of the United States, but human -meaning, like the skies, seems hard to get clear and to keep clear. To -know clearly what the definition of freedom means and to promote it -in the right-minded way, is the patriotism that identifies anyone -anywhere as being American. The makers of America loved the -right-minded way, and their primary test of justice unfailingly -required, as a basis, the personal liberty that has been described to -us by all as freedom to do the right that wrongs no one. To these -"rights of man," they gave "the last full measure of devotion," as -Lincoln defined patriotism, for "the birth of a new freedom under -God." - -The public-school youth, who is not in one way or another familiar -with the Americanism of Washington and Lincoln, is not yet prepared -either for college or for life, and, still more clearly, is not -prepared to be an American. The number of un-Americans in America may, -in some crisis, become appalling, if, in fact, they do not succeed in -Europeanizing America. Against that possibility there is nothing to -save us, if we do not save ourselves as our hereditary task of -American patriotism. - -Washington and Lincoln are the two incomparable constructive ideals of -American liberty and manhood. The two lives together complete the -meaning of America. Washington began his life with a super-abundance -of everything aristocratic in his age. Lincoln began his life in -worldly nothingness that had indeed nothing for him but the democratic -wilderness till he became a man. And yet both became the same great -soul in the same great cause, the maker and preserver of American -civilization, as the moral law of man and God. - -[Illustration: The Birthplace of George Washington--Bridges Creek, -Westmoreland Co., Virginia.] - -American life and its ideal humanity cannot be understood by American -youth until the wonderful character and struggle of these two -supremely typical Americans are understood as the expression of the -meaning of America, and even no less as a meaning for the world. - -The Great Teacher said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he -will lay down his life for a friend," and no man on earth has a -greater friend than the America of Washington and Lincoln. - - -II. WASHINGTON'S EARLY SURROUNDINGS - -We cannot think with a true vision, in estimating the meaning of -colonial and revolutionary days, if we allow the glamor of fame and -the idolatry of colonial patriotism to obscure our view of those -times. There were heroes immortal with what we know as "the spirit of -'76," but, grading from them were the good, bad and indifferent, that -often seemed overwhelming in numbers. - -George Washington is known chiefly through the rather stilted style of -writing that then prevailed, and the puritanic expressions that were -used in describing commendable conduct. Even Washington's writings -were edited so as not to offend sensitive ears, and so as not to give -an impression to the reader different from the idealized orthodox -character of that severe pioneer civilization. The people were free in -everything but social expression. That was sternly required to conform -to a rigid puritanic or cavalier standard. - -Washington, more than any other great man, seems to have composed his -early life from what some well-meaning reformers have termed -"copy-book morality;" that is, proverbial morality or personal rules -of conduct. Washington in his boyhood wrote out many moral sentences -as reminders for his own guidance. He was a persistent searcher after -the right way toward the right life. - -Washington's mother is described as being stern in business and moral -discipline, even as having a violent temper and being capable of very -severe measures to accomplish needed results. It seems that -Washington, seeing this method in both father and mother, reinforced, -as it were, by the military bearing of his much-admired elder -half-brother, took that form of life as his earliest ideal. He was as -tireless in perfecting models of business and life as Lincoln was in -mastering the unconventional meaning of human beings. Washington at -the ages of eleven and twelve delighted to copy various book-keeping -forms and mercantile documents. His school books at that age are still -preserved and they are models of accuracy and neatness. Besides that, -he loved to discipline himself. He was always subjecting himself, -either mentally or physically, to some kind of orderly training. - -For one who was destined to have such a leading part in framing a new -nation for a new world, such a making of mind seems to have been just -the thing for that great task. - -He enjoyed a great local reputation as the boy who could ride any -horse in that county, and who could throw a stone across the -Rappahannock. He was a leader in every group of boys to which he came. -He drilled them in military parades and umpired them in their disputes -and games. Students of the mind-making process have much to consider -in the comparison and analogy of a boy being first military chieftain -to his playmates, and then step by step, the legislator, judge and -chief executive in their political affairs, with the generalship of a -revolution for national independence, and the statesmanship of a new -empire built in the cause of humanity. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE BOY WITH A WILL AND A WAY - - -I. EARLY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FIRST AMERICAN HERO - 1732 - -George Washington has his place in American history, not only as being -the great commander-in-chief of the American revolutionary army, but -as being no less influential and powerful as a political leader and -constructive American statesman. He was born February 22, 1732, in one -of the wealthiest and most cultured homes in America. From the front -door of his father's house, on the estate that was a few years later -named Mount Vernon, could be seen many miles of the Potomac River, and -a wide sweep of the shores of Maryland. All that can enter into making -life delightful flourished abundantly about the cradle of this child, -and contributed toward his preparation and development for leadership, -that was to produce a new power in the cause of human freedom for the -world. There are easily seen many contributing interests that seemed -to be carefully engaged in fitting him for the consequential task of -taking the divine right from kings and giving it back to the people -who alone have the right to the freedom of the earth. - -Very soon after the birth of this child, the family moved to an estate -owned by the father on the shores of the Rappahannock, across from -Fredericksburg. - -All traditions agree that the boy's father was exceedingly careful -that his son should have his mind built up in the most gentlemanly -honesty. - -Somehow, as we trace the early lives of great men, that word honesty -is always intruding as of first importance. In an age when so many men -seem to arrive at riches and power through intrigue and the -unscrupulous manipulation of means, the word honesty loses -significance and is looked upon either as hypocrisy or a joke. And -yet, such conditions fail and the success does not succeed. - -George Washington was fortunate in his childhood protectors. Besides -having his father and mother to take watchful care of his right views -of life, there was Lawrence, fourteen years older than George. -Lawrence Washington was a son of their father's earlier marriage. He -had been sent away to England to be educated and he returned when -George was eight years old. He has been described as a handsome, -splendid, gentlemanly young man. He dearly loved George and did all he -could to give the boy his honorable ideas of social and political -life. - -In the midst of this fraternal interest, at the most impressionable -age of a child, came a great military excitement. War for the -possession of the West Indies was on between Great Britain and Spain. -Admiral Vernon had captured Porto Bello on the Isthmus of Darien, and -the Spaniards, aided by the French, were preparing to drive the -English out. A regiment was to be raised in the Colonies and Lawrence -Washington was eager to become a soldier. Such was his father's -position in Colonial affairs that Lawrence was given a Captain's -commission and he sailed away in 1740. - -The sound of fife and drum, with Lawrence's enlistment, doubtless -excited the martial spirit in George, as is confirmed by many an -anecdote, and started him on the way to that knowledge and training -which fitted him to become the head of the revolutionary army. - -Augustus Washington, George's father, died suddenly in 1743, at the -age of forty-nine. He was estimated to have been at his death the -wealthiest man in Virginia. At least he was able to leave an -inheritance to each of his seven children, so that they were each -regarded as among the most extensive property owners of that -prosperous colony. - -Lawrence inherited the estate on the Potomac, which he named Mount -Vernon, in honor of his commander in the war with the Spaniards. - -George was eleven years old when his father died, and he, with the -other four minor children, were left with their property to the -guardianship of their mother. - -She was indeed the great mother of a great man. Her management morally -and financially was conscientious, exact and admirable. George, being -her eldest child, was always her favorite, but, with scrupulous care -she served each as needed and with the unstinted affection of a noble -mother. - - -II. A COMMUNITY PROUD OF ITS FAMILY HONOR - -Lawrence Washington showed in many ways that he dearly loved his -reliable, busy little half-brother. George spent much of his time at -Mount Vernon. Lawrence had become quite an important man in the public -estimation. He had what might well be called a princely estate, which -he upheld in princely style, without offence to any one, and with the -admiration of all the people. - -Next to him, on the picturesque Potomac ridge, lived his father-in-law -on the beautiful estate named Belvoir. This very honorable and -high-minded gentleman was of an old aristocratic English family, and -he was the manager of the extensive estates in Virginia of his cousin, -Lord Fairfax. - -George Washington grew up in these severely aristocratic associations, -in which the gentility had no snobbery and the class distinction -nothing offensive beyond the requirements of merit, culture and the -manners of genuine gentlemen. Doubtless in admiration for the -neatness, cleanliness, harmony and scrupulous morality of these -beautiful homes, he was inspired to draw up his famous code known as -"Rules for Behavior in Company and Conversation." We can easily -imagine that the visitors he met at Mount Vernon and Belvoir were the -very well-bred ladies and chivalrous gentleman of a courtly English -period, among whom were mingled numerous heroic captains from the West -Indies, whose chief topics of conversation were thrilling descriptions -and stories of Pirates and Spaniards. Perhaps he was then receiving a -vision of international affairs, from a world view, that was important -to his mission in civilization, even as Lincoln learned his country's -welfare in his struggle upward among the backwoods commoners of his -times. - -That George was greatly influenced by the warship heroes he met is -shown by his eagerness to join the navy. Everybody seemed to think -this was the thing for him except his mother. Even her firm decisions -were at last overcome, a midshipman's place was obtained for him and -his personal effects were sent aboard the man-of-war, but the mother -could not say good-bye to her eldest son. She couldn't give him up and -she didn't. It is hardly likely that the world, a hundred years later, -could have known that there ever was such a person as George -Washington, if his mother had not changed her mind and kept him from -the boisterous turmoil of the uncertain sea. However that may be, he -was sent to school instead of making a cruise in the West Indies. His -study was mathematics and military tactics, the very thing most needed -in the sublime undertaking that was to make his name immortal. - -Strange to say, he was known as a very bashful boy. In fact, all -through his life he was embarrassed in the presence of ladies. A girl -of his own age, who saw much of him when he was a boy, wrote in later -life, that "he was a very bashful young man." She says, "I used often -to wish that he would talk more." - -That his emotional feelings were very early developed is quite certain -from his own diary written at that time. He wrote, with the usual -foolishness of a boy, about some unnamed girl with whom he was madly -in love. He was for a long time exceedingly unhappy. Even his -well-disciplined mind and his severe regulation of conduct were no -proof against the turmoil of unreturned affection. We have never known -anything about this beautiful lodestone that had drawn the heart out -of him. He never described her or told who she was. It was probably -merely a fancy ideal with which he clothed some one utterly impossible -as a real friend or mate to him. Such queer freaks of interest have -often happened to the emotions of a growing mind, and later, the -victim wondered what was possible in the object to cause such -feelings. In all likelihood, there was nothing in the object that -should have caused anything more than a just admiration or respect. -But instead, the feelings caught on fire and had to burn out. So it -was with Washington. As he was loyal to his ideals, even when they -were merely fancy, foolishly wrapped about some inappropriate object, -he remained devoted to his grief until years wore out the memory. - - -III. THE SELF-PITY AND SENTIMENTALISM OF YOUTH - -Those who like their hero to be of chiseled marble may be shocked to -think that George Washington, "the father of his Country," wrote pages -in his journal of foolish love-sighs and more foolish poetry. He -often bewailed his "poor restless heart, wounded by Cupid's dart," and -wrote of this wounded heart as "bleeding for one who remains pitiless -to my griefs and woes." That he never had a confidant to whom he could -tell his sacred heart-burnings is indicated by the lines: - - "Ah, woe is me, that I should love and conceal, - Long have I wished and never dared reveal." - -But such experiences let George Washington come a little closer to us -as a real boy, and is consolation for many a man who had a like -foolish spell in his youth. - -George not only kept a tell-tale diary, which has given us all we know -of his inner life in youth, but he wrote letters in that journal to -many persons. Whether those letters were imaginary or were actually -copies of real letters we do not know. Some of these were written -while visiting the Fairfax family of Belvoir, after Lord Fairfax had -come there from England as the head of the family interests. He wrote -to his "dear friend Robin": "My residence is at present at his -lordship's, where I might, was my heart disengaged, pass my time very -pleasantly, as there's a very agreeable young lady lives in the same -house; but, as that's only adding fuel to the fire, it makes me the -more uneasy, for, by often and unavoidably being in company with her, -revives my former passion for your Lowland Beauty; whereas, was I to -live more retired from young women, I might in some measure alleviate -my sorrows by burying that chaste and troublesome passion in the grave -of oblivion." - -The "lowland beauty" he refers to is said to have been Miss Grimes, of -Westmoreland, who, as Mrs. Lee, became the mother of General Henry -Lee, famous in revolutionary times as Light Horse Harry, and always a -favorite with General Washington. - -Lord Fairfax, to whom he often refers, had a strong influence on his -life. This real nobleman had inherited through his mother the Virginia -lands granted to Lord Culpepper by Charles II. Having been jilted at -the altar, in the very height of a rather famous career, by a lady who -had a chance to marry a duke, Lord Fairfax renounced society and left -England for Virginia. He took a great liking to young George -Washington and they became companions on many a fox-hunt. - -Presently it became necessary for Lord Fairfax to have his lands -surveyed, and Washington, having studied surveying, was chosen for -this task. The boy, though now man's size, was not yet seventeen when -he undertook this very responsible work. But here his careful training -served him well. Nothing was ever undertaken by him until it had been -thoroughly thought out, and success was thus assured in this his first -man-making task. He still kept his journal day by day, but it was now -full of the business of life. The emotional dreams of his Lowland -Beauty are recorded no more. - -This escape from self-pity and individual sentimentalism is in line -with Edison's advice to get busy at something useful if you would -avoid temptation and foolishness. Even one so sternly set as -Washington needed to have his attention occupied with something to do, -as employment for idle hands, in order to be free from devil-ideas -sowing artificial interests in the growing mind. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE BEGINNINGS OF EXPERIENCE IN BORDER WARFARE - - -I. GETTING USED TO ROUGHING IT - -From the aristocratic tables and home comforts of Mount Vernon and -Belvoir, the youthful Washington began roughing it in the forests and -along the streams of the Shenandoah. He had begun to adapt himself to -the primitive conditions of his country and to share the coarse fare -of the commoners that composed the civilization of the new world. - -To one of his friends, he wrote: "I have not slept more than three or -four nights in a bed, but, after walking a good deal all day, I have -lain down before the fire upon a little straw or fodder, or a -bearskin, whichever was to be had, with man, wife and children, like -dogs and cats; and happy is he who gets the berth nearest the fire." - -He wrote in his note-book that he received, when in active service, a -doubloon per day, which was $7.20 in gold and worth much more than -that correspondingly at that time. These first wages are in sharp -contrast to those received by Lincoln, and the preparation for life -coming to the two men was as notably different as their mission and as -their times. - -Soon after this, Washington, though only a boy, was appointed official -surveyor for the government, and so accurate were his surveys that -they have ever remained the undisputed authority. Meantime, he had an -eye to the practical, and, as a result, the choicest parts of the -Shenandoah Valley came into possession of the Washingtons and remained -with them for many generations. - -The able and talented young gentleman was frequently for long periods -the guest of Lord Fairfax, after Lord Fairfax had moved from Belvoir -to his "quarters" beyond the Blue Ridge, which he had made into a -spacious new home named Greenway Court. All the culture of England was -gathered there and nothing was failing to give the young man a clear -idea of the social and political conditions of the world. - -World history has much to do in making individual history and so it -was with Washington. England and France were rivals and at war. The -war came to a close, and, so anxious was each for peace, that they -settled their home differences and left to the future their rivalry -for territory in North America. It then became a race for them, who -could occupy and defend territory the most rapidly. The vast -overlapping claims ran down from the Saint Lawrence River to the Ohio -River and on to the Mississippi. - -French explorers had certainly been the first to pass through that -region and map out the territory, but the English had occupied the -eastern coast and given land titles that ran west to the setting sun. -Evidently, the mother countries had settled their differences in -Europe only to turn their energies to securing and fortifying their -claims in the new world. - -Strange indeed is the course of destiny. The revolutionary -grandmothers used to recite a very vague stanza which ran as follows: - - "A lion and a unicorn - Were fighting for the crown - Up jumped a little dog - And knocked them both down." - -At least, England lost most of its possessions in North America, -France lost all, and a little nation appeared that was the cradle of -liberty for mankind and the unsurpassable maker of a greater world. - - -II. LAND SPECULATION AS THE BEGINNING LEADING TO AMERICAN -SELF-GOVERNMENT - -We may reasonably find a beginning of the American republic, involving -the career of George Washington, in the formation of what is known as -the Ohio Company. If this company had been formed of unscrupulous -speculators, as were other big franchises granted by kings, it could -well have been a near-relative to the get-rich-quick manias that -present so queer a view of men's minds, not only in those days but -even in present times. But such honorable men as Lawrence and -Augustine Washington were prominent in that company, and it was not -long till Lawrence had chief management of the company. - -A very significant controversy concerning freedom of conscience arose -in the endeavor to induce the Dutch from Pennsylvania to settle on the -new land grants. These Pennsylvanians were what is known as -dissenters. They had a religious belief of their own. If they moved -into the territory of the Ohio Company they would have to attend -Episcopalian service and contribute taxes to the support of the Church -of England. - -Lawrence Washington was opposed to the English laws that demanded -such sectarian contribution of means and life. - -"It has ever been my opinion," he argued, "and I hope it will ever be, -that restraints on conscience are cruel in regard to those on whom -they are imposed, and injurious to the country imposing them.... -Virginia was greatly settled in the latter part of Charles the First's -time, and during the usurpation, by the zealous churchmen; and that -spirit, which was then brought in, has ever since continued; so that, -except a few Quakers, we have no dissenters. But what has been the -consequence? We have increased by slow degrees, whilst our neighboring -colonies, whose natural advantages are greatly inferior to ours, have -become populous." - -This view may look as if it had been taken from the old saying that -nothing succeeds like success, and yet this may, in the long run, be -the necessary proof found in a thing being true as it works. In any -event, the Washington idea was that of individual freedom, and this -was the first essential in a mind that was to have such a large share -in founding the government of America. - -The romantic contest was now on for the possession of the great region -of the Ohio and its tributaries. It was a vast wilderness of pathless -forests, rich in the wild game that was then the fortune of new-world -traders. The friendship of the Indians was of the highest importance -to both sides. Every effort was made by both French and English to -form alliances with the Indians. The French addressed themselves in -all their meetings as "Fathers" to the Indians, while the English -always used the term "Brothers." It was clear to all that if the -"Fathers" won the allegiance of the Indians, the "Brothers" would have -to go, or likewise "t'other way 'round." - -While Mr. Gist, the surveyor of the Ohio Company, was finding the -boundaries of their territory, he was met by an old Delaware Sachem -who asked him a very embarrassing question. - -"The French," said the old Indian chief, "claim all the land on one -side of the Ohio, and the English claim all the land on the other -side, now where does the Indian's land lie?" - -The question was answered at last by time. The French "Fathers" and -the English "Brothers" took it all, after which the new government of -the United States came into possession; and the orator and the poet -could fittingly say of the Indians, "Slowly and sadly they climb the -distant mountains and read their doom in the setting sun." - -But American responsibility, if not its humanity, at last settled "The -Indian Question," and the "good Indian" became a new American. - - -III. THE STRUGGLE OF NATIONS FOR THE INDIAN'S HUNTING GROUNDS - -The wild struggle between the French and English that now took place -in the wilderness, for the possession of the Indian's hunting ground -could hardly be dignified enough to be called war, and the holiness of -its cause could hardly be raised higher than rival commercial -interests working for something in which neither had any clear claims. -But it had a most momentous consequence on whether America should be -French and Spanish or English and Spanish. In those dark forests where -the dusky savages held the balance of power, to make the "Fathers" or -the "Brothers" successful, was played the tragic scenes deciding the -political destiny of the new world. - -The French began to build forts and supply stations along their -northern lines from Canada, and the English began to drill volunteers -for the purpose of defending the Ohio Company's territory, if not even -further to expel the French entirely as a menace to the peace of the -company. - -Virginia was divided into military districts whose commander-in-chief -was an adjutant-general, having the rank of major. Lawrence Washington -secured one of these military districts for his brother George, who -was then only nineteen years of age. Manhood of mind as well as of -body had come to him rapidly and there is no evidence but that he -fulfilled these high duties with complete satisfaction to all -concerned. To American interests, these experiences were indeed a -providential training for the priceless responsibilities to come. - -Method, accuracy and persistence were prime characteristics of George -Washington. He did not assume to know it all without any need of -preparation. He believed he could take a job for which he was not -fitted with the profound belief that before the job got to him he -would be fitted. This reminds us of how Lincoln took the job of -surveyor before he knew how to survey, but when he began the work of -surveying, even with the rudest instruments, his work was correct. - -There was a Westmoreland volunteer, Adjutant Muse, who had served -through the Spanish Campaigns with Lawrence Washington. He was well -informed by both experience and study in the art and theory of war. -George brought him to Mount Vernon and became under him a strenuous -student in military tactics. There was also Jacob Van Braam, a soldier -of fortune, who was an expert in fencing, and who had likewise been -through the West Indies with Lawrence. Jacob was speedily added to -the military academy at Mount Vernon with its one student. But these -teachers might well feel like Plato at the Academy in Athens. The -story is that a stormy day had kept all of Plato's pupils away but -one. Nevertheless, Plato arose and began his lecture as usual. The -pupil protested but Plato continued, saying, "It is true that only one -pupil is here, but that one is Aristotle." - -Adjutant Muse and Swordmaster Van Braam had only one pupil for their -distinguished instruction, but that one was George Washington. - -It was probably about the time when George had learned all he needed -of these teachers, that Lawrence's health broke down, and his -physicians ordered him to go to the Barbadoes for the winter. It was -necessary for George to go with him, and he did so, writing a journal -of all the occurrences and observations he considered worthy of note. - -Within two weeks, after he arrived in that happy-go-lucky colony where -no one was interested in anything but pleasure and pastime, George was -struck down by the smallpox. He recovered in three weeks and was -slightly marked for life, but with no other consequence than a -disagreeable experience. - -Lawrence decided to leave the Barbadoes for Bermuda, and so he sent -George home to bring Mrs. Washington to Bermuda. But she did not go. -Lawrence returned, and died soon after, at the age of thirty-four -years. - -This noble man and genuine American did much toward preparing his -half-brother George for the immortal work to be done, and the name of -Lawrence Washington should ever remain sacred in the memory of the -American people. