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About Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1893)
'. y HE KEFUSED A CROWN AN EXAMPLE OF WASHINGTON'S NO BLE AND UNSELFISH NATURE. Bow Tilts Action Impressed Gladstone and Carlyle It Seemed Incomprehensi ble to lionapnrte Washington's Rela tion with Trumbull and Arnold. Copyright, 1803, by American Press Associa tion. Mr. Gladstone, in one of his chats with Chauncey M. Depew, said that he was inclined to tho belief that all in all per haps the greatest man' since Martin Luther was George Washington, and the great English statesman went on to explain what he meant by this charac terization. Ho did not regard Washing ton as intellectually possessed of such genius as any one of half a dozen men whom ho could name. His military genius is undisputed, although of course it is hardly fair to compare it with that displayed by John Churchill or Napoleon or Wellington. Judged simply by re sults, it was as great as the victories of any of these men. since it led to the es tablishment of a nation destined to bo pre-eminent in tho nations of the world. Every one who has studied the mili tary movements of the Revolution on both Bides is aware that Washington was very greatly helped by the distrac tions which existed in Great Britain and which made it impossible to concentrate its efforts in tho American colonies. What tho result would have been had Great Britain sent a Wellington com manding n great British army in case ho and Washington joined in battlono man can say. Yet Mr. Gladstone thonght that in some respects Washington stood the greatest tests. His so called Fabian policy, which consisted in extraordi- GENKRAL WASHINGTON. narily skillful avoidance of battle when defeat would have been almost certain and when it required strategy of the highest order to avoid it. was carried out with the patience and tho conviction of genius. Hia retreat after the battle of Long Island was of itself, in Glad stone's opinion, sufficient evidence of great military nbility to justify his ap pointment as commander in chief of the American armies. But it was not in respect of military quality that Mr. Gladstone regarded Washington as 60 pre-eminently great. It was in the perfect balance of all bis greater moral and intellectual qualities that this pre-eminence lay. His patience, according to-Mr. Gladstone, was some thing exceeding that of any other man who achieved greatness, for it was pa tience under extraordinary irritations, and patience exercised for no personal ambition, but simply for the cause. His conception of what tho govern ment which ho was seeking to establish should bo was quite as distinct nnd com prehensive as that of Hamilton, Jay, Madison or Jefferson, although ho prob ably could not have set forth in legal ar gument as they did tho reasons for that conception. They wero admirably 6et forth in his messages, and especially in his farewell address, although there are indications that some of tho messages were written by Hamilton, while the farewell address was unquestionably written by Livingston, although some writers believe that Madison wrote it. Bat if the phraseology was that of the secretary the ideas were those of Wash ington, nnd he undoubtedly set them forth to his secretaries, asking them, who were more familiar with tho literary use of tho pen Juan he, to put them in fitting language? ' Mr, Gladstone regards the finest rrinmph of noble, unselfish, patriotic and majestic impulse to be illustrated by one brief incident in Washington's career. When Washington refused the crowr then the world bad the finest ex mplutoatioa of a noble, majestic nature, . TU huidMt U jut MfwalliarM it """"" 1 ' ' 11 'ggggacag THE:WAShIlGToyifAniLY should bo. American youth know thai Washington captured Coniwallis, made a brilliant retreat after the battle of Long Island and worried and fretted the Brit ish armies into exhaustion during u seven years' war. They also know that he was president twice and declined to become president a third timo. There are not many who know that the only time tears were seen in his eyes and the manifesta tion of great personal sorrow was made to those about him was upon that oc casion at the close of the war when his army, encamped upon the banks of the Hudson, wasabouttobedisbandod. There WASHINGTON UKFUSING T1IK CROWN. were men who wore fearful that the am bitions and jealousieH of some of thone who had been of influence during the Revolution would lead them to attempt to gain great personal power. There wero others who believed that as a result of the victory there would be established m America a constitutional monarchy modeled after that of Great Britain The nation as we now know it was a government yet to he created. So a company of officers men having influence having talked thiH matter over, agreed to go to Washington, ask him to accept the crown of empire and to promise him the support of the unny in establishing thus a personal throne. When they approached him Washington believed that these officers and friends of his had come upon some such errand as led them often to seek him fpr counsel He