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 George Washington 
 
 AN ADDRESS 
 
 BY 
 
 LUCIUS M. CUTHBERT 
 
George Washing^n 
 
 AN ADDRESS 
 
 BY 
 
 LUCIUS M. GUTHBERT 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE PRESIDENT'S 
 
 ANNUAL DINNER GIVEN BY 
 
 MR. CASS E. HERRINGTON 
 
 AT THE DENVER CLUB 
 
 FEBRUARY 21, 1914 
 
 19 14 
 
 The Sbuth-Brooks Printing Go. 
 
 Denver, Colorado 
 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 
 
 It seems an amazing and incomprehensible 
 statement, to assert that Washington was, 
 in ,any manner, responsible for the estabHsh- 
 ment of the British and German empires. 
 Yet it is true that, in 1754, he laid the soUd, if 
 then unseen, foundations upon which those 
 empires were based and which subsequently 
 received, through Disraeli and Bismarck for 
 their respective governments, the perfected 
 forms of imperial greatness. 
 
 The incident referred to, of such far-reaching 
 importance, was the attack by Washington, 
 then in the service of the royal Governor 
 of Virginia, with two companies of enhsted 
 frontiersmen and Indians, upon the French, 
 at a point on the Monongahela River, near the 
 present site of Pittsburg. 
 
 This event is admitted by historians to have 
 been "the first certain slaughter" of the 
 Seven Years' War between Prussia and Eng- 
 
land, on the one side, and France, Austria, 
 Russia, Sweden, and Saxony, on the other; and 
 which, with the maritime and colonial wars 
 between England and France, enveloped 
 Europe and America, and was not concluded 
 until the Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1814. 
 
 The results of those sixty years of warfare 
 were, perhaps, the most important in the his- 
 tory of the world, as they involved the de- 
 struction of the French dominions in Canada 
 and the overthrow of French influence in 
 India, which laid the foundation of the British 
 Empire; the strengthening and extension of 
 the power and sovereignty of Prussia, upon 
 which modern Germany is founded; and the 
 loss of the American colonies to England, 
 which led to the formation of the government 
 of the United States. 
 
 Hear what Thackeray says! 
 
 "It was strange that, in a savage forest of 
 Pennsylvania, a young Virginian officer should 
 fire a shot and waken up a war that was to 
 last sixty years; which was to cover his own 
 country and pass into Europe; to cost France 
 her American colonies; to sever ours from us, 
 and create the great Western Repubhc; to rage 
 
over the Old World when extinguished in the 
 New; and, of all the myriads engaged in the 
 vast contest, to leave the prize of the greatest 
 fame with him who struck the first blow." 
 
 Of that epoch-making period Voltaire wrote: 
 
 "Such was the compUcation of poHtical in- 
 terests that a cannon-shot fired in America 
 could give the signal that set Europe in a 
 blaze." 
 
 To which our own Parkman replies: 
 
 "Not a cannon-shot! But a volley from 
 the hunting-pieces of a few backwoodsmen 
 commanded by George Washington." 
 
 Such was the beginning of his career, when 
 only twenty-two years of age, and which con- 
 tinued almost uninterruptedly in the service 
 of his country until his death. 
 
 He refers, in his Farewell Address, in touch- 
 ing language to that long term of service: 
 
 "Though, in reviewing the incidents of my 
 administration, I am unconscious of inten- 
 tional error, I am, nevertheless, too sensible 
 of my defects not to think that I may have 
 committed many errors. Whatever they may 
 be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert 
 or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. 
 
 5 
 
I shall also carry with me the hope that my 
 country will never cease to view them with 
 indulgence; and that, after forty-five years of 
 my life dedicated to its service with an up- 
 right zeal, the faults of incompetent abihties 
 will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must 
 soon be to the mansions of rest. " 
 
 It is small wonder, then, that in his busy 
 life, with its lofty purposes and devotion to 
 duty, he should have had but httle time for 
 study or literary pursuits. And it is of the 
 most trifling importance to us, in view of all 
 he accompHshed for his country and mankind, 
 that he should not have been so cultured as 
 Jefferson or Hamilton, or so great a classical 
 scholar as Gladstone. His merits are to be 
 measured by larger standards than those of 
 letters, and his fame rests upon more endur- 
 ing foundations than literary accompHshments 
 or proficiency in scholarship. 
 
 Yet, in preparing his state papers, he exer- 
 cised that same care and thoroughness which 
 characterized all his methods and actions at 
 momentous periods. 
 
 This is well illustrated by the circumstances 
 connected with the preparation of his Farewell 
 
Address, which was issued in 1796. Madison, 
 at Washington's request, prepared the first 
 draft; from which Washington drew up 
 a paper, which he submitted to Hamilton 
 and Jay. Hamilton then prepared another 
 document, entirely new as to form, but the 
 same in substance; which Washington pre- 
 ferred as being "more copious on material 
 points, more dignified on the whole, and with 
 less egotism; less exposed to criticism, and 
 better calculated to meet the eye of discerning 
 readers — foreigners particularly, whose curi- 
 osity, I have Uttle doubt, will lead them to 
 inspect it attentively, and to pronounce their 
 opinions on the performance." 
 
