OCR Text |
Show Washington's Critics As we in 1930 celebrate the 198th birthday of George Washington, mindful of his inestimable services to the great Republic of which he is truly called the father, it seems almost incredible that he should have been subjected during his lifetime life-time to the most bitter and violent attacks by military and civil opponents. op-ponents. Yet such was the case. Perhaps no worthy man in the history of our country was ever so viciously assailed as-sailed as was Washington, both during the Revolutiontry War and throughout his subsequent career as President. The famous and infamous "Conway "Con-way cabal," composed of disgruntled officers of the Continental, Army, sought to have Washington removed re-moved from his position of commander com-mander in chief in favor of General Gates. The plan failed, but the intrigue in-trigue of his enemies made Washington's Wash-ington's difficult talk much harder at a critical time of the war. Even when he had finished his public life, after serving eight years as President, in fact, upon the very day of his leaving that high office, an editorial appeared in a Philadelphia Philadel-phia newspaper containing the following fol-lowing : "This ought to be a day of jubilee in the United States. If ever a nation na-tion was debauched by a man, the American nation has been debauched debauch-ed by Washington. Let his conduct be an example to future ages; let the history of the Federal government govern-ment instruct mankind that the mask of patriotism may be worn to conceal the foulest designs against the liberties of the people." Washington's conduct has been indeed "an example to future ages," but not the horrible example which the Philadlphia scribbler had in mind. In spite of all criticism and abuse, the name and fame of George Washington has come down to us as an imperishable national heritage. He was human he was not a saint but what he accomplished so far outweighs any minor shortcomings short-comings that his grateful countrymen country-men have written his faults upon the sand and his virtues upon their hearts. |