Show LINE friendship never influenced mat HIM so go lection of official As atista tiie the line bentiv between een public duty and private friendship Is practically such a thin one that many transgress it few men when called to administer public affairs think of initiating llie athenian the cleon who on bec becoming till thu cs of the city told his friends that lie he their lost lest it should induce him to act with partiality II if he had bad renounced ll hi passions as well as ills his friends lie he would lave have proved a successful administrator george washington when lie it beeline became bee line president of the united states lid did not renounce his friends but lie did not permit their heir friendship to sway him ever so slightly from the path of public duty A gentleman an intimate frien who for seven years had been the lie generals associate in war and was at all ahn welcomed as a guest at the presidents 1 table applied for a lucrative office another gentleman who had bat made himself conspicuous as a political politic nl opponent of washington was also an applicant for the same office lie ile hid had however every qualification for the position integrity skill in business and ability to do prompt and continuous service every one on learning of the alio two said no chance lies iles one of the presidents most earnest opponents and lie a single testimonial from froin any one of importance besides he be Is opposed by the presidents they judged washington altogether DY by ordinary standards when the appointment ment was announced the name not dot of tile the presidents friend but of his opponent appeared A mutual friend who had interested himself in the favorites application ventured to of the president the reason for this action my friend said washington 1 I receive with cordiality I 1 enjoy him blin at my table and I 1 give unto him my learty hearty friendship but good man as he be is he Is not a man of business the other man though he is politically opposed to me is a man of business my aly private feelings have nothing to do with the appointment I 1 am not george washington but president of the united states As geor george geore e washington I 1 would do my friend any kindness in my power but as president of the united states I 1 can do nothing for him the anecdote Is an old story but because it Is old it marks a far off point of of d departure ep arture public men have drifted far away from washl wash grous line which marked for him the distinction between public duty and private friendship youths companion |