 The document was then put into the hands 
 of Pickering, Wolcott, and McHenry, with the 
 request, as Pickering says, "that we examine 
 it and note any alterations and corrections 
 which we should think best. We did so. But 
 our notes were very few, and regarded chiefly 
 the grammar and composition." Finally 
 Washington revised the whole, and it was 
 made pubhc. 
 
 That address has received the deserved ad- 
 miration of scholars and statesmen for over a 
 
hundred years. As a literary production, the 
 credit unquestionably belor^s to Hamilton. 
 But the sentiments — the Hving, vital princi- 
 ples — are entirely Washington's. 
 
 His own style of composition was, however, 
 clear and direct, with much of the Johnsonian 
 poise and dignity which was very popular with 
 English men of letters at that time. The fol- 
 lowing extract from a letter, written by him to 
 La Fayette in the February (1783) following 
 his retirement from command of the army, 
 shows the simplicity and purity of his diction 
 and possesses much of hterary excellence : 
 
 "I have not only retired from all pubHc 
 employment, but I am retiring within myself, 
 and shall be able to view the solitary walks 
 and tread the paths of private life with heart- 
 felt satisfaction. Envious of none, I am de- 
 termined to be pleased with all; and this, my 
 dear friend, being the order of my march, I 
 will move gently down the stream of Hfe until 
 I sleep with my fathers. " 
 
 Washington's expressions, in his Farewell 
 Address, concerning the proper foreign poUcy 
 for this government are as true and pertinent 
 today as they were in 1796: 
 
 8 
 
" Observe good faith and justice towards all 
 nations. * * * The great rule of conduct 
 for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extend- 
 ing our commercial relations, to have with 
 them as httle political connection as possible. 
 So far as we have already formed engagements, 
 let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. 
 Here let us stop." 
 
 Absolutely in harmony with those principles 
 is the supposed and reported attitude of Presi- 
 dent Wilson toward the recent Act of Congress 
 giving vessels engaged in the coastwise trade 
 a preference and favorable discrimination in f| 
 
 the use of the Panama Canal. And it is an 
 eloquent tribute to the sense of justice and 
 fairness on the part of the people of this coun- 
 try that there should be such a general and 
 emphatic desire that our government fulfill, 
 with perfect good faith, the terms of the Hay- 
 Pauncefote Treaty. Whatever material ad- 
 vantage may be lost to the interests involved 
 is compensated a thousand fold by the preser- 
 vation of our national reputation and the con- 
 sciousness of our own rectitude. 
 
 In this connection it may not be amiss to 
 say that it is clearly the duty of every citizen, 
 
 9 
 
 .««*' 
 
\ 
 
 at this time, regardless of political affiliations, 
 to give his earnest support to the President in 
 his efforts to solve questions of national im- 
 portance. He has brought about a Tariff 
 reform which may, and it is hoped will, prove 
 a blessing; a Banking and Currency system 
 which is admitted to have many excellent fea- 
 tures ; and he is now seeking to solve the main 
 questions that have complicated the relations 
 between business and the government, and 
 which, admittedly, have not received any very 
 statesmanhke treatment hitherto. And what 
 is most significant and encouraging is the un- 
 dertone of friendhness, in his recent Message, 
 toward the larger business interests of the 
 country and of sympathy with them in a pre- 
 dicament which is not altogether of their own 
 making; as are, also, his declarations that the 
 prosperity of the railways and the prosperity 
 of the country are inseparable, and that the 
 antagonism between business and the govern- 
 ment is over. The tolerant and reconciling tem- 
 per he has shown is certainly very much within 
 the spirit and teachings of his great predecessor. 
 Washington's modesty and disinchnation 
 for public speaking were very pronounced. On 
 
 10 
 
a certain occasion, when being thanked by the 
 Virginia Legislature for his distinguished serv- 
 ices to his country, he was so much embar- 
 rassed and disconcerted that he was unable to 
 utter a word ; and Speaker Robinson, to reheve 
 the situation, said: "Sit down, Mr. Wash- 
 ington ! Your modesty equals your valor ; and 
 that surpasses any language I possess. " 
 
 When delivering his Inaugural Address in 
 New York, in 1789, it is said "he trembled; 
 and several times could scarce make out to 
 read his speech — though it must be supposed 
 he had often read it before. " 
 
 Fisher Ames, referring to the delivery of his 
 Farewell Address, says : 
 
 " He addressed the two Houses in the Senate 
 Chamber. It was a very touching scene and 
 quite of a solemn kind. His aspect grave, 
 almost to sadness; his modesty actually shak- 
 ing; his voice deep, a little tremulous, and so 
 low as to call for close attention. " 
 
 And Jefferson said that he had served in the 
 Virginia Legislature with Washington and in 
 Congress with Dr. Frankhn, and that he had 
 never known either of them to speak as long 
 as ten minutes at a time. 
 