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE RIVALRY AND DIPLOMACY OF THE FRONTIER - - -I. THE FIRST GREAT PROBLEMS OF THE INDIANS - -From small events in the deep wilderness, human interests were forming -into the flow of incalculable affairs. The Ohio Indians had gathered -in council with their English brethren at Logstown, and entered into a -treaty not to molest any English settlers in the territory claimed by -the Ohio Company. The Six Nations of Iroquois to the northeast had -very haughtily declined to attend the conference. This was because -they were nearer the French and under their influence. - -"It is not our custom," said an Iroquois chief, "to meet to treat of -affairs in the woods and weeds. If the Governor of Virginia wants to -speak with us, we will meet him at Albany, where we expect the -Governor of New York to be present." - -[Illustration: Washington and His Family.] - -On the other side, the Ohio Indians sent a protest to the French at -Lake Erie. - -"Fathers," said the messenger, "you are the disturbers of this land by -building towns, and taking the country from us by fraud and force. If -you had come in a peaceable manner, like our brothers, the English, we -should have traded with you as we do with them; but that you should -come and build houses on our land, and take it by force, is what we -cannot submit to. Our brothers, the English, have heard this, and I -now come to tell it to you, for I am not afraid to order you off this -land." - -"Child," was the reply of the French commander, "you talk foolishly. I -am not afraid of flies and mosquitoes, for such are those who oppose -me. Take back your wampum. I fling it at you." - -It became evident that the French intended to connect Canada with -Louisiana by a chain of forts and so confine the English to the coast -east of the Alleghanies. This meant the ruin of the Ohio Company. A -strong appeal was made to Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia. He was a -stockholder in the Ohio Company and was accordingly a ready listener -to the danger of losing the Ohio country. - -Governor Dinwiddie sent a commissioner with a protest to the French, -who were rapidly breaking their way through from Canada, defeating the -hostile Indians, and breaking to pieces their confidence in their -English brothers. Captain Trent was the man selected for this -dangerous and delicate task. He went to Logstown and then on into the -Indian country, where the French had scattered the Indians and -established their authority. - -Trent could not see anything to do and he returned home a failure. -This made matters worse, and required a still stronger man, able to -restore the lost confidence of the Indians and to impress the French -with the determination and power of the English. There was only one -man who seemed qualified for such a hazardous undertaking, and he was -only twenty-two years of age. This was George Washington. - -He was appointed to the dangerous mission and given full instructions -in writing. With the required equipment, Washington set forth on the -remarkable journey, which was the beginning of his great career as the -maker of a nation. The record of this great adventure belongs to -history and little can be done toward telling any part of it without -telling enough to make a book. The journey contained all the perils of -such a wilderness, the usual intrigues characteristic of the times in -the dealing with the Indians, and the customary experience of frontier -diplomacy between two rival colonies, of which the mother countries -were at peace. But with a thoroughness that was possible only to one -who had made thoroughness an object and a habit of his life, -Washington noted everything he saw among the tribes, at the French -outposts, and at the French headquarters. - -Washington had started with his message from Governor Dinwiddie on -October 30, and he returned with the reply, January 16. The long -journey through the trackless forests of the winter wilderness had -been one of almost incredible hardship and peril, where his life many -times appeared hopeless, but he won out and performed his mission. It -is probable that nothing throughout his wonderful career was more -trying to his character or more evidence of his indomitable manhood. -One who was able to perform successfully such a mission, and bring -back such a clear view of the situation, was henceforth to be rated as -one of the worthiest sons of Virginia, and a reliable guardian of her -fortunes. - - -II. ALARM FOR THE FUTURE - -Washington's journal, covering his journey and his observations, was -printed, and it awakened the colonies to the fact that, if the French -took possession of the Ohio Valley, the English would have no future -beyond the Alleghenies. The French commander's evasive reply, coupled -with his statement that he was there by his superior's orders and -would obey them to the letter, made it plain that, however much the -two home countries were at peace, the American colonies would have to -fight for their rights, as they conceived them to be, in these Western -regions. As is to be seen, this colonial English war with the colonial -French was destined to accomplish three far-reaching results. It would -unite the English colonies, it would give them an extended view of -their human rights, and it would develop a leader in George -Washington. - -At first the support given the Governor, even in Virginia, was very -meagerly and grudgingly given. - -"Those who offered to enlist," says Washington, "were for the most -part loose, idle persons, without house or home, some without shoes or -stockings, some shirtless, and many without coat or waistcoat." - -One of the French officers had boasted to Washington that the French -would be the first to take possession of the Ohio lands, because the -English were so slow, and it proved true. - -Captain Trent had been sent with about fifty men to build a fort at -the fork of the Ohio River, the place recommended by Washington. But, -when it was less than half done, a thousand Frenchmen appeared and -ordered the English fort-builders to leave. They were glad to have -that privilege. A few days after Washington arrived at Will's creek, -with probably two hundred men, the fort-builders came in and told -their story. - -It was known that the French had abundance of war-supplies, could -receive reinforcements on short notice, were already at least five to -one in numbers, and had the assured support of at least six hundred -Indians. - -Washington's men were undisciplined, and Trent's men being volunteers -for other service were insubordinate. There were no supplies, and -reinforcements were doubtful. - -But even in such a forlorn condition, he must be master of the -situation or all would indeed be lost. He decided to fortify the Ohio -Company's storehouses at Redstone Creek, acquaint the colonies of his -condition and await necessary reinforcements. In this management under -difficulties, he had an experience and training, probably of great -service to his country in the nobler cause of political liberty, that -was destined to be his task for grander years to come. - - -III. INDIFFERENCE TO GREAT INTERESTS - -The wilderness, the Indians, the French, and the slow-moving -management coming from the colonies, offered difficulties almost -insurmountable, and it would take a volume to describe in detail the -conditions and affairs. Even the officers were almost in mutiny over -their pay. - -"Let me serve voluntarily," Washington wrote to the Governor, "and I -will, with the greatest pleasure, devote my services to this -expedition,--but, to be slaving through woods, rocks and mountains for -the shadow of pay, I would rather toil like a day laborer for a -maintenance, if reduced to the necessity, than to serve on such -ignoble terms." - -In a letter to his friend, Colonel Fairfax, in which he preferred to -serve as a volunteer without pay, rather than for what he was getting, -he added, "for the motives that have led me here are pure and noble. I -had no view of acquisition but that of honor, by serving faithfully my -king and my country." - -In the midst of all this dissatisfaction and distress, word came -through Indian scouts that the French were marching to attack him. The -tracks of a scouting party having been discovered, an Indian was put -on the trail and he found the camp of the enemy. Washington -determined to surprise them. He planned to slip up on one side of -them, as his Indian allies did the same on the other side. Between -them he believed he could capture them all. But the sharp watch of the -French caught sight of the English and the forest battle began. One of -Washington's men had been killed and three wounded in a fifteen -minutes' battle, when the French, having lost several and becoming -frightened at being between two fires, gave way and ran. They were -soon overtaken and captured, excepting one who escaped and carried the -news to the fort at the forks of the Ohio. Ten of the French had been -killed and one wounded. Twenty-one were prisoners. - -Though this battle, as measured in the deeds of other wars, was indeed -a small affair, it was weighty with consequence for the interests of -America. It was Washington's first experience in battle. In a letter -to one of his brothers, he says, "I heard the bullets whistle, and, -believe me, there is something charming in the sound." - -This statement of a boy, at the age of twenty-two in the first -emotions of military excitement, is hardly to be called mere -rodomontade as Horace Walpole termed it. It is said that George II -remarked, when he was told of this expression used by the young -Virginian commander, "He would not say so, if he had been used to -hear many." Forty years later, when Washington was President of the -United States of America, he was asked about the so-called charm of -whistling bullets, and he replied, "If I said so, it was when I was -young." - -The victory of this battle, small as it was, aroused the colonists and -held the confidence of the Indians. The Indian chief sent the scalps -of the ten slain soldiers to the different tribes and called on them -to come at once to the help of their brothers, the English. - -Washington's difficulty in getting supplies and in obtaining -reinforcements taxed all his powers and all his stability of -character. There was no doubt that the entire success of the campaign -depended upon his patience and resourceful perseverance. It was making -the twenty-two-year-old gentleman of Mount Vernon and Belvoir very -rapidly into a hardy warrior of the wilderness, and a tactful manager -of men. These qualities were being strengthened for the coming great -day, when there should be a new nation. Doubtless the sordid stupidity -of the colonial governors, in their tardy and meager support of him, -had much to do in preparing the way for ideas of independence and a -self-governing body of States. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE CONSEQUENCE OF ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE - - -I. ANNOYANCES AND ANTAGONISMS - -Heroism appears often to be a thankless task. Patience had about -vanished when, most opportunely, Adjutant Muse, Washington's -instructor in military tactics, arrived with much needed supplies, and -also suitable presents for the Indians. A grand ceremonial of -presentation took place. The pompous ceremonial seemed to be very dear -to the heart of those so-called simple children of the forests. The -chiefs were decorated in all their barbaric finery. Washington wore a -big medal sent him by the Governor, intended to be impressively used -on such occasions. Washington gave the presents and decorated the -chiefs and warriors with the medals, which they were to wear in memory -of their brethren, the English, and their father, the King of -England. - -One of the warriors, the son of Queen Aliquippa, wanted the honor of -having an English name, so, in elaborate ceremonial, Washington -bestowed upon him the name Fairfax. The principal chief of the tribes -desiring a like honor was given the name of the governor, Dinwiddie. - -William Fairfax had, about this time, written a letter to Washington -advising that he hold religious services in camp, especially for the -benefit of the Indians. This was done, and the imagination can picture -the motley assembly being so solemnly presided over in that -picturesque wilderness by the boyish commander of a no less motley -army. - -In reading about big wars, in which there are millions striving for -the bloody mastery, with monster machines of modern destruction, it -may sound trivial to read of the fear with which Washington's -wilderness army heard of the approach of ninety Frenchmen. But, in -truth, this handful of men were at the beginning of the greatest human -interests, and were giving direction to human affairs hardly less -consequential than the European War. - -Washington, with the buoyant fervor of youth, sallied forth from the -fort, hoping to have the honor of presenting Governor Dinwiddie with a -choice lot of French prisoners. The scouts had certainly been well -scared. The ninety French warriors were found to be nine deserters -anxious to be captured. But they gave valuable information regarding -Fort Duquesne, which was put to good use by Washington. - -Now began one of those little annoyances which marked the feeling of -British officers toward Colonial officers, and showed the state of -mind which was at last to be an intolerable antagonism between England -and America. - -Captain Mackay arrived with an independent company of North -Carolinians. Captain Mackay held a commission direct from the King, -Washington held his by Colonial authority; therefore, Captain Mackay -believed himself and his company to have far superior standing to that -of Washington and his provincial men. - -The result was that he would not associate himself in any way with -Washington nor allow his men to have anything in common with -Washington's men. No matter what Washington urged as to their common -danger and their common cause, he very haughtily flouted every attempt -made to have the two commanders work together. - -The experience Washington had in managing this delicate and foolish -situation was doubtless very valuable in handling even more delicate -and foolish situations of vastly more consequence in the coming -revolutionary war. - - -II. DISHONORS AND DISASTERS - -Finding that co-operation with the North Carolina troops was -impossible, Washington left Fort Necessity in their charge, and toiled -forward through the forest, making a military road toward Fort -Duquesne, which was at the point where Pittsburg now is, and which was -in the very heart of the region claimed by the English colonies. - -Washington reached the station kept by Christopher Gist. This was the -heroic woodsman who had been his companion through the most perilous -part of his romantic journey when he carried the history-making -message from the Governor of Virginia to the Commander of the French. - -Here he learned that a large force from Fort Duquesne was coming -against him. He hastily threw up fortifications and called in all his -forces, including several companies of Indians. A messenger was -hastily despatched to Captain Mackay at Fort Necessity, thirteen miles -away, and he came on with the swivel guns of the fort. A council of -war soon decided that they could not hold their own at this place, and -must retreat to more favorable grounds for a stand against the enemy. - -In the retreat that followed, the Virginians were greatly exasperated -by the North Carolinians. Mackay's men were "King's soldiers" and so -would not belittle themselves with the labors of the retreat. At Great -Meadows, in the center of which was Fort Necessity, the Virginians, -exhausted and resentful, refused to go any farther, and Washington -decided to make his stand there. - -They had left Gist's station none too soon. At dawn on the morning -following the retreat, Captain de Villiers with five hundred Frenchmen -and several hundred Indians surrounded the place. Finding that the -English had escaped, they were about to return to Fort Duquesne, when -a deserter from Washington's camp arrived. He told them that he had -escaped to keep from starving to death, and that the troops under -Washington were in mutiny over their desperate situation. - -De Villiers set out at once to capture Fort Necessity. - -Meanwhile, Washington set the Virginians at work strengthening the -defences of the fort. The Indians seeing such inferior equipment for -defense, and the discord among the troops, became afraid and deserted. - -On the morning of July 3, 1754, the French arrived at the edge of -Great Meadows and began firing from behind trees, at whatever they -could see. All day Washington kept his men close sheltered in the -trenches, keeping the enemy at rifle's distance in the edge of the -woods. At night a steady downpour of rain began, half drowning the men -in the trenches and ruining their ammunition. - -At eight o'clock the French demanded a parley looking to the surrender -of Fort Necessity. Washington at first refused, but their condition -was hopeless. The only person with them who understood any French was -Jacob Van Braam, the swordsmanship teacher of Washington at Mount -Vernon. - -Van Braam went back and forth in the drenching storm of the black -night, between the lines, with the negotiations. At last the French -sent in their ultimatum. Van Braam tried to translate it by the light -of a candle, under cover of a rude tent, through which the rain was -pouring upon candle, paper and persons. The terms of the surrender -were very humiliating and reflected severely on Washington's honor, -but according to Van Braam's translation the terms, though hard, were -acceptable. - -Washington signed the document and the next morning the bedraggled and -disheartened men marched out with the honors of war, though the -document of surrender, as afterward correctly translated, did not -leave a shred of honor for the defeated colonists. It was then -believed that Van Braam had purposely mistranslated it in the service -of the French, with whom he and Captain Stobo had to remain as -hostages. But subsequent information from the French exonerated Van -Braam from this charge, deciding that the mistranslation was from -ignorance and not intentional. - -The soldiers were put into quarters at Will's creek, and Washington -went on to make his report to the Governor. - -The Virginia legislature took up an investigation of the charges as to -Van Braam's treason and Captain Stobo's cowardice, as well as the -conduct of Washington, and the questions of the surrender. Thanks and -rewards were freely voted to the troops, but it was some time later -before evidence came in, establishing the patriotic character of Van -Braam and Stobo. - - -III. WASHINGTON ENTERING THE SCHOOL OF WAR - -The French were so elated with their victory, and the belief that the -English had been permanently expelled, that they withdrew most of -their troops from Fort Duquesne and abandoned all precautions against -surprise and attack. Before the end of a month Captain Stobo, who was -being held by them as hostage, smuggled a letter out by a friendly -Indian describing all the conditions and laying out a plan by which -the fort could easily be surprised and taken. He mentioned the boasts -of the French and said it was worse than death to hear them. He said -that he and his fellow prisoner, Van Braam, were ready at any time to -lay down their lives for their country. This letter, after much -wandering, reached the Governor of Pennsylvania and was by him sent to -the Governor of Virginia. - -Captain Stobo's plan was practical. As all kinds of Indians were being -allowed without question to come and go as they pleased at Fort -Duquesne, he advised that the fort be first occupied by friendly -Indians, who would hold it till it could be turned over to the -Colonial troops. - -Governor Dinwiddie wanted the honor himself and he planned several -ways of his own to capture the fort. These were rejected by -Washington. - -Now began unceasingly the wrangle and turmoil between the arrogance of -King's authority and the native independence of the colonist's ideals -and character. The colonists were not allowed to have any officer -above the rank of Captain, and Washington quit the service. - -Governor Sharpe, of Maryland, was appointed by the King as Commander -of all the forces used to recover the King's territory from the -French, and he wrote a letter to Washington, trying to enlist his -services. - -Washington's reply gives some insight into his independence and -maturity of mind at this time. - -"You make mention," he replied, "of my continuing in the service and -retaining my colonel's commission. The idea has filled me with -surprise; for, if you think me capable of holding a commission that -has neither rank nor emolument annexed to it, you must maintain a very -contemptible opinion of my weakness, and believe me more empty than -the commission itself." - -He added that it was no desire to quit the service which caused him to -reject the offer, but the call of honor and the advice of friends, -because his feelings were strong for the military life. - -Washington now returned to Mount Vernon, where he took up a quiet -agricultural life, though constantly in association and council with -his countrymen over the rapidly developing questions of war between -the colonies and the French. - -France was secretly pouring troops and means into Canada, and England -was as busy making ready in the equipment of the colonies, though the -two home governments were professing to be profoundly at peace. - -Alexandria, near by, merely a pleasurable horseback ride from Mount -Vernon, was the scene of gathering forces, now under command of an -experienced English General named Braddock. Ships of war and -transports were constantly passing up the Potomac past Mount Vernon. - -What a glorious array over Washington's ragged forces of the year -before! His military ardor was again kindled. The boom of cannon -outranked the moo of cattle in his meadows. The youth of twenty-three, -who had already tasted the glory as well as the defeat of battle, -could no longer endure the peaceful shades of Mount Vernon. He let it -be known that he would like to be attached as an independent volunteer -to General Braddock's staff. The offer was very decorously given and -accepted. He had neither "rank nor emolument" in this position, but it -was also neither subservient nor responsible. He was merely an -attache, a visitor as it were, in General Braddock's family of -advisers. - -His mother, hearing of this move to return to the army, hurried to -Mount Vernon to dissuade him. She wanted him to remain a country -gentleman attending to their property interests, which were hard for -her to manage. But the spirit of Washington seemed to feel a greater -destiny. His mind was made up and he joined the General whose name is -so familiar in the history classes of the public schools in the -United States. - -This conflict, so important in preparing the colonies for the struggle -toward independence and for the causes that made them seek -independence, became known in American history as the French and -Indian war. - -The story of it can nowhere be better told, nor more understandingly -read, for its significance to American independence, than in the -school histories. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE STRUGGLE FOR FORT DUQUESNE - - -I. THE SEPARATION BEGINNING BETWEEN THE COLONIES AND ENGLAND - -The arrogance and ignorance that so estranged the American colonies -and broke down their spirit of allegiance to Great Britain may be well -exhibited in an extract from the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. -The experiences of this eminent man in making a visit to General -Braddock came to pass through the following series of events. - -Sir John St. Clair was, at this time, in command at Fort Cumberland. -He ordered the colony of Pennsylvania to cut a road through to the -Ohio. The redoubtable commander seemed to think it was only a child's -job or a few days' work. As it was not done promptly, he got into a -rage, and, according to the pioneer woodsman, George Croghan, "stormed -like a lion rampant." He declared that "by fire and sword" he would -oblige the inhabitants to build that road. He said that if the French -defeated him it would be because of the slow Pennsylvanians, and, in -that case, he would declare them "a parcel of traitors," and the -colony should be treated as being in rebellion against the King. - -Likewise, as Braddock got ready to move, Sir John became furious at -obstacles which, not knowing till then that they existed, he -considered that they had no right to exist, and therefore that the -people were to be blamed. In this state of trouble between the people -and the English officers, who knew so little of the wilderness, -Benjamin Franklin, then forty-nine years of age, was called on to act -as peacemaker. He visited Braddock and was received and treated as a -worthy guest. This visit gave him a chance to see into the fatal -ignorance and arrogance of the English government, and to understand -the irreconciliable points of view between the colonies and England. - -"In conversation one day," says Franklin, "General Braddock gave me -some account of his intended progress. 