was in a happy frame of mind that morning. The war was ended victori ously, and he had already been in con sultation with Hamilton and some others respecting the form of civil government which tho now free colonies should un dertake. They offered him tho crown in but a single sentence. A few years before, across the river, Washington, being seat ed at breakfast, had been approached by an officer, who said to him that Benedict Arnold had fled after an attempt to be tray West Point into the hands of the British. The news was appalling and to Washington must have been extraordi narily painful, since for Arnold lie had a personal affection which he bestowed upon only two or three of his other offi cers. Yet so great was hisself command so superb his capacity for suppressing emotion, so thoroughly had ho schooled himself to face adversity with calmness, that those about him only saw a look of sad sternness come to hia countenance as he uttered the now historic words. "Whom can wo now trnstV" But when these officers proposed to him the empire and tried to put the scepter in his hand Washington broke down. There was sorrow and there was anger in his countenance and in his man- "-TN AW.V --T- r'L JONATHAN TRl'MBULL. bct. Tears camo to his eyes, and when ho dismissed them with a sail gestnreand only a brief word these men realized th.it Washinirton hud been shocked and grieved that it could have entered into their hearts that ho for one moment conld have regarded an empire as possible or could havo fought through thoso seven years that he might himself attain the taroae. UaottcgWMMorirr l n mm - . ,tf'V bybnkTo- oaxMM rented his moral greatness, but, accord ing to the opinion of Mr. Gladstone nnd other great English thinkers who have studied his life, made it impossible that a monarchy could ever bo established in the United States. Carlyle, who had no great opinion of the American Revolution, believing, if his private talks with Americans whom he met have been correctly reported, that it was little more than a guerrilla war fare, nevertheless has said that this half sorrowful, half angry and contemptuous repulse to those who were bringing to him a crown was something greater than the command of tho American armies through 6even years to ultimate victory. It was an act that Europeans could not understand. Bonaparte was always inclined to be lieve the story purely apocryphal, al though he was a great admirer of Washington and paid a higher tribute to his military genius than some other great captains have dono. But it was incomprehensible to Bonaparte that a man should have conducted a prolonged warfare to success without any idea of personal aggrandizement, and, moreover Bonaparte himself had no conception whatever of any other form of republic in government than that hideous night mare which followed tho French rovolu :ion. Washington's greatness was impressed ipon some "f the great men of tho times u which he lived even before the world understood his victories, and there are iome anecdotes traditionary respecting lis relations with two of tho ablest men i- if the Revolutionary period which hav mt become threadbare by constant repe ition. and which' illustrate this impres don of greatness which be gave to hi contemporaries. Two of the ablest men produced bj the Revolutionary era wero Jonatlnr Trumbull and Benedict Arnold. Thej were both natives of eastern Connect! jut. Arnold was born only a few mil from TrunlbuU's home. Trumbull wa a man of great piety, spleudld executive capacity and possessed in the highest de gree the qualities of statemanship. Ar nold was intellectually brilliant, but even in childhood had revealed deficient moral quality. He would have made a great business man, and was in fact em- BENEDICT ARNOLD. barked on such a career when the guns at Lexington brought him into tho field. Trumbull, who was governor of the Connecticut colony, greatly admired Ar nold's energy in getting his company to gether within an hour after the messen ger brought the news of Lexington, and at the bayonet's point demanding pow der from the hesitating New Haven au thorities, and then, equipped, leading them la the march across country to Boston. It was'Trumbnll who advised Washington of this exploit, bo that Washington became early Impressed with Arnold's military ardor and ability. Arnold's achievement in taking an army across the wilds of Maine to Que bec, which has been likened by some writers to the marches of Xcnopbon or Hannibal, gained for him the warmest friendship of Washington. Arnold's letters show that the, only man in Revolutionary times for whom he felt either fear or resicct was Wash ington. In Washington's presence Ar nold was subdued, gracious and respect ful. Some of hia letters indicate that he had for Washington a feeling ho had for no other man, somethiug of affection, and it was apparent to those who studied the life of Arnold that the only person before whom he stood tamed and whoso authority he cheerfully acknowledged was Washington. That indicates some thing of that great moral quality which led Mr. Gladstone to speak of Washing ton as perhaps the greatest man