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Show People, Politics & Policy A contrast of Lincoln and Washington acts as commander was to encourage en-courage a vigorous national government. In 1783, at the age of 51, he returned to Mt. Vernon and became one of the finest agriculturists among the Virginia artistocracy. Shays Rebellion, an armed revolt in Mass., brought him back to public life at the age of 55. This time it was to push for a constitutional convention. He was elected president at 56 years of age and reelected re-elected at 60. Washington's stiff dignity and sense of propriety minimized partisanship. Both men were elected for two terms. Lincoln was assassinated at the age of 56. Washington died at the age of 65, two years after leaving the office of president. Lincoln came from a log cabin to the presidency. Washington was born into artistocracy and became president. Each one's contrit and life gives us cause gratitude. Thomas Paine said it welH the Revolutionary War, "Thes i the times that try men's soii' ' summer soldier and the sic' patriot will in this crisis shrini ! the service of his country..;" Praise did not keep Wast: and Lincoln from ft' discouraged, in the cause to' they had set their hand. Lak wrote to Washington the foil-"If foil-"If you were lost for America is nobody who could keep the ' and Revolution for six months Thank God that in discouragement neither Lint Washington gave up. He-Pleasant He-Pleasant Grove, we must'" never, never give up in the c to which we have set our hand mitted to the bar. Lincoln was married when he was 33. Washington was 27 when he married a young widow. Both married women of prominence. Lincoln had four children, of which only one lived to be an adult. Washington had two step-children. Lincoln's political involvement was spawned and encouraged by his opposition to slavery. His political career was marked with defeat. The slavery issue brought him back to oppose Douglas after being defeated for congress. He dropped fromm the race realizing he could not win. At 49 he lost again to Douglas in a bid for the U.S. Senate. Two years later he was elected president of the U.S. at age 51. By contrast, Washington was elected to the House of Burgesses at 26, the year before he was married, and served there for over a decade. He also served as justice of the peace. Being a wealthy land owner he became alarmed by the repressive measures of the British crown and parlimanet. He called for a boycott on British imports. His position against the crown won him a seat in the First Continental Congress at the age of 42. A year after being elected to Congress, he was named the commander of the newly created Continental Army. One of his last By E. MARK BEZZANT Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Were he still alive he would be 177-years-old today: February 22 will be George Washington's 254th birthday. George Washington would be 77 years older than the younger Lincoln. Lin-coln. Washington died 10 years before Lincoln was born. Their birthdays are 10 days apart. A study of their lives is as much a study of contrasts as it is of similarities. Lincoln was born in Kentucky to pioneer farmers. Washington was born in Virginia to colonial aristocracy. Lincoln's mother died when he was nine-years-old. Washington's father died when he was 11. Both men had little formal school. However, both read widely. Both men worked for a time as surveyors. Both served in the military. Lincoln was in the Blackhawk War. Washington rose to the office of general. As president, both were commander in chief of all armed forces. At 22, Lincoln struck out on his own. He split rails, clerked in a store, and failed in business when his partner died. He served as postmaster and surveyed to supplement sup-plement his postmaster job, and did other odd jobs. About this time he began to study law. Washington, by contrast, was invited at 17 to join a surveying party. That same year he was appointed official surveyor for the Culpepper Co. At 21 he was appointed ap-pointed mayor of a district in Virginia. At 22 he resigned his commission after surrendering to the French. A year later he began service in the military as an unpaid volunteer for the British. At the age of 27, Washington was one of the wealthiest men in all Virginia. At 27, Lincoln had just completed paying off the debts that were incurred in-curred during his unsuccessful venture as a shopkeeper. This action firmly established his reputation for honesty. While Washington, at 27, was one of the wealthiest men in Virginia, Lincoln at the same age had just been ad- |