'After taking Fort Duquesne,' -said he, 'I am to proceed to Niagara; and, having taken that, on to -Frontenac, if the season will allow time; and I suppose it will, for -Duquesne can hardly detain me above three or four days; and then I can -see nothing that can obstruct my march to Niagara.'" - -Franklin very tactfully and diplomatically ventured to describe the -long road that must be cut through forests all the way, the thin line -of troops that would have to be stretched out in the march along the -narrow way, and the ambush of Indians breaking out upon that thin, -long line at various places. - -"He smiled at my ignorance," says Franklin, "and replied, 'These -savages may indeed be a formidable enemy to raw American militia, but -upon the King's regular and disciplined troops, Sir, it is impossible -that they should make any impression.'" - -Franklin adds, "I was conscious of an impropriety in my disputing with -a military man in matters of his profession, and said no more." - -To defeat an enemy, it is very clear that one should know how the -enemy thinks and what he does. This was the schooling that George -Washington was now getting. The place he had on General Braddock's -staff was teaching him the tactics of English generals, against which -he was a few years later to wage a glorious war for an ideal of -American freedom and the establishment of a democratic form of -government in America. - -The disastrous defeat of Braddock's expedition and the death of -Braddock has always formed a stirring chapter in American school -histories, until in recent times it has been more and more lessened -in the length of description because of the increasing story of -American affairs. Washington's part in it is interesting largely -because of the preparation it gave him for the great work of leading -the colonial armies in the Revolutionary War. - - -II. LESSONS GATHERED FROM DEFEAT - -General Braddock, with the most stupid disdain of both natural -obstacles and native advice, especially regardless of Washington's -warning, pushed on to overwhelm the French and Indians, as he had -outlined to Franklin. His disastrous defeat and tragic death awoke the -colonists to their danger, but it seemed to have little effect on the -arrogance and ignorance of the supposed military protectors of the -colonies. - -Fugitives from the disastrous battle field spread through the colonies -and the news ran from mouth to mouth along the wilderness roads, -gathering in exaggeration as it went. To counteract this news at his -own home, Washington wrote to his mother as speedily as possible. -Referring to the battle, he said, "The Virginia troops showed a good -deal of bravery, and were nearly all killed. The dastardly behavior -of those they called regulars exposed all others, that were ordered to -their duty, to almost certain death; and, at last, in spite of all the -efforts of the officers to the contrary they ran, as sheep pursued by -dogs, and it was impossible to rally them." - -In writing to his half-brother, Augustine, he said, "As I have heard, -since my arrival at this place, a circumstantial account of my death -and dying speech, I take this early opportunity of contradicting the -first, and of assuring you that I have not composed the latter. But, -by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected -beyond all human probability, or expectation; for I had four bullets -through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, -though death was levelling my companions on every side of me!" - -The defeat of Braddock, we may safely set down as one of the most -extensive liberating forces in the new world. It struck out of the -minds of the colonists the respect and fear which held them captive to -the mastery of hands from across the sea. The disaster was not only a -rout and a slaughter but it was at last revealed as a military -disgrace and an inexcusable blunder. - -The commander of Fort Duquesne had only a handful of men. He was fully -decided on either abandoning the fort at once, or in surrendering -on the best terms he could get, when Captain de Beaujeu obtained leave -to take two hundred and eighteen French soldiers and six hundred and -thirty Indians, eight hundred and thirty-five in all, for the purpose -of delaying the British advance by ambush. These forest rangers met -Braddock's twelve hundred select soldiers, and threw them back in such -a panic that, when the commander, Dunbar, reached Fort Cumberland, -where there were fifteen hundred more seasoned troops, no stand was -made, but the flight was continued on to Philadelphia. - -[Illustration: Washington in Command.] - -Washington's intimate associate, Dr. Hugh Mercer, was so severely -wounded in the shoulder that he could not keep up with the fugitives. -He hid in a fallen tree and witnessed the terrible scenes of the -battlefield after the soldiers had fled. The wounded were tortured, -scalped and all were stripped of everything the Indians could use. -Then the wild horde left, yelling through the woods, waving aloft the -scalps. The Indians were bedecked with glittering uniforms, and loaded -with booty. - -Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography that "this whole -transaction gave us the first suspicion that our exalted ideas of the -powers of British regular troops had not been well founded." - -What Washington thought about it all is well summed up and very -tersely expressed in a letter to his half-brother Augustine. It shows -us what all this had done for the loyal and patriotic mind of -Washington. It reveals how his mind, like that of other colonists, was -being prepared for the event, that led to a break with the -home-country England. - -In that very expressive letter he says, "I was employed to go a -journey in Winter, when I believe few or none would have undertaken -it, and what did I get by it?--my expenses home! I was then appointed, -with trifling pay, to conduct a handful of men to the Ohio. What did I -get by that? Why, after putting myself to a considerable expense in -equipping and providing necessaries for the campaign, I went out, was -soundly beaten and lost all! Came in and had my commission taken from -me; or, in other words, my command reduced, under pretense of an order -from home (England). I then went out a volunteer with General -Braddock, and lost all my horses, and many other things. But, this -being a voluntary act, I ought not to have mentioned it; nor should I -have done so, were it not to show that I have been on the losing order -ever since I entered the service, which is now nearly two years." - -This historical summary was the experience in divers ways of very many -colonists, but they did not have any; suggestion of how that bitter -experience was really to become a great blessing to the cause of -liberty throughout the earth. - - -III. SOME PERSONAL INTERESTS AT HOME - -Here and there we catch glimpses of Washington showing that he was not -the sculptured majesty that was pictured for his youth by writers in -the early decades of the nineteenth century. We prefer to think of him -as sympathetic, gallant, and enjoying the familiar courtesies of -common life. That Washington was not without social friendship is -shown in a note which he received from three young ladies written him -from Belvoir on his return from the French and Indian war. It speaks -for itself: - - "Dear Sir: - - "After thanking heaven for your safe return, I must accuse you - of great unkindness in refusing us the pleasure of seeing you - this evening. If you will not come to us tomorrow morning very - early, we shall be at Mount Vernon. - - "SALLIE FAIRFAX. - ANN SPEARING. - ELIZABETH DENT." - -There is no record to complete the picture of these young ladies' -interest in Washington, but if they could have such a view of his -sociability with such propriety, we may be sure that he was not above -the common human sympathies that fill the hard lines of life. - -Washington's connection with the army had ceased at the death of -Braddock, but he was still adjutant-general of the northern division -of the Province. Braddock's defeat had thoroughly frightened the -colonists, and panic-stricken rumors surged around that French and -Indians were about to make incursions here and there and everywhere. -The slow-going legislative bodies suddenly woke up and voted the -organization of ample supplies and men. An undignified scramble took -place for favorites to be given high commands. Washington was urged by -his friends to be a candidate, but he refused. As to this matter he -wrote, "If the command should be offered me, the case will then be -altered, as I should be at liberty to make such objections as reason, -and my small experience, have pointed out." - -In the midst of this turmoil he received a letter from his mother -begging him not to go back into the war but to return to his home-life -and become a business man. His reply to her is quite significant of -the character of Washington: - - "Honored Madam: - - "If it is in my power to avoid going to the Ohio again, I - shall; but if the command is pressed upon me by the general - voice of the country, and offered upon such terms as can not - be objected against, it would reflect dishonor upon me to - refuse it; and that, I am sure, must, and ought to give you - greater uneasiness than my going in an honorable command. Upon - no other terms will I accept it. At present, I have no - proposals made to me, nor have I any advice of such an - intention, except from private hands." - -But, it so happened that on the same day, after this letter had been -sent away, he received the news that he had been appointed -commander-in-chief of all the forces of Virginia, and upon the terms -he had outlined to his friends. Besides, his closest friends were -appointed officers next in command to him. - -This was a triumph over Governor Dinwiddie, who had a special favorite -whom he had pressed hard for the appointment. It was also made for a -man who had risen to that esteem among his countrymen, not through -victories but through defeats, not through success but through -failure. And, it must be remembered, that Washington was not yet -twenty-four years old. But the general esteem in which he was held -may be gathered from a statement made in a sermon at the time of his -appointment, by the Rev. Samuel Davis. It might have been mere -enthusiasm, but, in the light of such great subsequent events, it -looked like prophecy. - -He turned from his religious theme to the needs of the colonies, and -then spoke of "that heroic youth, Colonel George Washington, whom I -can not but hope Providence has hitherto preserved in so signal a -manner for some important service to his country." - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE FATE OF THE OHIO VALLEY - - -I. FRONTIER FEARS AND PANICS - -There was an abundance of responsibility at once for Washington in his -new official position. All the frontiers were being attacked by -Indians urged on by the French. Washington tried to get his troops -together to meet the Indians at the outposts, but he was unable at the -main post to muster more than twenty-five of the militia. The others -declared that if they had to die they preferred to die with their -women and children. - -In his first report to the Governor, he wrote, "No orders are obeyed, -but such as a party of soldiers or my own drawn sword enforces. -Without this, not a single horse, for the most earnest occasion, can -be had,--to such a pitch has the insolence of these people arrived, by -having every point hitherto submitted to them. However, I have given -up none, where His Majesty's service requires the contrary, and where -my proceedings are justified by my instructions; nor will I, unless -they execute what they threaten,--that is, to blow out our brains." - -This was naturally at the period of Washington's greatest loyalty to -his Sovereign, and also shows that some of Braddock's notions of -military authority still lingered with him. Perhaps it is better to -say that he recognized the military necessity for obedient discipline -in a common purpose and result, or there could be no successful army. - -We may easily guess that the insolence to which he refers was the -frontiersman's disrespect for military authority and his growing -belief in his own right to choose the manner of his service or his -death. These men had been as badly treated by the Braddock style of -authority as Washington had been, and most of his troubles doubtless -arose from their memory of insolence in the officers. - -As an example of the panic and confusion of the times, while -Washington was at Winchester endeavoring to get his troops organized, -a man came running into town, one Sunday afternoon, saying in -breathless terror that a horde of Indians was only twelve miles off, -killing and burning everything they came to. Washington remained up -all night preparing for the attack. At about dawn on Monday morning, -another man arrived, declaring that a host of Indians was now within -four miles of the town. He had himself heard the guns of the Indians -and the shrieks of the victims. The scouts sent out by Washington had -not yet returned, and the terror-stricken people at once guessed that -they had been ambushed and killed. - -All that Washington could get together equipped to meet the Indian -drive was only forty men. At the head of these he rode forth to the -scene of massacre and carnage. All that they ever found was three -drunken troopers who had been yelling in their carousal on the way to -town and firing off their pistols. - -Washington arrested them and brought them in as trophies of the Indian -war. - -"These circumstances," Washington wrote in his report, "show what a -panic prevails among the people; how much they are all alarmed at the -most usual customary crimes; and yet how impossible it is to get them -to act in any respect for their common safety." - -A Captain arriving at that time with recruits from Alexandria, -reported that, in coming across the Blue Ridge, he had met a crowd of -people hastening away in terror, whom he could not stop. They all told -him that the Indians had overwhelmed the country and that Winchester -had been sacked and burned. - -Washington saw that nothing but confusion and cross purposes could -prevail under the conditions as they then existed. Accordingly, he set -about to reform the methods and the laws. Under his management, order -at last came out of chaos. He also learned the uses of military show -to give confidence and he ordered rather gorgeous uniforms to be sent -him from England. This was probably necessary in order also to retain -the respect of the young English officers for whom it was often true -that the clothes made the man. - - -II. POLITICAL INTRIGUE AND OFFICIAL CONFUSION - -Early in 1756, in order to get the necessary co-operation among the -colonies, to settle the bitter quarrels as to rank among officers, and -to give the Virginia colony a better idea of the plan for the war, -Washington decided to visit General Shirley, at Boston. General -Shirley had succeeded General Braddock as commander-in-chief of all -the colonies. - -Washington, with his aides in brilliant uniform, taken care of by a -retinue of colored servants in finest livery, all riding in a pompous -cavalcade, representing the style of aristocratic Southern gentlemen, -made a profound social sensation all along the line of their travel, -especially in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. After ten days' -conference in Boston, his mission being successful, he returned to -Virginia as he had come. - -On Washington's return to his headquarters at Winchester, he found the -people in more desperate terror than ever, and this time with good -reason. The French and Indians were indeed ravaging the country within -twenty miles. Any hour the enemy might sweep down upon the wretched -town and destroy the people. If Washington could not save them they -were indeed lost. It is said that the women surrounded him with -terror-stricken cries, holding up their children, and imploring him to -save them from the savages. - -The feelings of the young commander may be appreciated from the letter -he wrote to Governor Dinwiddie. - -"I am too little acquainted with pathetic language," he said, "to -attempt a description of these people's distresses. But what can I do? -I see their situation; I know their danger, and participate in their -sufferings, without having it in my power to give them further relief -than uncertain promises. The supplicating tears of the women, and the -moving petitions of the men, melt me into such deadly sorrow, that I -solemnly declare, if I know my own mind, I could offer myself a -willing sacrifice to the butchering enemy, provided that would -contribute to the people's ease." - -But the Virginia newspapers very freely cast the blame for the -Indian's success on the military management. Washington was deeply -stung with these attacks and he declared that he would resign at once, -if it were not for the immediate dangers pressing so hard upon them. -Then his friends began writing him encouraging letters and he was -strengthened to see the issues through to some end. - -"The country knows her danger," said one of the Virginia legislators, -"but such is her parsimony that she is willing to wait for the rains -to wet the powder, and the rats to eat the bowstrings of the enemy, -rather than attempt to drive her foes from her frontiers." - -But gradually through more blundering and still more confusion of -purpose, after the French had begun to lose heavily in the North, a -course of concerted action was once more organized against Fort -Duquesne, as the center of supplies for the French and Indians in -their frontier warfare. Scouts continually brought in reports that -Fort Duquesne had become greatly weakened and it was believed by all -that this place should now be taken to make good the success on the -northern frontier. - -At length such an expedition was on the way, and Washington wrote to -the Commander, General Forbes, to be allowed to join the expedition -with his command. This request was accepted, and, on July 2, 1758, -Washington arrived at Fort Cumberland. - - -III. "A MATTER OF GREAT ADMIRATION" - -War was at hand, but getting into action to accomplish results was -distractingly slow. No word arrived as to what they were to do. They -remained at Fort Cumberland to the disgust of Washington, and to the -increased dispiriting, sickly condition of his men, until September. -Then they went forward under Colonel Boquet to a point called Loyal -Hannon, fifty miles from Fort Duquesne. Here they stopped, and, -against Washington's earnest remonstrance, Colonel Boquet detached -eight hundred men from his force of two thousand, and sent them -forward to reconnoiter about Fort Duquesne, under command of Major -Grant. They were not to engage the enemy but were to return and -report. - -However, Major Grant believed they were easily able to whip anything -that might be in or about Fort Duquesne. He could not open an attack -on them according to orders, but if he could induce them to attack -him, it would give him a chance for a fight. Accordingly, he made no -attempt to conceal his approach to the fort. He arrived near the place -in the night and sent some men forward who set fire to a log house -near the walls of the fort. If this was not enough warning to the -enemy, or of a dare to come out and fight, he ordered the drums to -beat the reveille around the camp in the morning. After that he lined -up his troops in battle array, as did Braddock before him, and sent up -some men near the fort, to draw plans of that structure in full view -of the enemy. - -There was not a shot fired from the fort and no sound could be heard -within its walls. Not a soldier or an Indian could be seen. - -The officers became sure that nothing more was needed but to send -forward the order for surrender. The soldiers were allowed to ground -their arms and be at ease. Suddenly the woods around them blazed with -the discharge of rifles. The dreaded warwhoop rang in their ears. The -tomahawk and scalping knife was in their midst. A second Braddock's -defeat had begun. A panic-stricken rout began. Major Grant saved his -life by surrendering to a French officer, but most of his men were -dead and the rest scattered like wild animals. - -Back of them a short distance was Captain Bullitt, who had been left -with fifty men to care for the army stores. He rallied together some -of the fugitives and they made a stand behind the baggage and wagons. -The Indians rushed forward and were momentarily checked by the sudden -fire of the ambushed men. Then, with the on-coming force of Indians -from back of the ones stopped, the rush came on. - -Then Captain Bullitt held up a signal for surrender and the firing -ceased. The besieged men all came forward. When within eight yards of -the Indians waiting to receive their guns, Captain Bullitt gave the -order to fire, the guns having all been loaded for that purpose. From -this destructive volley at close range, the Indians fled in confusion, -and before they could rally, Captain Bullitt got his men and wagons -together, so protected as to make good their retreat. - -General Forbes commended Captain Bullitt's method of saving his troops -as "a matter of great admiration," and rewarded him with a Major's -commission. There has been much discussion as to whether such methods -made the Indians merciless or whether the merciless Indian required -such methods. The problem is doubtless as unprofitable now as it is -unanswerable, from any partisan point of view. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE BEGINNING SIGNS OF A GREAT REVOLUTION - - -I. MILITARY VICTORY AND A HAPPY MARRIAGE - -Washington now had charge of the advance on Fort Duquesne. He left -Loyal Hannon over the road Major Grant had taken. The whole fifty -miles were strewn with the bones of oxen, horses and men. What -remained of the bodies of their comrades, they buried. Then they -arrived at the scene of Braddock's defeat, where the same duty was -done for the dead, a sad reminder of the folly of arrogance and -ambition in commanders. - -They had expected to have a hard fight for the capture of Fort -Duquesne. But the success of the English in Canada, and the fall of -Fort Frontenac had left the French at Fort Duquesne without any chance -for supplies or reinforcements. The fort was already at the point of -being abandoned from necessity. Accordingly, the commander waited -until the English were within a day's march of him, when he withdrew -his force of five hundred men, destroyed what he could not take away, -set fire to all that would burn, embarked at night in their long, -light batteaux, by the flames of their fort, and floated down the -Ohio, giving up their hopeless fight for the possession of the Ohio -Valley. - -On the morning of November 5, 1758, Washington with his advanced guard -marched in and hoisted the British flag over the ruins. The enemy was -gone. The Indians having lost the support of their French friends -withdrew into the depths of the forest. - -Washington rebuilt the place, garrisoned it with two hundred men and -named it Fort Pitt in honor of the illustrious British minister, -William Pitt. - -Washington's military schooling, if we may so term it, in the light of -great events to follow, was now ended. He had been engaged for -marriage several months with Mrs. Martha Custis, a widow of the -noblest womanly character, and considerable wealth. The marriage was -accordingly celebrated January 6, 1759, the month before he was -twenty-seven years of age. He now settled down, away from war, into -the life of a business man, as his mother, herself a business woman, -had so fondly desired. - -The objects for which the French and Indian war had begun were now -achieved for the colonists. But England was carrying the war further, -aiming at nothing less than the conquest of Canada. The first gun had -been fired at Washington at the time he was beaten in the race with -the French for the forks of the Ohio. The last gun was fired at Quebec -when all Canada became a possession seized by might of the British -arms. - -The French were greatly grieved at their loss, but their great -statesmen prophesied that it was a fatal victory for the English -mastery of North America. - -The Duke de Choiseul said that it would awaken the colonies to their -liberty and their power. It would bring the ideals of the wilderness -in sharp contrast with the imperialism of England. "They will no -longer need her protection," said he, "she will call on them to -contribute toward supporting the burdens they have helped bring on -her, and they will answer by striking off their dependence." - -How true this was as a prophecy, the school histories all show to -every pupil of the schools, who will try to get a view of the progress -and development of historical events. Fact will then be stranger than -fiction, and history will be a more romantic story, richer in the -lessons of life, than any novel. - - -II. LIFE FULFILLED AS A VIRGINIA COUNTRY GENTLEMAN - -Washington, after his marriage, at the close of the French and Indian -war, became, as his mother had so long desired him to be, a country -gentleman, not only with a large land-ownership, but also dignified -with a seat in the legislative assembly of Virginia. He was rich, -happily married and a hero! What more was to be desired in the heart -of man! - -On the day when Washington took his seat in the House of Burgesses, -the speaker of the assembly arose and eloquently presented the thanks -of the colony for the distinguished military services rendered by -their fellow-member to his country, and especially to the welfare of -Virginia. - -Washington arose at the conclusion of the eulogy to express his -appreciation for what had been spoken in his honor. - -It is said that he "blushed--stammered--trembled, and could not utter -a word." - -"Sit down, Mr. Washington," said the speaker, "your modesty equals -your valor, and that surpasses the power of any language I possess." - -During the session of the Virginia legislature, Washington lived at -the White House, as was called the home of his bride, and which was -situated on her estate, near Williamsburg. That home has since been -immortalized as the name of the Home of the Presidents of the United -States. - -Mrs. Martha Custis was one of the wealthiest women in the English -colonies when she married George Washington. At her request, the -General Court appointed Washington the guardian of her boy of six and -her girl of four, and the manager of all her property. - -His friends had long wanted him to visit England, believing, -doubtless, from special information, that great honors awaited him -there. No doubt there was in easy reach the usually much-coveted -political preferment, such as might have made him beholden to the King -through all his future career. But we are perhaps entitled to believe -that Washington's views of those honors were not qualified by the -grateful respect that was necessary. An American of his honor and -character probably cherished the good will of his countrymen as -superior to any royal condescension. - -To these suggestions for a visit to England, he returned a -characteristic reply, "I am now, I believe, fixed in this seat, with -an agreeable partner for life, and I hope to find more happiness in -retirement than I ever experienced in the wide and bustling world." - -At the end of the session of the Virginia legislature, Washington and -his family left the "White House" and made their home at Mount Vernon. -Here he fully believed he was settled in a life of happiness and -peace. It was the home of his childhood which he had spent with his -beloved mother and his half-brother Lawrence. - -This home on the beautiful highlands of the Potomac was indeed the -center of a little empire. It was a system of cultured, wealthy -people, graded on down to the colored servants, in which everything -needed for luxury, pleasure or enterprise was made and ready on the -grounds. - -The home life of the Washington family is a revelation of the -aristocratic democracy of the times. Many a story is told showing the -wilderness culture and luxury mingled with the common interests of the -lowly life. - -The treaty of peace, now including all affairs in the colonies, which -was signed in 1763, between England and France, was greeted as a happy -ending of all border troubles for the colonies. But, unfortunately, it -seemed to let loose the savagery of the Indians, whose tribes were now -going to pieces before the advancing English Settlements. The right to -the wilderness was a hand-to-hand conflict, in which the pioneer -frontiersmen won the great victory for modern civilization. - - -III. THE MOMENTOUS STRUGGLE BETWEEN MIGHT AND RIGHT - -The border warfare continued as ferociously as ever before. -Washington, being