since Lnther. When ho was contemplating his awful treachery the only thought that gave Arnold pain was that Washing ton would suffer. For the rwt be cared not one jot. Trouibull, although not bo conspicuous 1 . ..tnllnna n.li(h lu.1 til h ffaVOlt f h rnlonaa as Bam Adams or Jeiw . gwwock": 3SBSJ9ZF2&S& v.. . - - - -rrtaaa fdvmrJLft irtitiffl&tJAr, AMI Jefferson, whs nevertheless regarded by Washington as tho strongest iricml that ho had to lean upon. It is probable that ho revealed moro of his confidences to Trumbull than to nny othor man. They wero something nllko In thotr moral qual ities, although Trumbull was of Ihtri tanlc piety, whllo Washington was not. though each of thorn was a religious man. Somo fifty years ngo tho Hon. Learned Hcbard wusf appointed executor of the estato of William Williams, who was a grandson of Jonathau Trumbnll, and whoso father was ono of tho signers of tho Declaration of Independence. In tho settlement of the cstato JudgoHobard came across a vact amount of corre spondence, including letters which passed between Washington and Governor Trumbull. Somo of theso lotters were formal business decuments: others wore of a moro confidential nature. They re vealed on the part of Washington a free dom from reservo which nono of his other correspondence shows. Ono or two of them contained that term which Washington publicly applied to Gov ernor Trumbull, and which for many years was regarded us a nicknamo for the American nation. "Brother Jonathan." Somo of Trumbull's correspondence was also found, which shows that this man of genius and clear intellect, a man born to bo of authority himself, had recognized in Washington that quality of grcatnesF early ia the time of the Revolution and before ho had demon strated It to tho world. Trumbull's let ters, whilo not extravagant, for ho was not tho man to use extravagant terms, indicate that Trumbull regarded Wash ington ns having been specially furnished by Providence with those greater quali ties, not only military, but moral, winch wero necessary to establish tho Ameri can nation. Ho had almost tho feeling for Washington which Arnold had, al though in hia casa there was personal in timacy and almost un equality of rela tion which probably no othor man of the Revolution enjoyed. Thus tho impression and influence which Washington created and exerted upon theso two men one of brilliant ability, but morally bad; tho other of in tellectual and moral integrity and of statesmanlike quality suggest how it was that to men of all quality tho Im pression that ho gave was that of great ness, exactly ns to the greatest intellects of this day. liko Gladstone's, tho same im pression has been given by a study of his life. E. Jay Edwards. THE WASHINGTON FAMILY. In the presidential campaign of 1870 it was often remarked as a curious coinci dence that of the men elected president every third one was childless. The list ran: Washington. Madison, Jackson Polk. Buchanan and but there seems to have been a break in tho lino, so that the omen failed on Tilden. It is also worthy of remark that these childless men bad singularly happy homo lives, and none more so than George Washington. Martha Dandridge was a beauty and a Virginia hello when ut eorcntccu ehw married Daniel Parke Custis. Of their four children two preceded their father to tho tomb, and when tho Widow Custis married George Washington in 1759 she had but a son and a daughter. History gives us a few exquisito glimpses of the homo life of Washington for the next few years. Ho and his wifo wero very nearly of the 6ame age; both born iu 1732; both were wealthy, refined and of the highest standing among their Vir ginia con temporaries. Washington loved the two children as his own. There was nothing to mar their domestic life. But in 1773 Martha Parke Custis died, and Washington was long affected with a strange restlessness. Indeed his do mestic life never again Beemed so calm till after the Revolution. Martha was sometimes called tho "dark lady" or "dark beauty" because of her brunetto complexion, but sho was both beautiful and amiable. The son, John Parke Custis, at the age of nineteen married one of the famous Calvert family at Bal timore, but he, too, died young died of camp fever at Yorktown soon after tho surrender. leaving four children. Of these General and Mrs. Washington adopted two. and thise constituted tho Washington family seen in tho familiar pictures. Eleanor Parko Custis, tho daughter, was so young at her father's death that she knew no home but Mount Vernon. In 1709 sho became tho wifo of Major Lewis. Washington's sister's son. Tho son was the well known George Wash ington Parko Cufctis, an author of some note, who acquired tho famous Arlington estato, where he tiled In 1857. His only child, a daughter, married Robort E. Leo, who thus became tho owner of Arlington. J. H. B. Teacher Willie, when I called at your tonne yesterday and saw the "Life of Washington" I gave yon Christmas I was ranch grieved to notice that the leaves had not been cut. Willie (meekly-No'ra. If I'd cut thoso leaves I wouldn't have half the chance to swop it off, Washington's I'ollteness. George Washington was polite almost to the nolnt of punctiliousness. Tho iToryls often told of him that, having mm. ineuu i-i'" ":, V , i.,ii .inli-b ri.tirt was. "What, do " . . J , ...