Kansas University Weekly.
41
During that chaotic period when we were ruled by the Articles of Confederation Washington was still the main stay. To him more than to any other, do we owe our present constitution. It was he who suggested and secured the convention which adopted it. It was he who presided at that convention and who brought all factions into harmony. It was then that he like Caesar thrice refused the kingly crown. But for the nobility of his character, we should today be a king-cursed nation, instead of a free republic that has, for 106 years, been the admiration of the world.
When at length the constitution was adopted and the election of a president became necessary, there was but one choice. He who had been the country's savior was unanimously chosen its protector. Thus he was again called from his peaceful retirement at Mount Vernon where he had hoped to be left at ease until he should "sink to peaceful repose with his fathers."
His ride to New York was the scene of one continued oration. At every village, hamlet and city, he was greeted by cheers and floral offerings. All these demonstrations he received with his characteristic dignity. He well understood the fickleness of human nature. He realized that those same shouts of praise might under less favorable circumstances be changed to execrations.
His inauguration took place April 30,1789 in the presence of both houses of congress. Then was born a nation destined to influence the jurisprudence of every commonwealth on earth. But, like every other human institution this nation had to pass through its formative period. There faced Washington and his cabinet an empty treasury,a broken credit and a war-ridden country.
The issue was a serious one. The undeveloped resources of the new nation were almost limitless, but it required the hand of civilization to transform those wild prairies and dark forests into prosperous and happy homes.
Then it was that Hamilton came to the rescue. "He touched the corpse of national finance and it immediately sprang into lusty life." This first and greatest difficulty overcome, others vanished like mists before the morning sun. Soon the smoke of the factory, the hum of spindles and the sound of the hammer told that the republic of the people, for the people and by the people was a reality. From that day to this our progress as a nation has been phenomenal. Neither foreign
perfidy nor civil dissention could prevail against it. It has withstood every trial, and every day of its history it becomes stronger and purer, and the grandest gift of the age is citizenship in our own republic.
Washington's character was majestic in simplicity, massive in grandeur, and colossal in strength. As a warrior he was incapable of fear, but made no boast of defying danger. He fought for a cause, not for renown. Glory, had no place in his aspirations. To act justly was his instinct, to promote the public weal was his constant effort, to deserve the affections of good men, his ambition.
Let us conclude by quoting the glowing tribute of Irving to our hero. "The character of Washington may want some of those elements which delight and dazzle the multitude, but it possessed fewer inequalities and a rarer union of virtues than ever before fell to the lot of man. Prudence, firmness, sagacity, an overruling jndgment, courage that never faltered, patience that never wearied, truth that disdained all artifice and magnanimity without allov.
"His fame stands apart from every other in history. Shining with a truer lustre and a more benignant glory. Magnanimous in death, the darkness of the tomb could not obscure his brightness. He still lives on earth in his spotless example, although his spirit is in heaven.
E. K. ROBINETT.
Life.
Stern Time begins; 'Tis He who wins The weary race.
We first descry With startled eye, A mighty hill.
For good or ill We scale the hill To look beyond.
A furious trial To stop awhile, But all in vain.
We reach the crest, We find no rest, But look aghast!
An endless strife;
A fruitless life,—
Now all is o'er.
W. W. RENO.