out of military life, with heavy business -responsibilities upon him, did not become involved in these conflicts. - -Meanwhile, the prediction of the Duke de Choiseul that the colonies -would rapidly see they had no need of England, and would as rapidly -cease to fear its military power, was coming true. Irritation followed -fast upon irritation, and arrogance bred resentment and retaliation so -rapidly that it requires many a volume to tell it all. The colonists -had to fight the battles of the border warfare, pay the costs, support -the arrogant officers sent across the water, and yet find themselves -regarded as inferiors fit only as producers for a land across the sea. -But it should be understood from the beginning that history deals -mainly with the makers of history who have been almost exclusively -generals and kings. The commoners, except as their minds are -state-made, have no quarrel with the commoners of other countries. - -The first outbreak came against taxes placed on personal necessities -in which the people had no rights or voice. The resentment was -crystallized into an outcry against "taxation without representation." -The bitter feeling found voice in a daring defiance uttered by Patrick -Henry. He brought forward a resolution in the Virginia House of -Burgesses, declaring that the General Assembly of Virginia had the -exclusive right and power to lay taxes upon the people of Virginia, -and that whoever claimed to the contrary was an enemy of the colony. -With that view the commoners of England were in general sympathy, -including many of the most influential men in that country. But the -British court was foreign, that is, continental. History tells us that -King George the First, grandfather of George the Third, could speak -only his native German, and held in profound contempt the English -people. - -The Speaker of the House tried to have Patrick Henry's resolution -modified as being too strong, but, in his speech for the resolution, -the young orator, after a brilliant address, concluded with the -memorable and history-making words, "Caesar had his Brutus; Charles his -Cromwell; and George the Third,--(here cries of 'Treason! Treason!' -was heard) may profit by their example. Sir, if this be -treason----(here he bowed to the Speaker)--make the most of it!" - -The idea of liberty to make their own laws had now sprung forth, and -it was taken up with immense enthusiasm throughout the colonies. - -The British Parliament seemed to look upon the colonies as Braddock -had done upon the colonial soldiers,--they were only half-civilized -inferiors, and suitable only for menial service or to contribute -profit to the mother country. Accordingly, month by month and year by -year, the interference and resentment on both sides increased, by the -passage of obnoxious laws on one side, and resistance to their -enforcement on the other side. - -All this time, Washington was in the midst of the turmoil, not as a -leader but more as a peacemaker, though always in full sympathy with -the fast growing American idea. As we take a swift view of those -times, we are apt to suppose that the change of mind, uniting the -colonies in opposition to Great Britain, came suddenly and -unanimously, but, as in all places and situations, where there is -freedom of thinking, the general conviction came slowly, especially -the conviction to use force in the defense of the rights of of man as -learned in the hard freedom of the wilderness. What we might call the -high-water mark of mind, in favor of force for maintaining colonial -liberty, was that of Patrick Henry, whose slogan was "Give me liberty -or give me death." - -On the other hand, there were many, from the aristocratic mansion -to the log cabin in the forest, who looked upon force against the -mother country as a horror and a crime. Between these extremes, -Washington labored for patience among the colonists and a change of -policy among the law-makers of Great Britain. In writing to his wife's -uncle, an influential man in London, he said, "The Stamp Act engrosses -the conversation of the speculative part of the colonists, who look -upon this unconstitutional method of taxation as a direful attack upon -their liberties, and loudly exclaim against the violation." - -[Illustration: Washington Surrendering His Commission.] - -In the New England colonies, the people were far more fierce in their -resentment toward the requirement that they must buy stamps to make -legal almost every transaction. This method of getting money for the -British government was so offensive to Boston that a publicly -encouraged mob hanged the stamp distributor in effigy, the windows of -his house were broken, and the building to be used as his office was -broken to pieces, and the fragments burned in the streets. The -officers of the town, trying to disperse the crowd, were driven away -with stones. The next morning the stamp distributor renounced his -office in the public square and no one could be found willing to take -his place. - -Down in Virginia, the stamp distributor did not try to fulfill his -office, but came on to Williamsburg and amidst much applause publicly -denounced the Stamp Act and vacated the office. - -On the first of November, 1765, when the act was to become law and go -into operation, there was tolling of bells throughout New England. -Ships in the harbors displayed their flags at half-mast. Shops were -shut, business was suspended, and every form of defiance they could -invent was displayed all day and that night. - -At New York, the poster announcing the law was stuck on a pole, under -a death's head, from which floated a banner bearing the inscription, -"The folly of England and ruin of America." The lieutenant-governor -with all his official household went into the fort and surrounded -himself with marines from a ship of war. Then the mob went to his -stables, brought out his carriage, put his effigy into it, dragged it -up and down the street till they were tired, and then hung his effigy -on a gallows. That evening they took the effigy down, put it again -into the carriage, this time by the side of an image of the devil, had -a howling torch-light procession to Bowling Green, and there, under -the guns of the fort, burned the carriage with the effigies in it. So -bitter and so general was the disapproval that no one attempted to -enforce the law. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -SOWING THE WIND AND REAPING THE WHIRLWIND - - -I. MOUNT VERNON AT FIRST IN A ZONE OF CALM - -In all this storm, Washington remained engrossed in his extensive -business affairs. It can not be inferred that this meant any -indifference on his part. It must be remembered that by nature he was -of a retiring disposition and never put himself forward as a leader in -any agitation. He was one who believed in regularity and discipline. -He could not destroy except as a process of building. His fighting -spirit was always in accomplishing a definite design for foreseen -ends. It is thus always seen that the man who is an agitator and a -leader of agitation, however heroic and noble he may be in the cause -of right, is never the calm, judicial mind necessary to construct -material and form forces into a constitutional government. The mind of -man seems first to require a forerunner. There was the determined, -uncompromising John the Baptist for the gentle and peace-loving -Christ, and there were numerous colonial Patrick Henrys for -Washington, even as there were Lovejoys, Garrisons and John Browns for -Lincoln. Thus it appears, without irreverence, that agitation is as -essential to education as legislation is to government. - -Washington's large interests in trade with England, and his many -Old-England friends and connections, would have turned any man, who -would serve his own personal profit, into partisanship for Great -Britain. There is no doubt that the inducements to favor the mother -country were large, and the promise of loss for doing otherwise was -very heavy and convincing. But he had seen much of English arrogance -and tyranny. He had also seen much of American freedom and human -rights. There was probably never any debate in his mind as to which -meant the most to him in personal duty or as an American. He had a -deeper view of humanity than business interests. But his hour had not -yet struck. The time had not yet come when the colonies needed -Washington. - -Something of great significance took place in 1766. Benjamin Franklin -was called before the House of Commons and questioned concerning the -Stamp Act. - -"What," they asked him, according to the Parliamentary Register of -that year, "was the temper of America towards Great Britain, before -the year 1763?" - -"The best in the world," was his reply. "They submitted willingly to -the government of the crown, and paid, in their courts, obedience to -the acts of Parliament. They were governed at the expense of only a -little pen, ink and paper. They were led by a thread. They had not -only respect, but an affection for Great Britain, for its laws, its -customs, and manners, and even a fondness for its fashions, that -greatly increased the commerce. Natives of Great Britain were always -treated with particular regard; to be an Old-England man was, of -itself, a character of some respect, and gave a kind of rank among -us." - -"And what is that temper now?" - -"Oh! it is very much altered." - -"If the act is not repealed, what do you think will be the -consequences?" - -"A total loss of the respect and affection the people of America bear -to this country, and of all the commerce that depends upon that -respect and affection." - -"Do you think the people of America would submit to pay the stamp duty -if it was moderated?" - -"No, never," Franklin replied, "unless compelled by force of arms." - - -II. GIVING THE APPEARANCE AND KEEPING THE SUBSTANCE - -On March 18, 1766, the obnoxious Stamp Act was repealed, but the -repeal contained a clause that took all the merit out of the repeal, -by maintaining the principle that the King, with the consent of -Parliament, had the authority and power to "bind the colonies, and the -people of America, in all cases whatsoever." - -If the colonies consented to this repeal with its clause, they would -be affirming the very thing they were opposing in the Stamp Act. Such -"sharp practice" could not win. It was not the stamps they were -opposing alone, nor the imposing of taxes. They repudiated the idea -and the motive of the right to tax them without their consent, one of -the ways of which was to make them buy stamps to legalize any of their -business transactions. This explicitly proves that the Revolutionary -War was not "an economic war," as some theorists endeavor to prove, -but a war of principle, liberty and justice, as it claimed to be. - -The King was now asserting a right over the colonies which he did not -have anywhere in his own country. This was his will, his "divine -right," as it were. If he tried to establish and enforce that will and -the colonies endeavored to establish and enforce their will against -that will, then it would be, as had so often happened before in -English history, a war of the King against the People. So it is often -described in history as "the King's war" against the colonies. To such -an extent did the people refuse to fight it that the Hanoverian King -had to hire Hessian mercenaries. - -We have long since learned that it was not the people of England -against the people of America, but the war of a foreign-minded King to -retain a personal mastery over a branch of the English people, a right -lost forever among English-speaking people through the successful -revolt of the American Colonies in the name of American liberty. - -The King through Parliament hastened to verify his right to tax the -Colonies by various taxes against single articles. This was especially -resented at Boston where the taxes were most oppressive. The General -Court of Massachusetts became a hot-bed of agitation against those -taxes. The excitement of every day increased. Violent collisions were -of frequent occurrence between the authorities and the people. At -last, it became public that two regiments were held at Halifax ready -to be sent to Boston to quell the remonstrances there. The colonists -looked upon these signs of coercion as nothing less than despotism. -The two regiments soon arrived with seven war vessels. The commander -reported that he was sure these "spirited measures" would soon quell -all disturbances and restore order. - -But the colonists now had a greater grievance. They held town meetings -and resolved that the King had no right to send troops into the -colonies without their consent. They claimed that the charters of all -the colonies were now broken by this act of the King in sending troops -into their midst without their consent. It was many times worse than -taxation without representation. It was a violation of their -allegiance to Great Britain. - -The Boston selectmen refused to have anything to do with the soldiers. -The council would not recognize that they had any rights in the town. -Accordingly, the commander quartered them in the State-House and in -Faneuil Hall. The public was enraged at the cannon planted around -these buildings and against the sentinels that challenged the rights -of free citizens to come and go. Besides, their religious ideas were -equally outraged by the fife and drum on Sunday, with the oaths and -loud commands of officers, where heretofore all had been peace and -quiet. - -Virginia was far away from these stirring scenes and news went slowly. -However, Washington recognized the grave significance of it all. A -letter written April 5, 1769, by him to his friend George Mason, -shows what he thought. - -"At a time," he wrote, "when our lordly masters in Great Britain will -be satisfied with nothing less than the deprivation of American -freedom, it seems highly necessary that something should be done to -avert the stroke, and maintain the liberty which we have derived from -our ancestors." - -He continued by discussing what was the best way to do this necessary -thing. He advised that the use of arms should be the last resource and -resort. His moral view is expressed farther on in the letter where he -says, as he discusses the effect on the colonists in the war cutting -off their trade, "There will be a difficulty attending it everywhere -from clashing interests, and selfish, designing men, ever attentive to -their own gain, and watchful of every turn that can assist their -lucrative views." - -This shows us that very far from all of the revolutionary people could -be called heroes of principle and entitled to be regarded as the -founders of American freedom. Democracy had the usual percentage of -sordid parasites, as well as its many noble martyrs and heroic -champions. - -Still farther on in the same letter, he says, "I can see but one class -of people, the merchants excepted, who will not, or ought not, to wish -well to the scheme,--namely, they who live genteely and hospitably on -clear estates. Such as these, were they not to consider the valuable -object in view, and the good of others, might think it hard to be -curtailed in their living and enjoyments." - -Now it must be taken into consideration that Washington not only -belonged to the genteel freeholders to which he refers, but he was -also one of the largest merchants who would lose heavily in any -stoppage of trade with Great Britain. But we have clearly seen through -all his military and public service, that principle, and not gain or -comfort, was the vital motive of his conduct and his life. - - -III. "SOFT WORDS BUTTER NO PARSNIPS" - -For several reasons, the Southern colonies fared much better than the -Northern colonies, and were, therefore, not stirred to such feelings -of violent opposition. The spirit of the Puritans, their severe -economy, rigid form of piety, and their hatred of Kings, animated the -Northern people in private and in public. Their ancestors had been -refugees from the tyranny of English Kings, and there was not that -respect for England which would cause them to be patient under bad -treatment. Besides that, they had seen most of the arrogance and -insolence of the English officers during the French and Indian wars, -and had suffered longest from the presence of war. The officers of the -King came to the Northern colonies with the idea that nothing would -serve the purpose but severity and coertion. On the contrary, the -people of the Southern colonies were believed at the King's court to -be vain and luxurious. They were represented as being easily pleased -by showy parade. Accordingly, a court favorite, Lord Botetourt, was -chosen to win the admiration of Virginia. The descendants of the -Puritans were to be overawed into subjection by military force, the -Cavaliers of Virginia were to be overawed into compliance by -aristocratic splendor. - -Lord Botetourt was supplied with a dazzling equipment. He arrived in -Virginia with glittering pomp and circumstance. On the opening of the -Virginia legislature, he arranged a brilliant procession, in which he -was conspicuous in gorgeous uniform, riding in a state-coach drawn by -six milk-white horses. He opened the session of the Virginia -legislature as if it were a royal parliament and he were the King. -Then the ostentatious parade returned him to the governor's mansion. - -But to the amazement of Lord Botetourt, this grand display did not -work. The House of Burgesses drafted some drastic demands to be sent -to the British King. At noon of the day after these resolutions were -passed, the governor in dismay went in haste to the Capitol, and -appeared before the assembly. - -"Mr. Speaker, and gentlemen of the House of Burgesses," he cried, "I -have heard of your resolves, and auger ill of their effects. You have -made it my duty to dissolve you, and you are dissolved accordingly." - -But his brain-storm had only the effect to cause them to be called to -order by their Speaker, Paton Randolph, in another house. Washington -brought forward the draft of an association pledged not to buy -anything from Great Britain on which there was a tax. This could not -be enacted into a law, because they were no longer a legislative body, -but, as a voluntary pledge, it was just as effective. - -But, wonderful to relate, Lord Botetourt appeared to have a better -ordered intelligence than most of the governors sent over from -England. He saw at once the folly of his first ideas about the -Southern colonies, and he set about at once to pacify them in more -reasonable ways. He put away his royal show, actually addressed -himself to the grievances of the people, became a strong opponent to -the taxes, did what he could to have them repealed, and assured the -Virginians that this would be speedily done. The people soon had full -confidence in him, and the scenes of excitement so common in the -Northern colonies were unknown in Virginia. - -But there was one thing after another of repression and retaliation in -the Northern colonies. Such was the opposition in the colonies and the -unpopularity of it all among the ruling classes in England, that the -King's Manager, the Duke of Grafton, resigned and a favorite of the -King, Lord North, took his place, as chief councillor in England. Now, -the King gave up the fight for the taxes, but he still held to his -right to tax the people as something that was none of their business. -The tax was taken off of everything except tea. This one tax was kept -up, though a very light one, merely as the King said, "to maintain the -parliamentary right of taxation." Even the duty was taken off of tea, -so that it was sold in America ninepence cheaper a pound than it could -be bought in England. - -"Now," said the King, "if the colonists object to this, it proves that -they are determined to rebel against our government." - -He could not conceive of such a thing as a principle against which -they were opposed, and many a mind since his has been as blind to -principle and as full-eyed toward the question of profit and loss. It -is this indescribable thing that usually divides people on public -affairs. It likewise defends the Makers of America against the -historical interpretation that their revolution was for any such -sordid origins as "economic necessity." - -There was strong opposition in parliament, not only against all such -taxation but also against asserting the right of such taxation. Lord -North, however, reflecting the will of King George, said, "The -properest time to exert our right of taxation is when the right is -refused." - -So it is with all set wills. The colonists thought the same thing from -an opposite point of view. It was an irresistible body meeting an -immovable body. Something had to break. - -Lord North declared that "a total repeal can not be thought of, till -America is prostrate at our feet." That is, the master determines not -to hear the complaint of the slave until the slave's will is broken at -his owner's feet. The wilderness-made minds with their self-made -freedom were not built that way. The King's mind-evil could not be met -by resistence, but, as it emerged into colonial wrongs, the only way -to defeat them and save the freedom of moral law was through -revolutionary war. The evil mind using coertion to enforce its -slave-making wrongs went out of the mental regions of non-resistence -into the physical regions of wrongs where nothing but force can save. - -Lord North's promise could have nothing to do with the case. The -colonists had no idea of taking such a position as being prostrate at -the feet of the King. They had felt the freedom that is born of the -wilderness and that freedom was life. It was American and it remains -the hope of the world. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -ANTAGONISMS AND HOSTILITIES - - -I. BLAZING THE WAY TO WAR - -Nothing illustrates better the conditions of mind in the long, bitter -turmoil, than an incident, infuriating the people of Boston, which -happened March 5, 1770. A number of young men and boys, probably fifty -or sixty of them, gathered on Boston Common to throw snowballs. A -company of militia being near, offered too tempting an object, and -they began to pelt the soldiers. The claim was that some of the -snowballs contained rocks, though no one was seriously injured. The -soldiers charged the bunch of boys, not with weapons, but with fists, -and put them to flight. This was not enough for the victors, and so -the soldiers pursued the flying enemy. Seeing this, some citizens rang -alarm bells. A mob assembled around the custom house and was ordered -away. The troops were assailed with clubs and stones. They fired into -the crowd and killed four, wounding several others. The town was -aflame with wrath and the troops were removed to the barracks outside -to prevent further bloodshed. Though it was hardly disastrous enough -to deserve the name, "Boston Massacre," yet there was no doubt that -nothing in the early days of the revolution, had more effect in -setting the minds of the people against England. It was a sign of the -times, and was like a little word that may sometimes mean as much as a -whole discourse, especially when a social group of minds is unified in -one interest of opposition or defense. - -It was during these stirring times in the North that Washington was -prevailed on by the Colonial government to visit the Indian tribes on -the Ohio for a better understanding of the right of each side under -the existing treaties. His journey to the site of old Fort Duquesne, -renamed Fort Pitt, where Pittsburg now stands, was full of romantic -memories, and was met with many assurances of friendship among the now -reconciled Indians. - -Through the many interesting scenes, still somewhat perilous from the -uncertainty of Indian friendship, he arrived at the mouth of the Great -Kanawha. It was at this place where Washington was visited by an old -Indian Sachem, who approached him with great reverence as if he were -in the presence of a very superior being. Through the interpreter, -the Indian chief said that he had heard of his coming to their country -and had come a long way to see him. He explained his unusual interest -by saying that he had led his warriors against the English under -General Braddock. It was he with his band of braves who had lain in -ambush on the banks of the Monongahela and had done such deadly -slaughter to the English troops. But his reverence for Washington had -a special reason. The Indians saw Washington as one of the boldest, -riding fearlessly over the battlefield, carrying the General's orders. -The chief and his warriors had singled Washington out as one they must -kill. They had tried their best but their bullets never found him. At -last they would not waste their bullets on him because he had a -charmed life, under the protection of the Great Spirit. And who knows -about these things! Everything may not be of inevitable physical -order! The simple Indian may have been nearer the truth than would be -any psychological or scientific explanation. - -The Indians very generally believed that the Great Spirit exercised -power over bullets, and, in many instances, faced death fearlessly in -the faith raised by their "medicen-man" that the enemy's bullets could -not harm them. Religious assurance of some kind is the consolation of -every mind. - - -II. THE DOUBLE-QUICK MARCH TO REVOLUTION - -That Washington could be righteously indignant and unmercifully -sarcastic may be inferred from a letter written to Colonel George -Muse, who had been Washington's military instructor at Mount Vernon in -1751. Colonel Muse had been accused of cowardice in the campaign with -Washington to the Ohio in 1754, and Washington had with difficulty -obtained for him a grant of ten thousand acres of land in the Ohio -territory, as was given to the other officers in the expedition. -Colonel Muse was dissatisfied and so wrote a letter to Washington, the -contents of which we can surmise only from Washington's reply. - -"Sir,--Your impudent letter was delivered to me yesterday," he wrote. -"As I am not accustomed to receive such from any man, nor would have -taken the same language from you personally, without letting you feel -some marks of my resentment, I advise you to be cautious in writing me -a second of the same tenor; though I understand you were drunk when -you did it, yet give me leave to tell you that drunkenness is no -excuse for rudeness." - -After describing what had been done for the ungrateful man, Washington -closed his letter by saying, "All my concern is that I ever engaged -myself in behalf of so ungrateful and dirty a fellow as you are." - -Meanwhile, the King of England was searching for means to wear down -the opposition of the colonies to his assertion of the right to -personal rule over them through Parliament. So complete was the -refusal of the colonies to use tea, that the warehouses of the East -India Company were full of tea, and their profit dwindled. A happy -suggestion was made to the King. Let the tea go free duty, and so -cheap on account of the surplus, to the colonies, that they will buy -it and thus not only relieve the warehouses but also establish the -principle of the right to tax articles sold in the colonies. The -proposition was put into effect. The contents of the warehouses were -emptied into ships and sent to various ports in the American colonies. -The King depended on human nature as he understood it to be. Like many -another ruler who believes he can rule by juggling