OCR Text |
Show When Washington Refused a King-ship Few Americans know that our country today might be a monarchy mon-archy but for an act of nobility performed by George Washington on May 22, 1782. The officers of the Revolutionary Army had implored im-plored Washington to assume royal roy-al power, place himself at their head, and rule the country as a king. On May 22, a century and a half ago, General Washington refused this invitation in patriotic terms so strong that the idea was dropped. This information comes from the United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. Com-mission. We know that he refused the offer of kingship, but the circumstances circum-stances surrounding that dramatic moment in our history, known chiefly to scholars, need be recalled recall-ed to the everyday American, that he may form a still clearer conception of the nobility of Washington's character. This incident, which constitutes one of the critical moments in the destiny of America, occurred while General Washington and the Continental Army were en- camped at Newburgh, on the Hudson. The surrender of Corn-wallis Corn-wallis had virtually en9ed the Revolution, but nominally hostilities hostili-ties were still In effect, and Washington Wash-ington was determined to hold the army together against any surprise sur-prise renewal of the war. As usual us-ual his soldiers were poorly clothed cloth-ed and fed, and Congress was deeply in arrears in their pay. By then the war had dragged on for even long years. The struggle had cost many of Washington's officers the loss of their personal fortunes, and the entire enlisted force faced a future of want on being released to civil life. Discontent rose to dangerous intensity in all ranks. At length, Colonel Lewis Nicola, a respected character on friendly terms with the Commander in Chief, spoke for the officers as a body when he addressed to Washington a veiled proposal that he take ovei the government of the country, with the army behind him, and rule it as a king. The late Senator Henry Cabot Ledge, in his biography of Washington, Wash-ington, states that on this occasion occa-sion Washington was as truly tempted as Caesar, with an offer to make himself king or empercr. Thi stroke, moreover, would have been easy of accomplishment. The colonies were all beggared by the war. Their governments were weak and slack. The Revolutionary army ar-my was the one cohesive, national nation-al power in the land. To a man the soldiers worshipped Washington, Washing-ton, and with their aid he could have taken over control of the nation. As near as that, at this stage of America's history, was . the country to becoming a monarchy. mon-archy. And yet it was a great distance away. To George Washington the temptation of kingship was no temptation at all. On the contrary he put it aside with far greater and more sincere indignation than did Caesar wave aside the ilaurel crown. In a letter whose I every word should be implanted . in the mind of. every school child I in America, he declined Nicola's offer and rebuked the man who made it. Writing on May 22, he..slWith a mixture of great surprise and astonishment, l have read with attention the sentiments sen-timents vou have submitted to my perusal. Be assured, Sir, no occurrence oc-currence in the course of th-war th-war has given me more painlui sensations, than your information of there being such ideas existing in the army, as you have expressed, expres-sed, and I must view with abhorrence abhor-rence and reprehend with severity. sever-ity. T am at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address, which to me seems big with the greatest mischiefs that can befall my Country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your scheme j are more disagreeable. Let me conjure you, then, if you have any reward for your Country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your mind, and never communicate, as from yourself your-self or any one else, a sentiment of the like nature." |