(,Unn In nnlUs. ' .,... !.. mmm vj m ie, i A Reasonable View. jmkxtflnr 22, issri. lili2j LulllLl IlUlJoUlN. mi--- ArTi r itiinium WASHINGTON'S WOOING AND WAH FARE ON ITS BANKS. Ho Courted anil Vn Refused nnd n Kcoro of Yean Later Fought ntid Won on the Scene of Ills Early Disappointment. Romance of a Rlrer. ICopyrlgbt, 1603, by American Press Associa tion.) Tho nudson river nnd various points along its banks teem with historic glory. To one who is familiar with tho record ef tho colonies that afterward became the United States of America tho men tion of tho uamo evolves a panoramic retrospect that has all tho gorgeousness of it dream nnd tho solidity of fact. There was tho old Dutchman who sailed up tho stream looking for a waterway to the Indies. Following tho explorer came tho colonists, tho village of Now Amster dam, and later tho city of Now York, whllo at tho head of tidewater, nearly 170 miles from tho bay. rose tho trading post of Albany, afterward destined to be THE riHLUrSK MANOR. tho capital of tho Empire State, nnd far above thero frowned, as thoy still do today, tho Adirondacks. probably the oldest mountain range on the face of the globo. It was from a boat on tho upper Hudson that tho Indians carried John son, tho noted English general, to the "healing waters" of tho Saratoga springs. It was on tho Hudson that West Point, tho famous military acadomy, was es tablished. On that stream Fulton launched his steamboat, and near its banks lived Washington Irving. But tho chief historical charm, of tho lower nudson particularly. Is associated with tho events of tho Revolution und the mighty mimo of Waslibigton. From Garrison's down to tho sea tho land on both banks teoms with splendid memo ries of sacrifice, romanco and patriotism, although in ono plaeo tho beautiful pic ture of heroism and endeavor is tinged by tho dark stain of treason. Wherever a mansion still stands in Which tho Father of His Country slept for a night it is known and visited as "Washington's headquarters." und thero aro several of them. Two, though, have about them that air of love or tragody with which many delight to associate a great man's name. It was at tho manor houso of her fam lly in what is now tho city of Yonkers that Mary Phillipso was born 103 years ago. Washington mist nnd wnniil Uor in 1750. but sho refused his addresses and by so doing possibly changod tho fate of the colonies. When tho conflict with England began a score of years later she and tho rest of her family espoused the Tory cause, und as a result they wero attainted for treason and their property confiscated. The turn of the wheel of fortune brought Washington to tho manor house again, not as u wooer but as a warrior, Ho made tho mansion his headquarters beforo and aftor the battle of White Plains, and again took possession of it in 1781 whilo his army camped on Locust hill. Tho houso is a fine old stmcturo, built with the sturdiness and honesty of pur nose for which the architects and me chanics of tho colonial period were noted, and is now tho principal official building occupied by the Yonkers city govern ment. Where tho tho minuet was danced and the Christmas foast was served, whoro brides camo home to be como stately matrons und mothers, a court now sits, und bluo garbed officials go in and out of tho doors that were wont to open In welcomo to gentlemen who woro Bmall swords, satin coats, knee breeches and laco ruffles at collar and at wrist. The sistor of Mary. Washington's scorn ful sweetheart, was Susannah Phillipso. who marriod Boverley Robinson und went to housekeeping In tho old family mansion, which stood on tho east sido of a road leading to Pcekskill, about a mile below Garrison's station. This place was called tho Boverley Houso. and around it centers tho story of the treason of Benedict Arnold. It consisted of three THE BEVERLEY HOUSE. buildings joined together, oxtendlng east and west and fronting toward the south. Last spring It was totally destroyed by fire, and three tall walla of blackened brick and masonry, says u contributor to tho Now York Evening Post, uru ull that Is left of tho most Interesting dwell ing on tho Hudson. It was Benedict Arnold's headquarters in 1780. and from It ho fled to tho enemy, Tho owner had gone over to tho British somo time be fore, und Putnam and Parsons lodged thero while campaigning in 1778-0. On July 81, 1780, Washington took up his lodgings in the mansiou, and five days later Arnold arrived, having been ap pointed to tho command of West Point and its dependencies. Thus the river rolls on to the ocean gathering its strength from the storm in tho Adirondack mountain forests, its beauty from the wide sweep of KTXX plains, and luter from the lofty PulUuultw, roui tho itua Ueorco Wiwhiuntoii, of Vlnrhiiit. lint commander in chief of tiio uruiiea of the. I I United HUtwt of America. . - . "" "V-Tojiv m;L j "v T ""i-T r""'T' ""'" iTn " '' ! 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