ideas and -manipulating minds, he deceived himself. The people were starving for -tea! They had long lived without tea like foolish children who would -play no way but their own way. Now, they would tumble over one another -to get the long desired tea. There would be a carnival carousal of tea -drinking in America! But somehow the thing didn't work. There was -still a wonderful perverseness in the half-civilized subjects of the -King in the American wilderness. They seemed suddenly to be all alike. -No doubt there were many who would gladly have profited by the King's -contempt for principle, but profit was timid and principle was bold. - -New York and Philadelphia turned the ships around and ordered them to -set sails at once for England. In Charleston they stored the tea in -cellars where it remained untouched until it was ruined. In Boston, -upon which the King's anger was centered, as the cause of all the -strife, the conflict of wills was more desperate. The captains found -that they could not unload the tea and when they tried to get -clearance papers to leave the harbor, they were refused. They could -not come in nor go out. But this meant, as the people soon saw, that -the tea was to be held there on the ships until the soldiers could be -used to enforce the sale of tea, and thus coerce the people into -acknowledging the claims of the King "to rule and reign over them," -according to his will. - -The two sides had now "chosen up," as it were, and had begun to climb -the steps to war. - -To forestall the landing of the tea under cover of the soldiers, a -company of Boston people assembled on the night of December 18, 1773, -disguised themselves as Indians, boarded the ships, broke open all -the chests of tea, and emptied the object of all the trouble into the -sea. - -There was no excitement apparent in doing this. When all the tea in -Boston harbor was floating on the waves, the make-believe Indians -returned peacefully to their homes, and went to bed, doubtless -sleeping "the sleep of the righteous." - -All the wrath of the King and his associates were now centered -definitely on Boston. In swift retaliation the Boston Port Bill was -passed by Parliament, closing the harbor and transferring the capital -to Salem. A little later, the charter of the province was changed so -as to bring the colony directly under the control of the English -government. Then a Riot Bill was passed so that any person, if -indicted for a high crime, could be sent to England for trial. First, -it was taxing without representation, then it was quartering soldiers -upon them without their consent, and now it was a violation of the -right to be tried by a jury of their peers. The intolerable had -climbed the swift steps of war to the impossible. American freedom -could not thus be made the puppet of any king. - -It was historical evidence how "one thing brings on another" in a -quarrel of wills, and how force can not control rebellious minds. -Brain-storms of feeling, whether in child or mob, are not to be -stilled by retaliation or despotism. - - -III. VIOLENCE AND FLATTERY AS METHODS OF MASTERY - -In wide contrast to the use of force for Massachusetts, was the plan -being carried out to pacify Virginia. Lord Dunmore was sent as -governor to Virginia with the same idea of princely show as -characterized Lord Botetourt. He established a court circle with -almost kingly pomp and splendor. He began the great game of playing to -the aristocracy of the "Ancient Dominion." All the wealthy families -were entertained at the Governor's mansion in gorgeous style. -Washington was among the first to be so honored and entertained. It -looked as if all Virginia was at the feet of the royal governor, -rapturously "eating out of his hand." - -The House of Burgesses convened and everything seemed to be going the -King's way, when a letter was received stating what had been done to -Boston. Then things were different. Principle, freedom and sympathy -joined hands, and court-flattery went to the scrap-heap. - -The letter was read before the assembly. At once all other business -was thrown aside. A protest was adopted to be sent to England, and a -resolution was passed setting apart the first day of June (the day on -which the port of Boston was to be closed), as a day of fasting, -prayer and humiliation, in which all minds should be united firmly -opposing the contemplated suppression of American liberties, and to -avert the evils of civil war. - -Repeating what his predecessor, Lord Botetourt, had done and seeming -to learn nothing from that really well-intentioned man's experiences, -Lord Dunmore, the next morning ordered the House of Burgesses to -appear before him in the council chamber. - -"Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses," he began, "I -hold in my hand a paper, published by order of your House, conceived -in such terms, as reflect highly upon his Majesty and the Parliament -of Great Britain, which makes it necessary for me to dissolve you, and -you are dissolved accordingly." - -But as before, the assembly did not disperse. It gathered in a hall -where the members unanimously passed the most drastic resolutions of -defiance, and, what was most significant of all, ordered the Committee -of Correspondence to communicate with the various colonies on the -expediency of appointing deputies to meet annually in a General -Congress of British America. - -Every word and deed of Washington, and there is abundance of them on -record, shows that he was in full and hearty sympathy with all -these sentiments against Great Britain, though he and Lord Dunmore, -and their families, mingled frequently in a social way. Washington's -mind was not one to be swayed by particular instances of pride or -profit. The goal before him was never obscured by side issues or -temporary interests. - -[Illustration: Washington and His Cabinet.] - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -GREAT MINDS IN THE GREAT STORM - - -I. SUPPRESSING AMERICANS - -General Thomas Gage was, in the approaching crisis, made military -commander at Massachusetts, as the man most experienced and able to -enforce the Parliamentary laws. He had led the advance guard at -Braddock's defeat, had married an American girl and had lived long in -the colonies. It would seem that he ought to have known well the -character of the colonists. But, he had already advised the King that, -"The Americans will be lions only as long as the English are lambs." - -The idea still prevails that there is a lamb-coward always in the -presence of a lion-hero. General Gage promised that he would enforce -all laws if given five regiments. - -As suggested by the Virginia Assembly, "a solemn league and covenant" -was circulated throughout the provinces, in which the subscribers -bound themselves to cease from all intercourse with Great Britain, -from the month of August, until Massachusetts should regain its -chartered rights. Furthermore, it was an iron-clad use of the boycott -and lock-out. It pledged the signers that they would have no dealings -with any one who refused to enter into that compact. This meant that -home-principle had to have a method against home-profit. Capital was -timidly cowering between what seemed to it as "the devil and the deep -sea." - -General Gage declared in a proclamation that the document was illegal -and the signers traitors. He planted a force of infantry and artillery -on the Boston Common and prepared himself to enforce the edict of the -British Parliament and his own judgment. Thus, another high step was -taken in the climb to war. The great drama was developing scene by -scene that was to bring forth Washington as a warrior, president and -statesman, the titular "Father of his Country." - -As we proceed on our historic journey, needed to understand the making -of Washington, and his meaning for Americans, we are now approaching -his first appearance as a leader. This comes to pass after he decides -that every resource and means have been used in vain for justice -toward the colonies. - -On July 18, 1773, a meeting of Fairfax County was held, with -Washington as the presiding officer, to discuss their attitude toward -the English government and its methods toward the colonies. This -general meeting of protest was held immediately after Washington's -return from the session of the House of Burgesses at Williamsburg. - -As Chairman of the committee on resolutions, he had probably much, if -not all, to do with the language used, and it is significant, that the -resolutions ended with a phrase which contained the threat of -independence through war. They called on the King to reflect that -"from our Sovereign there can be but one appeal." This shows the idea -that was in Washington's mind for he had already decided, as shown by -his letters, that the King could not be changed, and, therefore, that -the only appeal was to be made to the higher authority of right -through the might of war. - -Washington was now entering heart and soul into the great controversy. -He was chosen as a delegate from the county to the colony meeting at -Williamsburg on the first of August, 1773. - -The Virginia delegates assembled at the capital as planned. Washington -presented the resolution adopted by his county and made a fervid -address in its support. It is said he declared himself ready to raise -a thousand men at his own expense, and march at their head to the -relief of Boston. It is safe to say that if Washington and Patrick -Henry could have lived through to 1861, there would have been no Civil -War, or even if the Spirit of Washington and Henry could have lived in -the hearts of the people. - -The Virginia convention adopted resolutions based on the Fairfax -resolution, and Washington with six others, destined to become famous -in American history, were appointed delegates to the General Congress, -that was to meet in Philadelphia. - -The high-handed measures against Boston had ruined that town. The rich -became poor and the poor were at the verge of starvation, but there -was no outcry. The silent misery and calm determination were a puzzle -to the General who could not subdue such opposition with cannon. The -people went in crowds to hear their speakers placidly arguing the -conditions. There was no excuse to order the people to disperse, so -that Gage found it necessary to have a law passed that the people -should not assemble to discuss government affairs. But the whole -problem had now taken on a larger form. On September 5, 1774, -delegates from all the colonies, excepting Georgia, met in Carpenter's -Hall, Philadelphia. - -Patrick Henry and Edmund Pendleton came on to Mount Vernon, and from -there the three giants of moral rights and human liberty rode on -together to the meeting, affecting so deeply the eternal meaning of -America. - -When the question arose in the meeting concerning the voting of -delegates, some colonies having more than others, Patrick Henry, with -his fiery zeal, declared any idea of sectional distinctions or local -interests to be absurd. - -"All America," he cried, "is thrown into one mass. Where are your -landmarks--your boundaries of colonies? They are all thrown down. The -distinction between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New -Englanders, are no more. I am not a Virginian but an American." - -What a great pity that eighty-six years later, the patriotism of -Patrick Henry could not have been felt, and the one great horror of -American history would then never have occurred. - - -II. THE BUSINESS OF GETTING READY - -The first General Assembly in the history of the New World came -together in great solemnity. They felt that it should be opened by -some religious service, and yet, they feared to introduce religious -antagonism, for it was a period when religious controversies were -often more extreme and bitter than any political controversies. - -Then Samuel Adams of reverend fame arose and said, "I shall willingly -join in prayer with any gentleman of piety and virtue, whatever might -be his cloth, provided he is a friend of his country." - -Samuel Adams was a very rigorous Congregationalist, but religion with -him had no claims that did not include justice and patriotism. He -nominated the Reverend Mr. Duche of Philadelphia, who was an -Episcopalian, to open the session with prayer. - -The reverend Duche appeared in his canonicals attended by his clerk. -He read the morning service of the Episcopal church. The Psalter for -that day of the month, the seventh, included the thirty-fifth Psalm. -The central idea of the Psalm was that of the Assembly. - -"Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me; fight against -them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand -up for my help. Draw out, also, the spear, and stop the way of them -that persecute me." - -It is said that when the assembly was organized and ready for the -introduction of their momentous business, that a long, deep, -death-like silence fell upon them. Every one hesitated to begin. The -sense of inaction was becoming oppressive when Patrick Henry arose. -Such a great occasion was suitable to his eloquence and when he sat -down amidst the murmurs of astonishment and the shouts of applause, he -was conceded to be the greatest orator in America. - -This history-making convention had fifty-one delegates and it remained -in session fifty-one days. The meetings were held in secret, and it is -now unknown the part that Washington took in it, but, when Patrick -Henry returned home, he was asked who was the most powerful councillor -in the convention, and he unhesitatingly said, "Washington." - -That Washington foresaw the course of events may be readily gathered -from a letter he wrote at this time to a very close friend, Captain -Robert Mackenzie, who had severely criticised the colonies from the -British point of view. Like too many who are now charged with the -destiny of the great American republic by their votes, Mackenzie could -reason only on the visible results, and could not give any attention -to the causes of the events. He had no spiritual valuation. He could -reason only from material interests. Washington closed a very emphatic -and radical letter to him with the warning and prophecy, "and give me -leave to add, as my opinion, that more blood will be spilled on this -occasion, if the ministry are determined to push matters to extremity, -than history has ever yet furnished instances of in the annals of -North America." - -England had been what might be termed good to the Southern colonies. -As for harsh measures, the worst from a political point of view was in -dissolving the Virginia legislatures. The Southern Colonies were under -the business management of descendants from the royalist cavaliers who -had been driven from England by the forefathers of the descendants -making up the colonies of New England. There was thus an inherited -tradition of antagonism, which many well-meaning patriots assume as -their basis of justice and judgment. Political welfare must be -estimated from present conditions. Avengers of the ancient wrong want -to punish history rather than make history. They assume that it is -better to begin with what was than with what is. But in the common -need, all such differences were forgotten. The differences were -remembered only by the great grand-children of the revolutionary -heroes. - -The Northern Colonies and the Southern Colonies were, true enough, -antagonistic in their origin, entirely opposite in the social -differences between the severe Puritan and the aristocratic Cavalier, -and worse than all, they were antagonistic in their religion, the -North being many kinds of dissenters, and the South, in its governing -classes, being Episcopalian. Their social, religious and material -interests never had been the same, and they had little in common even -in the French and Indian wars. This outline contrast is given to show -how the question, especially for the South, was not material profit or -of opposition to oppression from force, but was the expression of an -American Ideal uniting all minds, as a meaning for the equal rights of -all in our humanity. It shows that there is an ideal of human rights -that has the allegiance of human hearts above all considerations of -flattery, or coertion, or for any of the thousands of considerations -that may cause an individual judgment or fix the will. There may be -amazing differences in personal and party interests, but there can be -none, even in the varieties of intelligence or conditions, when it -comes to the rights to freedom in the views of genuine Americans. Only -partisans attack the motives of persons who are trying to advance -human liberty and peace according to the duties and rights of -civilization. By such signs shall ye know them and beware. They are -not Americans and their moral deformity is the peril of America. The -real idealist lives the vision of moral order, not only for his group, -but for all the world. The moral law for each and all is our idealism -of the universe. - - -III. MANY MEN OF MANY MINDS - -England could not manage its American colonial interests because the -government had no ideal of the colonies beyond that of a commercial -business, and the colonies could not handle the interests of England -in America because each colony was a separate organization having -political interests together in common only in the British Parliament. -On that account they never felt together, except as their mutual -interest in Parliament was injured. Notice this fundamental origin of -social union, and see how it had to be wrangled over from the close of -the Revolutionary War in 1781, to the adoption of the Constitution, -and the election of a president under it in 1789. And even then, a -fundamental origin for social interests, and, therefore, of -patriotism, was not achieved until a frightful civil war closed the -struggle for separate units of interest, as independent -sovereignities, in 1865. - -Mr. Curtis, an English philosopher-historian, writing about one -hundred and fifty years after the beginning of these world-making -origins of the American ideal, quotes Doyle's history referring to the -revolt of the colonies, in which it is said, "If the Southern Colonies -were to take their full share of interest in the struggle, it was -clear that it must not be left to a New England army under a New -England general. But we may be sure that the choice, desirable in -itself, of a Southern general, was made much easier by the presence of -a Southern candidate so specially fitted for the post as Washington. -Not indeed that his fitness was or could be as yet fully revealed. -Intelligence and public spirit, untiring energy and industry, a fair -share of technical skill, and courage almost dangerous in its -recklessness,--all these were no doubt perceived by those who -appointed Washington. What they could not have foreseen was the -patience with which a man of clear vision, heroic bravery, and intense -directness, bore with fools and laggards, and intrigues; and the -disinterested self-devotion which called out all that was noblest in -the national character, which shamed selfish men into a semblance of -union. Still less could it have been foreseen that, in choosing a -military chief, Congress was training up for the country that civil -leader, without whose aid an effective constitution would scarcely -have been attained." - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE HOUSE LONG DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF - - -I. UNPATRIOTIC CONFUSION OF OPINIONS AND INTERESTS - -In order to appreciate the difficulties which Washington had to -overcome, and therefore to make any just estimate of his character, -his patriotism and his services in the cause of political liberty, the -conditions in which he worked must be understood. It must not be -assumed that he had a united country, a solid backing, and that there -was unanimous patriotism sustaining him. To do so would not only be -untrue, but it would belittle the almost superhuman task which gave -birth to American government, and made possible the final organization -through Abraham Lincoln of a land of the free, able to sustain its -freedom against all the struggling masteries of the world. To suppose -that Washington did his revolutionary work in the midst of reliable -patriotism is as erroneous as to suppose that Lincoln did his -nation-saving task in the midst of a unanimous North. - -There was no such thing as patriotism at the time of Washington, -according to the usual definition of patriotism, because there was no -geographical territory holding a united people, for whom or for which -to feel a national patriotism. - -American patriotism, therefore, began in the patriotism for human -rights, not thus making "a man without a country," as patriotism for -humanity has been sometimes defined alike by extreme pacifists and -extreme militarists, but in the fact that American democracy and -humanity are synonymous terms, in all they can mean for the rights of -man. - -There was then no political country to be patriotic for. There were -only colonies. Patrick Henry's cry, so pathetic in its divine need, -and so little true for his fellows as shown in 1861, "I am not a -Virginian, I am an American," rang through the congress at -Philadelphia with the thrill of a new vision of human faith, but it -was almost a century, through an age of desperate reconstruction, -before it could be even approximately called true; before American -democracy and humanity could face the warring world, the King-made -world, with one meaning, one service and one moral law. - -John Adams, of indisputable authority, tells us that more than a third -of the property owners and men of affairs, were opposed to the -revolution throughout the war. - -Lecky, in his history of England, declares that an examination of the -correspondence of the revolution at any period shows that, "in the -middle colonies at least, those who really desired to throw off the -English rule were a small and not very respectable minority. The great -mass were indifferent, half-hearted, engrossed with their private -interests or occupations, prepared to risk nothing till they could -clearly foresee the issue of the contest. In almost every part of the -States--even in New England itself--there were large bodies of devoted -royalists." - -After the war more than a hundred thousand, it is estimated, of -irreconciliable royalists were expelled from the colonies. - -When General Gage evacuated Boston, more than a thousand royalists -from that immediate territory went with him to Halifax, Nova Scotia, -so that our American grandmothers, even a hundred years later, when -exasperated, would exclaim against their tormentor, with much of the -ancient vehemence, "You go to Halifax!" - -If we want to appreciate Washington and to understand his wonderful -service for mankind, we must understand the difficulties and -obstacles he had to overcome. The "Spirit of '76" belonged at first to -only a few inspired souls, who had a wonderful vision of human rights -for a new world. Right was might with them and their might-right won -the great cause as the immortal "Spirit of '76." - -General Washington's description of the conditions are vividly -portrayed in a letter to Joseph Reed, from Cambridge, dated November -28, 1775: - -"Such a dearth of public spirit, and such a want of virtue, such stock -jobbing and such fertility in all the low arts to obtain advantages of -one kind or another in this great change of military arrangement I -never saw before, and pray God's mercy that I may never be witness to -again. What will be the end of these manoeuvers is beyond my scan. I -tremble at the prospect. We have been till this time enlisting about -three thousand five hundred men. To engage these I have been obliged -to allow furloughs as far as fifty men to a regiment, and the -officers, I am persuaded, indulge as many more. The Connecticut troops -will not be prevailed upon to stay longer than their term, saving -those who have enlisted for the next campaign and are mostly on a -furlough; and such a mercenary spirit pervades the whole that I should -not be at all surprised at any disaster that may happen. In short -after the last of this month our lines will be so weakened that the -Minute Men and Militia must be called in for their defense; and these -being under no kind of government themselves, will destroy the little -subordination I have been laboring to establish, and run me into one -evil whilst I am endeavoring to avoid another; but the less must be -chosen. Could I have foreseen what I have experienced, and am likely -to experience, no consideration upon earth would have induced me to -accept the command." - -At the meeting of the colonies in congress at Philadelphia in 1774, -George the Third saw that it was a conquest of wills and he exclaimed, -"The die is cast, the colonies must either submit or triumph." But -even when the British government was sending Hessian mercenaries over -against the colonies, a thing regarded as a supreme outrage by those -opposed to England, it was almost impossible to get together enough -American patriotism to adopt a declaration of independence. - -John Adams says that a large section of Congress regarded such a -declaration with both terror and disgust. To those who have believed -that a unanimous patriotism made only a little severe fighting -necessary, backed by some clever generalship, there can be no proper -appreciation of the great American achievement. - -Then, as now, the prosperous did not want their prosperity disturbed -by any change. They didn't want to lose their business, not to speak -of their lives, by going into an army. But there had been a generation -of people pouring into the colonies from the poverty-devastations of -English misgovernment in Scotland and Ireland. They had never had any -chance to protest against their wrongs in the old country, but -fortune, or fate, or Providence, had banished them across the ocean -directly into an opportunity to express their sentiments with guns, -and they took the opportunity. They flocked to the recruiting stations -of Washington's army. - -But so unsafe were business transactions with the party fighting Great -Britain that the revolution was coming to the gates of despair because -of the impossibility of getting military supplies and army equipments. -There was fast growing a vision of collapse unless there was received -the encouraging help of a foreign power. France in almost unceasing -war with England was the only hope, and France could have no interest -unless the colonies were fighting for separation from England, instead -of against a tax on tea, as it bore the appearance, at the beginning, -from a foreign point of view. France wanted to know what the colonies -were fighting for. France wanted a bill of particulars. This brought -American interests to a crisis. France had no interest in a mere -family fuss. The French government could have no interest unless it -was for something that lessened the power of England. - -Under the early troubles, a peace party among the business interests -was fast coming into power. Against this the commoners were aflame -with the patriotic pamphlets of Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson, the -eloquence of Patrick Henry, the statesmanship of John Adams, and the -work of the powerful-minded few who saw the sublime vision of American -freedom. At last they were enabled to pass the Declaration of -Independence, and France began, at first secretly and then openly, to -give encouragement through money-loans, supplies, and volunteers. -Burgoyne's surrender in October, 1777, showed that America could be -successful with France's help, and early in the next year France -recognized the independence of the colonies. They soon made the cause -of America their own, and sent over not only necessary supplies but -soldiers and ships. Known budgets of expenses, used in aid of the -Colonies, exceed $500,000,000, not a cent of which was ever returned -or asked for. Though there was the political interest to humble -England, yet France was at heart a profound lover of human freedom and -political liberty. Despite the implacable enemies of republican -government in Europe, France has successfully kept the dead-lines -across which "they shall not pass." The moral debt which human liberty -owes to France can never be paid except as it is paid to humanity, -and, to that social justice, is dedicated the meaning of America. - - -II. SOMETIMES TOO LATE TO MEND - -The English parliament, becoming suddenly aware of the growing power -in the American subjects, now conceded every right asked for by the -colonists, and enacted those rights into law. But it was too late. The -middle-class mass of property owners and business men began to see the -vision of an American republic and the tide swelled toward success. As -the cutting off of supplies from the colonies had been the chief cause -of American weakness, England tried to prevent supplies being sent to -America, with the result that Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Holland -declared an armed neutrality to enforce their right to sell military -supplies to America. The dispute led to a war with Holland in 1780, so -that by the close of that year Great Britain had not a friend on earth -and was confronted by the united armies and navies of France, Spain, -Holland and America. At the same time there was rebellion in India -against the English rule, insurrections in Ireland, and so deep the -discontent in England itself that a London mob was able for several -days to make itself master of the city. The English lost control of -the sea before the close of 1780, and on October 19, 1781, Cornwallis -surrendered his army to Washington, from which historic hour a -world-champion of the rights of man over the divine rights of kings -was born in the Western world. - -The difficulties which Washington had encountered and overcome in -Virginia previous to the French and Indian war were in full exercise -throughout New England at the opening of the Revolutionary War. They -could act together in small, free groups for a particular object of -their will, but to obey superior officers and to sacrifice their own -private judgment to higher authority, which was so necessary in war -and such a war as this, was utterly repugnant to their dispositions. -That subserviency to authority was the very reason they were opposing -the idea of taxation without representation, and why should they be -required to do the very thing they were fighting against! That -quandary and query has been the puzzle of every mind unable to see the -vision of means necessary to future results. It is the blindness -always of the fanatical pacifist who would sacrifice nothing for -peace, and of the non-resistant doctrine that right and moral law have -no need for material might in a material world. - -The colonists had never known of anything but local patriotism. They -seemed to be unable to distinguish between English king-made authority -and American people-made authority, notwithstanding how much had been -discussed the relations of representation and taxation. That -difficulty has always existed concerning American militarism. It -almost defeated Lincoln during the Civil War. It almost delivered the -Union to Secession. If democratic militarism cannot be different from -dynastic militarism, then American freedom and human liberty will be -lost in the next American or world war. - -The colonist would fight with the heroism he displayed in Indian -warfare, but when the enemy was driven away from his neighborhood, it -was the duty of the next neighborhood to take care of itself. Besides, -the New Englander with a home had the same idea as the Virginian -soldier twenty years before, and this was that, when he wanted to go -home, why shouldn't he! He was not a deserter, and in no sense a -coward, but the discipline of army service was mere enslavement and -any compulsion was despotism. To understand the making up of an -efficient army under such circumstances is the only measure to -estimate the greatness of Washington and the debt to him of the -liberty-loving world. - -Curtis, in his history of American Commonwealth, says, "Washington -overcame these difficulties by dint of a patience and a selflessness -almost without parallel in history, which gradually communicated -itself to his fellow countrymen. In seven years he created a -continental army which ended the war at Yorktown." - - -III. SELECTING THE LEADER OF LIBERTY FOR AMERICA - -Washington had to write many letters, endeavoring to spur up the -really patriotic leaders to consistent work for the cause. In his -letter to Joseph Reed he was almost in despair over the indifference -of people from whom he expected the most patriotic service. - -"It grieves me," he wrote, "to see so little of that patriotic spirit -which I was taught to believe characteristic of this people." But this -did not mean that the so-called "spirit of '76" was not strong among -them. Washington needed so much of the patriotic spirit that a little -would not be any, and, to half-heal the wounds of a friend, was not -very friendly to the cause, nor a sufficient friendship toward the -needs of Washington's work for America. - -Ten years later, when Washington had matured, through the mind-making -experiences of revolutionary times, he wrote to John Jay, saying, -"Experience has taught us that men will not adopt and carry into -execution measures the best calculated for their own good without the -intervention of coercive power." This meant that human society -requires law, and the right of law is devoid of appreciation or -application unless it is clothed with the might to keep its forms and -values true. - -Lecky says, "The common saying that you cannot make people virtuous by -law is a dangerous half-truth. The virtue innate in a people may be -utterly destroyed by bad institutions, for 'the virtue,' as Jay wrote -to Washington, 'like the other resources of a country, can only be -drawn to a point by strong circumstances ably managed, or strong -governments ably administered.'" - -When it came to a question of who should be commander-in-chief of all -the armies, the disruptions and jealousies of the sections seemed -dangerously near wrecking any united action, which obviously must be -fatal to any independence more than they then had from Great Britain. -The Southern leaders were unanimous for Washington, and, with the -efficiency of shrewd politicians, supported measures largely -according to the pressure they brought to bear in the cause of having -Washington for the commander-in-chief. But this support did not bring -together any antagonism, because it was not made by any faction of -admirers or supporters. Washington himself, though present, refused to -lend any aid to the presentation of his own name. - -[Illustration: Mount Vernon--Washington's Residence, Virginia.] - -It was John Adams, the whole-souled patriot from Massachusetts who was -the leader in advocating the selection of Washington. In his diary, -during these consequential times, Adams wrote, "I had no hesitation to -declare that I had but one gentleman in my mind for that important -command, and that was a gentleman from Virginia, who was among us, and -very well known to us; a gentleman whose skilled experience as an -officer, whose independent fortune, great talents, and excellent -universal character would command the approbation of all America, and -unite the cordial exertions of all the colonies better than any other -person in the Union." - -There were many men who were able leaders, and who had already made -great sacrifices in the cause of liberty, who believed with their -friends that they were entitled to be selected for the head of the -Army. Nevertheless, when the nomination was made, the election by -ballot was unanimous for Washington. - -The salary of Commander-in-Chief had been set at five hundred dollars -a month, but Washington in his address of acceptance, while declaring -that no salary could have been made large enough to tempt him from the -comforts and business interests of his home, said he would accept no -salary, but would keep an exact account of his expenses, which they -would no doubt refund to him. - -"There is something charming to me," said John Adams, who became the -second president of the United States, when writing at the time to a -friend, "in the conduct of Washington, a gentleman of one of the first -fortunes upon the continent, leaving his delicious retirement, his -family and friends, sacrificing his ease, and hazarding all in the -cause of his country. His views are noble and disinterested." - -Washington now wrote to his half-brother, Augustine Washington, a -characteristic letter. - -"I am now to bid adieu to you, and to every kind of domestic ease for -a while. I am embarked on a wide ocean, boundless in its prospect, and -in which, perhaps, no safe harbor is to be found. I have been called -upon by the unanimous voice of the Colonies to take command of the -Continental army; an honor I neither sought after nor desired, as I am -thoroughly convinced it requires great abilities, and much more -experience than I am master of." - -But he added his belief that the Divine Providence, which had called -him into such a dangerous duty, was wisely ordering the affairs of -men, and would enable him in due course of time to perform all his -tasks justly and with success. - -What that task was through the revolutionary war can be appreciated -only in the details of events that require volumes of description in -telling. One cannot read it through with its ignoble intrigues, -unpatriotic dissentions, and dangerous rivalries without feeling that -Washington combined great manhood, great leadership, great -statesmanship and great generalship, and that no other man of less -character and genius than that could ever have welded together such -discordant and diversified elements into a means sufficient to achieve -the independence and liberty of America. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY - - -I. THE FIRST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF - -There are events enough during the progress of the revolutionary war -to give a complete analysis of Washington's mind and character, -enough, indeed, to make a large volume in itself. But these incidents -are easily available to any student of the revolutionary war. Of all -his wonderful career, as a child born to the wealth and luxury of his -times, as a landed proprietor of one of the greatest fortunes in -America, as soldier, statesman and first President of the United -States, there is nowhere on record a single ignoble, immoral or -dishonorable word or deed in any way relating to the principles or -interests fundamental for his character, mind and life. It is -supremely gratifying to American ideals that Washington was in -everything morally worthy of being known as "first in peace, first in -war and first in the hearts of his countrymen," standing forth a -great figure of American nobility, crowned with high title in being -known as the "Father of his Country." - -The army was anxious to see their chief and the people were eager for -a look at the man who inspired them all with so much confidence. -Washington's appearance could not disappoint them. No more -born-commander of men, at least in appearance, ever sat in military -uniform upon a horse. The emotions of the people in those troubulous -times all went out to him, as they cheered him wherever he went. To -know Washington is to know that his feelings responded heartily to -their interests, and no doubt were strengthened by their trust for the -wonder-working task before him. - -One of the most intellectual and charming of the cultured women of New -England was the wife of John Adams. After meeting Washington she wrote -to her husband, "Dignity, ease and complacency, the gentleman and the -soldier, look agreeably blended in him. Modesty marks every feature of -his face. Those lines of Dryden instantly occurred to me: - - 'Mark his majestic fabric! He's a temple - Sacred by birth and built by hands divine; - His soul's the deity that lodges there; - Nor is the pile unworthy of the God.'" - -As an incident of the multitudinous varieties of problems that -Washington had to solve may be mentioned the treatment of the American -prisoners taken by the British. The Americans were regarded as rebels, -having no more standing in law than traitors. If the student looks -carefully at the dates of progress in the freedom of the colonies and -their formation into a nation, he will see that many years of wrangle -and debate took place. Nothing went by leaps. Opinions grew and they -grew very slowly and uncertainly. Therefore, when a crisis came, -Washington had to make momentous decisions that were not only of -far reaching consequences, but that he could execute and that his -people would sanction. He was not a silent man. He wrote and spoke -much, thus clearing the way for action, and unifying the mind of the -people on the needs and rights of the times. - -An extract from a letter to the British General Gage, in the beginning -of the war, shows on what grounds Washington demanded the right -treatment of American prisoners, who had so far been grossly -mistreated. - -"They suppose," he wrote, concerning American prisoners, "that they -act from the noblest of all principles, a love of freedom and their -country. But political principles, I conceive, are foreign to this -point. The obligations arising from the rights of humanity, and claims -of rank, are universally binding and extensive, except in cases of -retaliation. - -"My duty now makes it necessary to apprise you that, for the future, I -shall regulate all my conduct towards those gentlemen who are or may -be in our possession exactly by the rule you shall observe toward -those of ours now in your custody." - -Though General Gage's reply was full of the words "criminals," -"rebels," and "hanging," the harsh treatment became generally modified -as he realized that Washington meant what he said. - - -II. BIG BUSINESS, MONEY-MAKERS AND PATRIOTISM - -Public sentiment when not aroused by immediate danger gets into action -very slowly, and especially if it is divided into numerous rival -sections as was the case in the colonies. The army at first consisted -of two extremes, the real patriots and the many army adventurers. It -was an age of travelling soldiers. Especially was there an -overwhelming offer from foreign officers to go into service. To refuse -them looked like ingratitude. It brought up the old saying of "looking -a gift horse in the mouth." But the wisdom and firmness of Washington -was never put to better use than here. He believed that Americans -should win the war. In the darkest period he said, "Put none but -Americans on guard tonight." - -In one of his letters he speaks of the "hungry adventurers," whose -endless applications for commands were one of his worst annoyances. -And, still more, many of these soldiers of fortune came from Europe -with great recommendations and they secured powerful influences in -Congress to force themselves upon Washington. - -The mind of the times stood in great awe of British power, therefore -it is additional credit to the mind of Washington that he had no such -fear or awe toward British might. Besides, the country was always -asking impossible things. Congress urged Washington to surround the -enemy and cut off their supplies. They had no vision of Washington's -inadequate means. Therefore enemies arose asserting they could do what -Washington was not doing, and the American army had not only the -confusion of interests in its own ranks to contend with, but was -between a contentious congress and a hardly more contentious British -army. Washington's methods now look so reasonable and practical that -we wonder how the people could be so ignorant, blind and obstructive, -but a century later than our time may show us to be stoning our -prophets and killing our saviors, just as they have done through all -the periods of history. It is the disastrous tribute that democracy -pays to partisanship, and that humanity has always paid partisan -leadership. - -The malignant intrigues that tried to take advantage of the slow -progress of the war, and have hungry rivals put into Washington's -place, are matters of special history. But Washington met those -ill-begotten schemes with the cold indifference and calm dignity which -were the unfailing measures of his life and character. Though he was -sensitive, and high-spirited, he would not let that trait in his -nature work to the advantage of his enemies. They worked up slights -and insults all around him, but he never replied unless he dealt a -stinging blow, or showed up the treacherous character of their work. -Much of the rivalry developed against Washington was of sectional -prejudices, but the real intelligence and patriotism of the colonies -would have nothing to do with it. In all those schemes to injure -Washington we see the same method in politics used on up to the -present time. Newspapers and speakers distort the achievements of -political opponents into the most fanatical accusations, and bewilder -the voter with charges and countercharges till he feels as if he were -between the firing lines of two fighting armies, for one or the other -of which he must cast his votes. But "belonging to a party" is happily -not the honor it once was. The good of the country is found to be, not -so much in the political platform of parties but in the character of -men, harmonizing with the rights of man. It is thus that the -congressional resolutions and the party wrangling of Washington's -time, as in that of Lincoln, are wholly discredited in estimating the -lives of those great leaders of the American mind. In its full view, -the American ideal is seen to be that the man or woman who presides -decently and righteously over the humanity of self or family or group -is president of the human world. - -The ignorant criticism of the time is well illustrated from the dark -winter days of Valley Forge. There, so little had Congress done for -the army, the soldiers were literally starving. Most of them were -barefoot, and so poorly provided that they had to sit up all night -close to their camp-fire in order to keep from freezing. And yet the -legislature of Pennsylvania issued a stern remonstrance against their -going into winter quarters. Washington must keep to the open field and -be in continual operation against the well-fed, thoroughly trained and -highly equipped British troops. - -Washington closed a letter to Congress, saying, in referring to those -who thus condemned him, "They seem to have little feeling for the -naked and distressed soldiers. I feel superabundantly for them, and -from my soul I pity those miseries which it is neither in my power to -relieve nor prevent." - -As in our own times, big business found opportunity to fatten itself -on the needs of the people. The greatness of Washington is in -startling evidence when it is seen how he not only had to conduct a -war and guide an unprovided army split up into rival sections, but he -had to be statesman and diplomat enough to manage a menagerie of ideas -ranging through the congressional sessions like animals broken loose -in a circus. Each one was trying to perform something that was in -effect worse than nothing. The representatives of the people gathered -in the American capital have often since that time repeated the -original show. - - -III. THE STRONG MIND FOR GREAT NEEDS - -The union that is strength is always slow in the making. Minds get -together slowly wherever there is freedom in thinking for thought-out -individual responsibility. - -In writing to Benjamin Harrison, Washington pointed out how -detrimental it was for each colony to be centering itself on its own -prosperity. To Colonel Joseph Reed, December, 1778, he wrote more -freely of the "monopolizers, forestallers, and engrossers" who were -"murderers of our cause." - -"It is much to be lamented," he said, "that each state, long ere this, -has not hunted them down as pests to society and the greatest enemies -we have to the happiness of America. I would to God that some one of -the most atrocious in each state was hung in gibbets upon a gallows -five times as high as the one prepared by Haman. No punishment, in my -opinion, is too great for the man who can build his greatness upon his -country's ruin." - -This shows how Washington loathed meanness and treachery and how he -minced no words in saying so. Only such men are leaders of men. No man -who believes anything and is afraid to say it has a place in the -political meaning of America. - -Benjamin Harrison, full of the same righteous resentment, writes at -the time, "If I were to be called upon to draw a picture of the times -and of men, from what I have seen, heard, and in part know, I should -in one word say that idleness, dissipation, and extravagance seem to -have laid fast hold of most of them; that speculation, peculation, and -an insatiable thirst for riches seem to have got the better of every -other consideration, and almost every order of men; that party -disputes and personal quarrels are the great business of the day." - -And so, to one patriot and then to another, Washington appealed for -help to save the wasting fortunes of his country. - -To George Mason he wrote that we are "fast verging to destruction." -The widespread demoralization of both army and people, the scramble -for profit, and the unpatriotic plunder of vital interests at last -became so evident under Washington's ringing denunciations that the -real patriots of the country awoke to the peril. Lafayette and the two -Morrises took the lead in their respective fields of work. Writers and -speakers took up the task of arousing the people and their officers in -Congress, and at last the tide turned. The strong minds at last -prevailed in uniting the people into a reliable force for the great -need, and the American republic became an acknowledged part of the -humanity of the earth. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -TURNING REVOLUTION THROUGH FREEDOM INTO GOVERNMENT - - -I. SEEKING RETIREMENT FOR LIFE IN THE PEACE OF A COUNTRY HOME - -The Revolutionary war had extended over a period of eight years, -through almost unparalleled discouragements and intolerable trials of -faith and purpose, when the British troops were finally withdrawn from -American soil. The differences in the appearances of the British and -American troops are described by an American lady living in New York, -while the British held possession there. She wrote, "We had been -accustomed for a long time to the military display in all the finish -and finery of garrison life; the troops just leaving us were as if -equipped for show, and with their scarlet uniforms and burnished arms -made a brilliant display. The troops that marched in, on the -contrary, were ill-clad and weatherbeaten, and made a forlorn -appearance; but then they were our troops, and, as I looked at them -and thought of all they had done and suffered for us, my heart and my -eyes were full, and I admired and gloried in them the more, because -they were weatherbeaten and forlorn." - -In a letter to Baron Steuben, written on the 23rd of December, 1783, -Washington concludes as follows, "This is the last letter I shall -write while I continue in the service of my country. The hour of my -resignation is fixed at twelve today, after which I shall become a -private citizen on the banks of the Potomac." - -At noon on that memorable day the Hall of Congress was filled with a -notable assemblage of prominent people. The members of Congress -remained seated with their hats on, as was the custom of the times, -but the spectators were standing with uncovered heads when Washington, -conducted by the secretary of Congress, entered and was given a seat -appointed for him. - -The President of Congress arose, and, after stating the purpose of the -meeting at that hour, said to Washington, "The United States in -Congress assembled are now prepared to receive your communication." - -Washington arose and delivered a short address, at the close of which -he said, "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last -solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our -dearest country to the protection of Almighty God; and those who have -the superintendence of them to His holy keeping. Having now finished -the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of action; -and, bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose -orders I have long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my -leave of all the employments of public life." - -A writer who was present, speaking of this scene, says, "Few tragedies -ever drew so many tears from so many beautiful eyes as the moving -manner in which his Excellency took his final leave of Congress." - -The President of Congress replied to his address, and, after reciting -the wisdom and valor with which Washington had accomplished the great -task assigned him, said, "You retire from the theatre of action with -the blessings of your fellow citizens; but the glory of your virtues -will not terminate with your military command; it will continue to -animate remote ages." - -Washington arrived at Mount Vernon on Christmas eve, where the -home-coming was duly celebrated as could be done only in the colonial -plantation days. - -"The scene is at last closed," he wrote to his friend, Governor -Clinton of New York. "I feel myself eased of a load of public care. I -hope to spend the remainder of my days in cultivating the affections -of good men, and in the practice of domestic virtues." - -How little Washington or his friends knew of the future! A task and a -responsibility of no less importance than the conduct of the -Revolutionary war was yet to devolve upon him. The repose of a soldier -had to give way to the mind-work of a great statesman. - -In a letter to that great friend of America, without whose aid there -could hardly have been a free America, General Lafayette, Washington -wrote, "Free from the bustle of a camp and the busy scenes of public -life I am solacing myself with those tranquil enjoyments which the -soldier, who is ever in pursuit of fame; the statesman, whose watchful -days and sleepless nights are spent in devising schemes to promote the -welfare of his own, perhaps the ruin of other countries,--as if this -globe were insufficient for us all; and the courtier, who is always -watching the countenance of his prince in hopes of catching a gracious -smile, can have very little conception." - -Later, in writing to the Marchioness de Lafayette, inviting her to -visit America, where her husband had earned such glory and where -everybody loved and admired him, he gave a charming picture of the -simplicity of his life. - -"I am now enjoying domestic ease under the shadow of my own vine and -fig tree, in a small villa, with the implements of husbandry and -lambkins about me. Come, then, let me entreat you, and call my cottage -your own; for your own doors do not open to you with more readiness -than mine would. You will see the plain manner in which we live, and -meet the rustic civility; and you shall taste the simplicity of rural -life. It will diversify the scene, and may give you a higher relish -for the gayeties of the court when you return to Versailles." - - -II. FREEDOM AND THE WRANGLE FOR PERSONAL GAIN - -Knowing that Washington would be at continual expense to entertain -distinguished guests who would come to see him, Congress tried to -grant him a reward for his distinguished services, but he had served -his country without pay and he refused. In the meanwhile, the -hospitality of Washington was taxed to the utmost, and his time was -much taken up in important conferences over political affairs. The -country was being governed by Congress under the Articles of -Confederation which then bound the states, but probably with less -efficiency than thirteen horses in a single rein and rope harness to -draw a rattling, curtain-flapping carriage. The old state patriotisms -were revived and with them the rivalries and jealousies of political -sections. Whatever one state wanted seemed to be the signal for its -neighbor to want something else. The United States were indeed plural -with a vengeance! "E Pluribus Unum" that had so laboriously and -valiantly come true, as meaning one out of many, in war, had changed -about to its first condition and was again many out of one. - -In 1786, in a letter to General Knox, Washington wrote, "I feel, my -dear General Knox, infinitely more than I can express to you for the -disorders which have arisen in these states. Good God! who, besides a -Tory, could have foreseen, or a Briton predicted them? I do assure you -that, even at this moment, when I reflect upon the present prospect of -affairs, it seems to me to be like the vision of a dream. After what I -have seen, or rather what I have heard, I shall be surprised at -nothing; for, if three years since, any person had told me that there -would have been such a formidable rebellion as exists at this day -against the laws and constitution of our own making, I should have -thought him a bedlamite, a fit subject for a mad-house." - -He wrote to James Madison, saying, "How melancholy is the reflection -that in so short a time we should have made such large strides toward -fulfilling the predictions of our transatlantic foes, who said, 'Leave -them to themselves and their government will soon dissolve'? Will not -the wise and good strive hard to avert this evil?" - -The only remedy which "the wise and good" could use to avert the -calamity of having thirteen feeble little nations at war with one -another was to supplant the "Articles of Confederation" with a Federal -Constitution, and, at last, this was accomplished, with so many -compromises and concessions to so-called "state rights" that it -required a frightful four years' civil war to establish the meaning of -the Federal Constitution, so that the United States grammarians and -politicians could agree to say the United States "is" instead of -saying that the United States "are." - -With the adoption of the Federal Constitution, it was provided that -electors should be chosen whose duty it was to select a president for -the United States. - -There could be but one man seriously considered. The landed gentleman -who had become a soldier and won liberty for the Western world was -soon seen to be destined, by the nation he had made, to be its first -president, and henceforth by nature, if not by the providence of God, -to be statesman, and the "First Citizen of America." Accordingly, -George Washington was chosen first president of the Western republic, -to begin a term of four years from the fourth of March, 1789. - - -III. LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF LIBERTY AND LAW - -Through the desperate eight years of war, in which the devastations of -the British could hardly be called worse than the wrangling -differences of opinion and sordid interests among the colonies, -Washington had conserved and guided the struggle for American liberty, -so that, at the close of the war, with the disembarkation for Halifax -of troops, royalists and tories, there was a unanimous voice of -harmony for a new America. - -Then came the divisions under the rivalry of the colonies as a loose -confederation of separate republics. After that Washington was again -at the head of American interests and for another eight years. It was -a period of reconstruction. The opportunity to have a new nation, that -human beings might have a place of freedom in the sun, was supplied by -the eight years of revolutionary struggle, but the foundations for -that nation were not laid firmly until there were eight years' labor -upon the Constitutional form of government under Washington. - -Probably no man, with the exception of Lincoln, has been so loved and -so hated, or ever will be in America, as Washington. It is the most -pathetic thing in all the weakness of intelligence, or rather the -strength of prejudice, that the world always hates, and sometimes -kills, its benefactors, its friends and saviors. - -But somehow, with all the storm and stress of things, notwithstanding -the hate and revenge of disappointed greed, the rights of life are -carried on, and the values of humanity prevail. - -The time for the third election of a president was drawing near. All -the malignant virulence possible to destroy the name and services of -Washington were coming into use. He was accused of every public evil -and private unfitness under the sun. And yet there is hardly any doubt -worth consideration that he could have been elected for the third term -if he had desired it. But he had done his share of the work of the -world. He saw that his example would be used as a precedent for the -ambitions of future politicians. There must be a reasonable time limit -even to the restricted governing powers of a president. He declined to -serve more than two terms. Only once since then has there been an -organized attempt to break that precedent. The politicians tried their -utmost means to give General Grant a third term, but the hostility of -the nation against the danger of such prolonged power at last -prevailed and the attempt was defeated, probably never to be -successful. - -Washington's farewell address on retiring from the presidency has ever -remained a beacon-light for the guidance of American views of American -government, especially in its relation with foreign nations. - -The reply of the House of Representatives gave strong praise for the -wisdom, firmness, moderation and magnanimity with which he had guided -the affairs of his country. But the kicker was there and his voice was -heard. A prominent representative from Virginia was disgusted with any -praise of Washington's wisdom and firmness. He raised his voice in the -halls of Congress and put himself on historical record as especially -opposed to giving Washington any praise for the administration of -foreign affairs. He declared that "the weakness and feeble judgment of -Washington in our foreign relations" has brought us under "the -contempt of foreign nations," and had conducted our country to "the -verge of a greater calamity than had ever been threatened before in -our history." That patriotic scare sounds strangely like the calamity -prophecies of politicians against every president in every national -crisis. In such cases it is well to remember that political partisans -are not thus qualified to be American patriots. They are special -pleaders for their own particular party greed. - -Twelve other members believed as this one from Virginia. They would -much rather have censured Washington for weakness than to have praised -him for strength. Among these thirteen partisans was a young man from -Tennessee named Andrew Jackson, who afterward became one of the famous -Presidents. - -These violent differences of opinion and the vicious personal attacks -on motives, attributed each to each, has been one of the pitiable -signs of injustice and incompetency in American politics. Time after -time, as the presidential campaigns arrive, the fist-like will of each -side is thrust into the other's faces, as those "belonging" to a party -fight to get votes for the party candidate, not for a patriotic cause. -In times of great national peril, whether in times of war at home -or abroad, the president who preserves, as Washington did, the rights -of his country in conformity to the rights of man, which is the only -possible rights of either, is hated by the extremists on both sides. -They both call him weak, and, therefore, though hating each other, -unite to defeat the man who would not lead his country into taking up -with their special interests. But, fortunately, we sometimes have -presidents with mind, patriotism and character greater than any party. -Most hopefully, there are increasingly greater numbers who belong to -their country instead of to a party, and who elect human principles to -rule and to reign over us rather than the ring-managers of prejudice -and partisanship known as "parties." Presently there will be enough -independent thinking for any one to consider it as unpatriotic to -belong to a "party" as to belong to any other political fragment, -clique, or social group, presuming to dictate what is weakness and -what is strength for the individual mind as its only choice in -patriotism and Americanism. America, composed of every element of -humanity from every part of the earth, is the strongest nation of all -time, and capable of being the clearest and most just for the freedom -of the world. Here we strive for the peace of freedom in law. We war -only against war. American intelligence and mercy are rapidly -devising ways to eliminate the various forms of enslavement, -dissentions and divisions that weaken American civilization, so that -democracy may be safe in itself. In the great European war, President -Wilson announced the purpose of the United States to be for the right -that is greater than peace, in which the world must be made safe for -democracy. And so, humanity gains "a place in the sun" and the kingdom -of heaven is among us. For the sake of peace on earth, America must be -strong in the might of right, and be willing and ready to save to the -uttermost. America is president of the peace-nations of the earth -because it alone is federated upon the principles of human justice, -eternal and universal. - -[Illustration: Washington Statue in United States Capitol, Washington, -D. C.] - -France and America, in the name of liberty, will be forever crowned -together in the praise of human history. The mutual friendship that -existed during Washington's presidency is illustrated by a toast drunk -at a banquet of French and Americans in New York, February 22, 1795: - -"To the President of the United States: May the day that gave him -birth mark an epoch in the annals of liberty! - -"To the French Republic: May she triumph over her enemies and obtain -the tranquillity of peace founded upon justice and reason! - -"To the memory of the heroes of all nations who have gloriously fallen -for the defense of the rights of man!" - -Friends and allies of France have changed during the tumultuous years, -but, republic to republic, France and the United States still pledge -fealty to liberty, justice and reason and do honor to the heroic -defenders of the rights of man among all nations. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -THE PEACE OF HOME AT LAST - - -I. SORROW FOR THE DEPARTED SCENES AROUND MOUNT VERNON - -At the close of his term of office, March 4, 1797, Washington retired -to his home at Mount Vernon loved by all the understanding world. - -In a letter to Mrs. S. Fairfax, then in England, he wrote, "It is a -matter of sore regret when I cast my eyes toward Belvoir, which I -often do, to reflect that the former inhabitants of it, with whom we -lived in such harmony and friendship, no longer reside there, and the -ruins only can be viewed as the mementoes of former pleasures." - -The home interest of Washington can be seen in a letter he wrote to -Miss Nelly Custis, a granddaughter of his wife. Her father had died -when she was a child, and Washington, having no children, had adopted -Nelly and brought her up in his family. She was of a beautiful nature -and was much beloved by Washington. - -She appears to have had some very decided social notions, and one of -these was, as she expressed it, "a perfect apathy toward the youth of -the present day," and a determination never to give herself "a -moment's uneasiness on account of any of them." - -That was perhaps the rather high-sounding notion that romantic young -folks sometimes acquire of independence from usual life and of -superiority to their associates. Evidently Washington did not regard -her resolution with any grave alarm. He perhaps knew the ancient -privilege allowing women to change their minds. Nevertheless, it was -worthy of his experienced consideration, at least against letting too -many know her "irrevocable determination" because, when she did -change, as was doubtless inevitable, it should not bear any likelihood -of being embarrassing. - -"Men and women," he wrote her, "feel the same inclination toward each -other now that they always have done, and which they will continue to -do until there is a new order of things; and you, as others have done, -may find that the passions of your sex are easier raised than allayed. -Do not, therefore, boast too soon nor too strong of your -insensibility. - -"Love is said to be an involuntary passion, and it is therefore -contended that it cannot be resisted. This is true in part only, for, -like all things else, when nourished and supplied plentifully with -aliment, it is rapid in its progress; but let these be withdrawn, and -it may be stifled in its birth or much stinted in its growth. - -"Although we cannot avoid first impressions, we may assuredly place -them under guard. - -"When the fire is beginning to kindle, and your heart growing warm, -propound these questions to it: Who is this invader? Have I a -competent knowledge of him? Is he a man of good character? A man of -sense? For, be assured, a sensible woman can never be happy with a -fool. What has been his walk in life? Is he one to whom my friends can -have no reasonable objection? - -"If all these interrogations can be satisfactorily answered, there -will remain but one more to be asked. That, however, is an important -one. Have I sufficient ground to conclude that his affections are -engaged by me? Without this the heart of sensibility will struggle -against a passion that is not reciprocated." - -Sure enough, it was but a short time until romance came to Mount -Vernon, and Miss Nelly changed her mind very promptly. Lawrence Lewis -arrived, the clouds of doubt vanished, and the love-bells were set to -ringing until the wedding-bells took up the melody that passed on into -the music of the spheres. - - -II. CROWNED IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME 1799 - -The beginning of the year 1799 was full of the romantic happiness of -immortal youth for the household of Washington, but the close of the -year brought to an end the career of the first great American. On the -twelfth of December he rode as usual around the estate at Mount -Vernon, and was caught in a sleety rain. From this he developed acute -laryngitis and died on the night of the fourteenth. He said, "I die -hard but I am not afraid to go," and his last words were, "'Tis well." - -His loved ones were around him and his last look was lovingly upon -them. The doctor saw his countenance change in death. He put his hands -over the eyes out of which the light had forever gone, and one of the -noblest souls of the earth passed away. There was not a struggle or a -sigh. - -Mrs. Washington was sitting at the foot of the bed, and she asked -bravely, "Is he gone?" - -The doctor could not speak, but he held up his hand as a sign that the -spirit of their beloved was no longer there. - -"'Tis well," she said, repeating his last words. "All is now over; I -shall soon follow him; I have no more trials to pass through." - -The tributes of America and the world to his honor and his name may be -noted in the words of Lord Brougham, an eminent British statesman, who -reflected the feeling of the nation against which he had waged a -successful war: "It will be the duty of the historian, and the sage of -all nations," he said, "to let no occasion pass of commemorating this -illustrious man, and, until time shall be no more, will a test of the -progress which our race has made in wisdom and virtue be derived from -the veneration paid to the immortal name of Washington." - -The great nations having any sort of democratic ideal fully recognized -the fact that in his death had passed away one of the great men of the -earth. The English Channel fleet lowered their ships' flags at -half-mast in token of respect, and in the land of Napoleon, who was -then master of France, there was crepe draped about all their -standards. Talleyrand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and one of the -greatest orators and statesmen, prepared a report to the French -government in which he said: "A nation which some day will be a great -nation, and which today is the wisest and happiest on the face of the -earth, weeps at the bier of a man whose courage and genius contributed -most to free it from bondage and elevated it to the rank of an -independent and sovereign power. The regrets caused by the death of -this great man, the memories aroused by these regrets, and a proper -veneration for all that is held dear and sacred by mankind, impel us -to give expression to our sentiments by taking part in an event which -deprives the world of one of its brightest ornaments, and removes to -the realm of history one of the noblest lives that ever honored the -human race. - -"His own country now honors his memory with funeral ceremonies, having -lost a citizen whose public actions and unassuming grandeur in private -life were a living example of courage, wisdom and unselfishness; and -France, which from the dawn of American Revolution hailed with hope a -nation, hitherto unknown, that was discarding the vices of Europe, -which foresaw all the glory that this nation would bestow on humanity, -and the enlightenment of governments that would ensue from the novel -character of the social institutions, and the new type of heroism, of -which Washington and America were models for the world at -large,--France, I repeat, should depart from established usages, and -do honor to one whose fame is beyond comparison with that of others. -The man who, among the decadence of modern ages, first dared believe -that he could inspire degenerate nations with courage to rise to the -level of republican virtues, lived for all nations and for all -centuries." - -These tributes from the two greatest nations were sincere despite the -fact that one of them had just been humiliated, beaten and dismembered -by his leadership, and the other was only recently in the midst of -open hostilities toward the United States, against which Washington -was again made the national commander-in-chief, thus on the very verge -of war with France. Only in his own country had Washington been the -object of the bitterest personal slander and political calumny. But, -at his death, all ignorant prejudice and foul-mouthed envy became -silent and sought to be hidden from the public presence. In him there -was greatness that could not be questioned and character that could be -known only to be praised. The vision of him never fails from the sky -of American ideals, and the young people of this nation have only to -know his life to know for what kind of political interest each one -should labor in the name of American liberty and the progress of an -American humanity. - -Washington regarded parties as one of the most inexcusable and -disturbing elements in the political life of a nation. He believed in -men and principles, not in parties and platforms. It was more than a -hundred years after his death before the people of the United States -began to discard allegiance to parties and platforms in favor of men -and the principles of humanity. - -When misrepresentation began its assault upon him in the presidency as -it had done in the army, Washington wrote, "The man who means to -commit no wrong will never be guilty of enormities; consequently he -can never be unwilling to learn what are ascribed to him as foibles. -If they are really such, the knowledge of them in a well disposed mind -will go halfway towards a reform. If they are errors, he can explain -and justify the motive of his actions." - -It is thus that a well-balanced disposition willingly receives -criticism, whatever its motive, for any value he can get out of it, -with little concern for the intentions of the criticism, if his own -purpose is fair and just. - -He greatly deplored the misrepresentation of the partisan newspapers, -believing that the people of a nation would never go wrong if they had -the truth before them upon which to make up their minds. It is very -generally true that parties have governed for the spoils of power and -office. Political parties have very often fostered false argument and -worse distortion of their opponents' meaning, so that large numbers of -honorable and honest-minded persons have been misled into truly -fearful fanaticism, and more fearful support of purposes, which, if -they had known, they would have abhorred. - - -III. A LIFE-LIKE SCENE FROM WASHINGTON'S HOME LIFE - -John Bernard, a noted English actor, who came to play an engagement in -America soon after Washington had retired from the presidency, tells -an experience which gives us quite a picture of our own, in which we -can see Washington free from all the glamor of fame that usually half -hides the real man from our view. - -Bernard says that he was playing at Annapolis in 1798 when, one day, -he went out riding down below Alexandria. Just as he was coming in -sight of a man and young woman riding toward him in a chaise, the -carriage was overturned and the two were thrown violently out. The man -was not hurt but the woman was struck unconscious. The actor rode -hurriedly up, and, dismounting, began at once to see what could be -done for the woman. Soon she returned to consciousness with a volley -of fierce scolding at her husband that was extremely ludicrous, if not -ridiculous. - -Bernard now noticed that another man had ridden up and was helping the -unfortunate husband to extricate the horse and get the animal upon its -feet. The three men then set to work to get the heavy carriage, still -heavier loaded with baggage, back into service. It was a hot July day -and the half hour's work was a rather exhausting task for two who -seemed to be out riding for mere recreation. - -When the man and his wife were once more in the carriage, ready to -drive on, they invited the two strangers to go on with them to -Alexandria and have something to drink in appreciation of their timely -service, but both declined, and the chaise started afresh upon its -journey. - -Bernard says, "My companion, after an exclamation at the heat, offered -very courteously to dust my coat, a favor the return of which enabled -me to take a deliberate survey of his person. He was a tall, erect, -well-made man, evidently advanced in years, but who appeared to have -retained all the vigor and elasticity resulting from a life of -temperance and exercise. His dress was a blue coat buttoned to his -chin and buckskin breeches. Though the instant he took off his hat I -could not avoid the recognition of familiar lineaments, which, indeed, -I was in the habit of seeing on every sign-post and over every -fireplace, still I failed to identify him, and to my surprise I found -that I was an object of equal speculation in his eyes. - -"'Mr. Bernard, I believe' he said after a moment's pause, and then -spoke of having seen me play in Philadelphia, following at once with -an invitation to spend a couple of hours in rest and refreshment at -his house, which he pointed out in the distance." - -It then came clear to the actor who was his distinguished-looking -companion. - -Mr. Bernard thus continues his description of this experience, "'Mount -Vernon,' I exclaimed; and then, drawing back with a stare of wonder, -'Have I the honor of addressing General Washington?' - -"With a smile whose expression of benevolence I have rarely seen -equalled, he offered his hand and replied: 'An odd sort of -introduction, Mr. Bernard; but I am pleased to find you can play so -active a part in private without a prompter.'" - -In the conversation that ensued over the refreshments at Mount Vernon, -Mr. Bernard studied his distinguished host with deep earnestness, and -has left us a vivid picture in description as the actor saw him. - -He says that in the conversation Washington's face did not present -much variety of expression. It wore always a look of profound -thoughtfulness. Neither was there much change in the tones of his -voice, but its intonations were rich with the depths of expression. - -The keynote of his talk seemed to be summed up, as the actor believed, -in one of the sentences of this conversation: "I am a man, and -interested in all that concerns humanity." This is in truth the -keynote of any mind that ever achieves anything worth while. One does -for self or party or nation only as it is for humanity. Any other deed -or thought is not patriotism but partisanship. America is that manhood -interested with all its available means in the humanity of the world. - -Mr. Bernard, with what seems to be the deep insight that a great actor -must have into character and human nature, says, "He spoke like a man -who had felt as much as he had reflected, and reflected more than he -had spoken; like one who had looked upon society rather in the mass -than in detail, and who regarded the happiness of America but as the -first link in a series of universal victories." This vision, opened up -to America in the devastations of the Great European War for "a place -in the sun," was enlarged by American patriots, not for any closed-in -nation, but for the rights of humanity. - -It chanced, during the conversation, that, while Washington was -comparing English liberty as surrounded by walls, with American -liberty as in the open, a black man came in with a jug of spring -water. - -Washington saw the actor look at the slave and smile with an inward -thought. He quickly guessed at the thought and responded, "When we -profess, as our fundamental principle, that liberty is the inalienable -right of every man, we do not include madmen or idiots; liberty in -their hands would become a scourge. Till the mind of the slave has -been educated to perceive what are the obligations of a state of -freedom, and not confound a man's freedom with a brute's, the gift -would insure its abuse." - -He expressed his belief that slavery must some time be banished for -the unity of American principles, and, in this connection, it should -be remembered that, by will, he freed all his own slaves, to take -place at the death of his wife. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -STANDARDS OF AMERICAN PATRIOTISM - - -I. FOUNDATIONS - -The fundamental statement of American democracy and freedom is to be -found in the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence -and in the preamble of the Constitution. That keynote of humanity -there expressed is as follows: - -"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created -equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable -Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of -Happiness; that to secure these rights Governments are instituted -among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the -governed; that, whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of -these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, -and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such -principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall -seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." - -The unity of purpose, hereditary in responsibility to all native -Americans, and sworn to as the accepted duty of all naturalized -citizens, is expressed in the last sentence of the Declaration: - -"And, for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the -protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our -lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." - -The preamble of the Constitution reaffirms and reinforces the American -ideal of a progressive and perfective striving toward a government "of -the people, by the people and for the people." - -It is as follows: - -"We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect -Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for -the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the -Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and -establish this Constitution of the United States of America." - -The oath of allegiance into which we are born, and which becomes the -measure of every possible American, contains the following inescapable -responsibility: - -"I, ----, do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend the -Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and -domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that -I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or -purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the -duties of the office which I am about to enter: So help me God." - - -II. FREEDOM OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE - -The Farewell Address of Washington to Congress contains advice on our -foreign relations which is part of any study of his life. The most -important of this is as follows: "The great rule of conduct for us in -regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations, -to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far -as we have already formed engagements let them be fulfilled with -perfect good faith. Here let us stop. - -"Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none, or a -very remote, relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent -controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our -concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate -ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her -politics or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her -friendships or enmities. - -"Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a -different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient -government, the period is not far off when we may defy material injury -from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will -cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be -scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the -impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard -the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our -interest, guided by justice, shall counsel. - -"Why forego the advantages of as peculiar a situation? Why quit our -own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny -with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in -the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice? - -"It is our duty to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion -of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do -it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity -to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public -than to private affairs that honesty is always the best policy. - -"Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on -a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary -alliances for extraordinary emergencies." - -Washington in his will, disposing of his swords, says, "These swords -are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheath them for the -purpose of shedding blood except it be for self-defense, or in defense -of their country and its rights, and in the latter case to keep them -unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands to the -relinquishment thereof." - -Related to the Farewell Address and as a corollary to it is what is -known as "The Monroe Doctrine." - -The "Monroe Doctrine" as a policy of the United States is founded upon -two passages in President Monroe's message to Congress on Dec. 2, -1823. These passages follow: - - "In the discussion to which this interest has given rise, and - in the arrangements by which they may terminate, the occasion - has been deemed proper for asserting, as a principle in which - rights and interests of the United States are involved, that - the American continents, by the free and independent condition - which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be - considered as subjects for future colonization by any European - power.... - - "We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations - existing between the United States and those powers to declare - that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend - their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to - our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or - dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and - shall not interfere. But with the governments who have - declared their independence and maintain it, and whose - independence we have, on great consideration and on just - principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition - for the purpose of oppressing them or controlling in any other - manner their destiny by any European power in any other light - than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward - the United States." - -Two notable explanations have been given, as follows: - -Secretary of State Olney in his dispatch of July 20, 1895, on the -Venezuelan boundary dispute, said: - - "It (the Monroe Doctrine) does not establish any general - protectorate by the United States over other American States. - It does not relieve any American State from its obligations as - fixed by international law, nor prevent any European power - directly interested from enforcing such obligations or from - inflicting merited punishment for the breach of them." - -President Roosevelt, in a speech in 1902 upon the results of the -Spanish-American war, said: - - "The Monroe Doctrine is simply a statement of our very firm - belief that the nations now existing on this continent must be - left to work out their own destinies among themselves, and that - this continent is no longer to be regarded as the colonizing - ground of any European power. The one power on the continent - that can make the power effective is, of course, ourselves; for - in the world as it is, a nation which advances a given - doctrine, likely to interfere in any way with other nations, - must possess the power to back it up, if it wishes the doctrine - to be respected." - -President Wilson in an address to the Senate of the United States, -Jan. 22, 1917, advised an American interest in an extension of the -Monroe Doctrine. The main points were as follows: - - "No peace can last, or ought to last, which does not recognize - and accept the principle that governments derive all their - just powers from the consent of the governed, and that no right - anywhere exists to hand people about from sovereignty to - sovereignty as if they were property. - - "I am proposing, as it were, that the nations should with one - accord adopt the doctrine of President Monroe as the doctrine - of the world: That no nation should seek to extend its policy - over any other nation or people, but that every people should - be left free to determine its own policy, its own way of - development, unhindered, unthreatened, unafraid, the little - along with the great." - - -III. THE LOYALTY OF YOUTH - -Rome and Greece in their age of world dominion were great because of -the loyalty and nobility of their youth. Patriotism is by no means a -modern virtue, and it is often wondered if the youth of the new world -is alive to their country's honor equal to the youth of the ancient -world. - -[Illustration: Washington Tomb--Mount Vernon, Virginia.] - -An example of that ancient patriotism may be shown in the oath of the -young men of Athens. It is as follows: - - "We will never bring disgrace to this our city by any act of - dishonesty or cowardice, nor ever desert our suffering comrades - in the ranks. We will fight for the ideals and sacred things of - the city, both alone and with many; we will revere and obey the - city's laws and do our best to incite a like respect and - reverence in those about us who are prone to annul or set them - at naught; we will strive unceasingly to quicken the public's - sense of civic duty. Thus in all these ways we will transmit - this city not only not less but greater, better and more - beautiful than it was transmitted to us." - -The young men of revolutionary times were full of "the Spirit of '76." -During the troublous days of near-war with France, in the -administration of John Adams, the young men were eager to sustain -their country's honor. As a good example, we may read with profit the -address of the Harvard College students, which was published in _The -Boston Centinel_, May 19, 1798: - - "ADDRESS TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN ADAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED - STATES - - "Sir: We flatter ourselves you will not be displeased at - hearing that the walls of your native seminary are now - inhabited by youth possessing sentiments congenial with your - own. We do not pretend to great political sagacity; we wish - only to convince mankind that we inherit the intrepid spirit - of our ancestors and disdain submission to the will of a - rapacious, lawless and imperious nation. Though removed from - active life, we have watched with anxiety the interests of our - country. We have seen a nation in Europe grasping at universal - conquest, trampling on the laws of God and nations, - systematizing rapine and plunder, destroying foreign - governments by the strength of her arms or the pestilence of - her embraces and scattering principles which subvert social - order, raise the storms of domestic faction and perpetuate the - horrors of revolution. We have seen this same nation violating - our neutral rights, spurning our pacific proposals, her - piratical citizens sweeping our ships from the seas and venal - presses under her control pouring out torrents of abuse on men - who have grown gray in our service. We have seen her ministers - in this country insulting our government by a daring, - unprecedented and contemptuous appeal to the people, and her - agents at home offering conditions which slaves whose necks - have grown to the yoke would reject with indignation. We have - seen this, sir, and our youthful blood has boiled within us. - When, in opposition to such conduct, we contemplate the - measures of our own government, we cannot but admire and - venerate the unsullied integrity, the decisive prudence and - dignified firmness which have uniformly characterized your - administration. Impressed with these sentiments, we now - solemnly offer the unwasted ardor and unimpaired energies of - our youth to the service of our country. Our lives are our - only property; and we were not the sons of those who sealed - our liberties with their blood if we would not defend with - these lives that soil which now affords a peaceful grave to - the mouldering bones of our forefathers." - -That address lets us into the feeling of patriotism that animated the -people in the days of Washington and the making of America. We can -easily imagine the makers of that address as being fired with fervor -from the eloquence of Patrick Henry, the bold assertions of Thomas -Paine, and the unanswerable logic of Thomas Jefferson. - -Only a few years before, in the dark hours of his country, Thomas -Paine had put new life into the sorely pressed people by his patriotic -pamphlets, from one of which we quote these words: - - "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier - and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the - service of his country; but he that stands it _now_ deserves - the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like Hell, is - not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, - that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. - What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: 'tis dearness - only that gives everything its value. - - "Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it - would be strange indeed if so celestial article as _freedom_ - should not be highly rated." - - Washington's labor was likewise lightened by the inspiring - patriotism of many other noble makers of the new America. - Thomas Jefferson, who became the third president, was of - priceless service. His call to American patriotism may be well - illustrated in a few of his most quoted statements: - - "The man who loves his country on its own account, and not - merely for its trappings of interest or power, can never be - divorced from it, can never refuse to come forward when he - finds that it is engaged in dangers which he has the means of - warding off." - - "The first foundations of the social compact would be broken - up were we definitely to refuse to its members the protection - of their persons and property while in their lawful pursuits." - - "The persons and property of our citizens are entitled to the - protection of our government in all places where they may - lawfully go." - - "We must make the interest of every nation stand surety for - their justice, and their own loss to follow injury to us as - effect follows its cause." - - "The times do certainly render it incumbent on all good - citizens, attached to the rights and honor of their country, - to bury in oblivion all internal differences and rally round - the standard of their country in opposition to the outrages of - foreign nations." - - "We are alarmed with the apprehensions of war, and sincerely - anxious that it may be avoided; but not at the expense either - of our faith or our honor." - - "It is an eternal truth that acquiescence under insult is not - the way to escape war." - - "When wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be - borne, resistance becomes morality." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS ON THE CHARACTER AND CAREER OF WASHINGTON - - -I. THE WASHINGTON IDEAL AS THE FIRST GREAT AMERICAN IDEAL - -Washington's religious belief has been the object of considerable -controversy, because there is no standard or measure for a man's -religious belief until the one investigating it gives his precise -definition of what he means by religion, and that probably can not be -done, for any basis of general agreement. It is not so easy to map out -the interest and meaning of human feeling. Somehow no great man has -ever felt that what he accomplished was done by his unaided self. -Everyone has in some form believed in a superior Guide. So a statement -of Washington in 1778 may be taken as the keynote of his religious -belief. He said, "The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in -all this that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and -more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his -obligations." - -His faith in the benevolence of order and law as divinely designed is -shown in his statement in 1791 that, "The great Ruler of events will -not permit the happiness of so many millions to be destroyed." In -1792, he said, "As the All-Wise Disposer of events has hitherto -watched over my steps, I trust that, in the important one I may be -soon called upon to take, he will mark the course so plainly as that I -cannot mistake the way." - -That this faith was necessary to his purpose and mind, to help him -through the long series of trials, in both the war and presidency, no -one can doubt, who reads the detailed history of those periods,--they -were so often desperately discouraging, so often both helpless and -hopeless to any human foresight or judgment. - -A few phrases taken from the "Mount Vernon Tribute" express the -Americanism of Washington. The author of that inscription is unknown, -but whoever it was he knew. The tribute was transcribed from a -manuscript copy on the back of a picture frame containing a portrait -of Washington, found hanging in one of the rooms at Mount Vernon -after Washington's death. There he is called "The Defender of His -Country," "The Founder of Liberty," "The Friend of Man," and -"Benefactor of Mankind." "He triumphantly vindicated the Rights of -Humanity," "Magnanimous in Youth, Glorious through Life, Great in -Death"; "His Highest Ambition the Happiness of Mankind." According to -this definition of patriotism, the meaning is not limited to a -political area of square miles or boundary lines. - -The noble tributes to Washington's character and work would fill many -volumes, but a few will show how his life is regarded as a model for -the youths of America. - -Senator Vance of North Carolina said, "The youth of America who aspire -to promote their own and their country's welfare should never cease to -gaze upon his great example, or to remember that the brightest gems in -the crown of his immortality, the qualities which uphold his fame on -earth and plead for him in heaven, were those which characterized him -as the patient, brave Christian gentleman." - -James Bryce, the English statesman, publicist, and historian, said, -"Washington stands alone and unapproachable, like a snow-peak rising -above its fellows into the clear air of morning, with a dignity, -constancy, and purity which have made him the ideal type of civic -virtue to succeeding generations." - -Henry Lee, who was beloved by Washington like a son, has given us the -great picture of him, "First in war, first in peace, first in the -hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and -endearing scenes of private life; pious, just, humane, temperate, and -sincere, uniform, dignified, and commanding, his example was as -edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example -lasting." - -Lord Byron wrote, - - "Where may the wearied eyes repose, - When gazing on the great, - Where neither guilty glory glows, - Nor despicable state? - Yes,--one, the first, the last, the best, - The Cincinnatus of the West, - Whom envy dared not hate, - Bequeathed the name of Washington, - To make men blush, there was but one." - -Louis Kossuth, the great Hungarian patriot, said, "Let him who looks -for a monument to Washington look around the United States. Your -freedom, your independence, your national power, your prosperity, and -your prodigious growth are a monument to him." - -Lord Macaulay says that he had in his character, "The sobriety, the -self-command, the perfect soundness of judgment, the perfect rectitude -of intention, to which the history of revolutions furnishes no -parallel, or furnishes a parallel in Washington alone." - -The tribute of the greatest American to the greatest American, for, so -alike are these two in divinity of mind for the divinity of America -and humanity that they can thus be thought of only as one, should be -known to all. Abraham Lincoln says, "Washington's is the mightiest -name on earth--long since mightiest in the cause of civil liberty; -still mightiest in moral reformation. On that name no eulogy is -expected. It cannot be. To add brightness to the sun, or glory to the -name of Washington, is alike impossible. Let none attempt it. In -solemn awe pronounce the name, and in its naked deathless splendor -leave it shining on." - - -II. NOT BIRTH BUT CHARACTER MAKES AMERICANS - -Washington and Lincoln are two names inseparately connected in the -making and preservation of America. Each became the leader in his -country's interests at a period of almost unspeakable dissention and -of indescribable peril to freedom as the condition of social -civilization. In the midst of that terrible turmoil, through every -form of abuse, intrigue and obstruction, they kept clear the way that -America should go, and upheld the America that all freeborn men -believed to be the ideal and opportunity of humanity and mankind. - -Washington is often declared to have been so much of his life an -Englishman that he cannot be regarded as a real born American. With -this declaration it is also asserted that Lincoln was the first -complete representative of real Americanism. This is as much as to say -that one born into the richest family in the early days of a town is -not as much of a citizen as one born in the poorest house in the town -when it has become a city. Search can nowhere reveal any Americanism -in either of those great souls that was not also in the other. -Physical surroundings had much to do with the details of their minds, -characters and careers, but nothing to do with their principles of -humanity which were indistinguishably the same. The glorious largeness -of their hearts and their manhood made the same supreme American. -Though less in leadership and in effect upon the life of their -country, there were thousands, if not millions, as perfectly -synonymous with Americanism as either Washington or Lincoln. It is -thus character and not birth that makes Americans, and therefore it is -not place but humanity that makes America. - -The hereditary mansion and the log hut were but the outer form of -those two great men. The faith, hope and love within for the freedom -of humanity, in the truth that makes men free, were the same in both -hut and mansion. - -Those numerous malcontents who vilified Washington, and whose -subsequents poisoned the atmosphere around Lincoln, could not see an -hour beyond their own dog's day, and were unable to measure any value -greater than their own personal interests. The very names which they -strove to make great in the historical vision of posterity have -vanished, or their perversions have been forgiven as repented fully. -In contrast to them are such noble heroes illustrated, for instance by -John Dickinson, who did not believe it was their duty to leave wealth -to their children, but it was necessary to leave them a heritage of -liberty; by Samuel Adams, who was impoverished by his stand for -American freedom, and yet scornfully refused an honored office that -was meant to bribe him away from the American cause; by Robert Morris, -who gave his fortune to feed the starving troops in the darkest period -of the war; and by Benjamin Franklin, rich, famous and old, past -seventy years of age, accepting the dangerous, laborious and -sacrificing mission to France, in the name of human union, for a -liberty-loving world. It required the profoundest devotion and heroism -for one so old as Franklin to break with friends of a lifetime, as -shown when he wrote, - - "You and I were long friends; you are now my enemy and I am - yours, - "B. FRANKLIN." - -Likewise, when he signed the Declaration of Independence, saying, "We -must now all hang together or hang separately." - -The foundations of Americanism rest on Americans and when they are -needed they always come forth to keep the faith. - - -III. THE AMERICAN LESSON LEARNED FROM THE GREATEST LEADERS IN THE -MAKING OF AMERICA - -Washington was no prodigy, and it belittles both him and Lincoln to be -rated as miracles. The study of their lives teaches us above all -things that there was no accident about them. They built themselves -up out of the material of their experiences and circumstances into -manhood and character, ready for the tasks of their human world. - -No man of colonial times lived more under English aristocratic -influence than Washington, and yet it only served as a contrast in -which to define his principles of liberty, his meaning of manhood and -his vision of humanity. So, also, no man of his times was more under -the belittling trivialities of frontier destitution and ignorance than -Abraham Lincoln, but it only served as inspiration and revelation for -his moral duty in the supreme crisis of the American nation. - -The lives of these two great men, from such widely different origins, -and yet coming to oneness in such a mutual cause and character, are -vital inspiration to every aspiring youth, showing that the value of -character is in every one's own hands if he will but look around and -get the true measure of what are life, and mind, and humanity. Those -careers show that the rights of man are never found in fragments, nor -exclusive in parties or single nations. - -Larned says, in his "Study of Greatness in Men," that "A man more -perfectly educated than Abraham Lincoln, in the true meaning of -education, did not exist in the world. When the time came for his -doing a great work, he had perfected his powers, and the simple story -of the simple methods of self-culture and self-training, by which he -was nature-led to that perfect result, holds the whole philosophy of -education." - -Washington's life was a fine human model through all the periods of -his career, but the heartening lesson of Lincoln was in his -unconquerable struggle to master a way of life, in the course of which -could appear his worthy human task. - -Lincoln's man-making process especially proves, even as Washington's -life had already shown, that there must be a fundamental honesty of -purpose in building up the mind or no one can ever arrive at manhood, -character or more abundant life. - -Washington and Lincoln were continuously expressing themselves in word -or deed, but always striving for the reasonable in a clear-minded way. -Their mind-making was always the process of achieving a humanity-mind -capable of clear world-wisdom. In that kingdom alone is the -Americanism that is human liberty, the rights of man and the moral -redemption of the world. - -The cruel martyrdom of Lincoln's death no doubt threw a glamor of -hero-worship over Lincoln, which does him more injustice than honor, -for the simple reason that the merit of his life belongs to his own -heroic soul, and its desperate struggle up to the light. Washington's -real life and character have been much obscured by the romance of his -times and the hero-worship which so much prevailed in the literature -of his period. It is doubtless of more real value to American -patriotism, personal character and moral humanity, for both the heroic -and the trivial to fade from our interest in the lives of Washington -and Lincoln, and from the meaning of their lives for the rights of -man. We need to appreciate the human struggle within themselves that -made them admirable men, and we need to know it in relation to the -human work around them that made them admirable Americans. More and -more we can see in their earnest endeavor for the right-minded way, -not only the making of men and the making of Americans, but also the -making of America and the making of the World. - - END - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonderful Story of Washington, by -Charles M. 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