 11 
 
The power of eloquence as an effective 
 agency seems to lose its importance when con- 
 sidered in connection with Washington and 
 his tremendous influence. He was unques- 
 tionably the most influential member of the 
 First Continental Congress, held in Philadel- 
 phia in October, 1774, although his name does 
 not appear in its published proceedings. In 
 answer to an inquiry, Patrick Henry said, on 
 his return from that Congress : "If you speak 
 of eloquence, Mr. Rutledge of South CaroUna 
 is, by far, the greatest orator; but if you speak 
 of sohd information and sound judgment, 
 Colonel Washington is unquestionably the 
 greatest man on that floor." 
 
 Perhaps no character in the history of our 
 country stands as a more direct contrast to 
 certain public men in high government offices 
 today than Washington. This is shown, not 
 only by his calmness, moderation, and digni- 
 fied reticence, but in even a more emphatic 
 manner by his attitude toward the salaries 
 and emoluments of the various public offices 
 he held. Not only were they deemed ample 
 remuneration for his services, when he did 
 accept them, but he seemed always anxious to 
 
 12 
 
avoid the necessity of accepting any com- 
 pensation. 
 
 It is a well-known fact that he served the 
 entire eight years, when in command of the 
 Revolutionary forces, without pay. And he 
 pursued the same poUcy when he became 
 President. 
 
 What could be more disinterested and pa- 
 triotic than the following expressions in his first 
 Inaugural Address ; and what a comment they 
 contain upon the undignified efforts of some 
 of our pubUc men to increase their revenue! 
 
 "When I was first honored with a call into 
 the service of my country, then on the eve of 
 an arduous struggle for its liberties, the light 
 in which I contemplated my duty required 
 that I should renounce every pecuniary com- 
 pensation. From this resolution I have in no 
 instance departed. And, being still under the 
 impressions which produced it, I must decline, 
 as inappHcable to myself, any share in the per- 
 sonal emoluments which may be indispensably 
 included in a permanent provision for the 
 Executive Department; and must accordingly 
 pray that the pecuniary estimates for the sta- 
 tion in which I am placed may, during my 
 
 13 
 
continuance in it, be limited to such actual 
 expenditures as the pubhc good may be 
 thought to require." 
 
 The State of Virginia presented him with 
 certain shares of stock in the Potomac Com- 
 pany as a testimonial of the esteem of the peo- 
 ple of the state. With a delicacy which char- 
 acterized all of his actions, he accepted the 
 public gift, only because he feared that by 
 declining it he might hurt the feelings of his 
 people. But he left the entire amount, by his 
 will, for the establishment of a university in 
 the District of Columbia. 
 
 Ever since his death there has been a process 
 of hero-building going on which tends to make 
 a demigod and almost mythical character of 
 one whose chief beauty and strength lay in his 
 simphcity and naturalness. 
 
 This same tendency is at work with the 
 memories of Franklin and Lincoln; and will, 
 in the course of time, if carried to its logical 
 conclusion, place these great and most benefi- 
 cent of men in the same class with Jupiter, 
 Wotan, and King Arthur. With Washington, 
 this spirit showed itself, at an early day, in the 
 biography of that worthy, but overzealous, 
 
 14 
 
writer, the Revd. Weems of cherry-tree fame. 
 Of Frankhn there have been innumerable exag- 
 gerated eulogies, of no historical value when 
 compared with his own unpretentious auto- 
 biography, where we see him, walking down 
 Broad Street, "with a roll under each arm, 
 and devouring a third. " 
 
 Washington was one of the most human of 
 men. Of graceful and commanding stature, 
 he was fond of dancing, riding, and athletic 
 sports. Kind and gentle in manner, he was, 
 nevertheless, overwhelming in his wrath when 
 aroused by righteous indignation. General 
 Scott, who was with him at the battle of Mon- 
 mouth, says that when Washington met Gen- 
 eral Charles Lee and his troops, retreating 
 from the Enghsh, "he swore like an Angel 
 from Heaven. " 
 
 After the discovery of the treachery of his 
 former Attorney-General, and then Secretary 
 of State, Edmund Randolph, in his intrigue 
 with France, he laid the whole matter before 
 his cabinet; and Pickering, who was present 
 as Secretary of War, thus describes the scene : 
 
 "At this point Washington rose to his feet — 
 the pamphlet in his hand — his whole aspect 
 
 15 
 
and manner showing the storm that was 
 gathering, and his voice rising as he spoke." 
 
 And then, after reciting the details of the 
 unpleasant event, Pickering continues: 
 
 "As he uttered these last words, he threw 
 the pamphlet dow n, and gave way to a terrific 
 burst of denunciation in unrestrained expres- 
 sions. He then calmly resumed his seat. 
 The storm was over. With perfect serenity 
 other business was entered upon, and the name 
 or thought of Edmund Randolph was never 
 again suffered to disturb his temper." 
 
 It was only natural that such a strong, un- 
 compromising and consistently upright char- 
 acter as Washington should create many ene- 
 mies. And his were numerous, and of all 
 grades. Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Ed- 
 mund Randolph, of course, Generals Gates 
 and Charles Lee, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Thomas 
 Payne, and many of inferior rank, were of the 
 number. None could, or did, accuse him of 
 dishonesty; but they were none the less bitter 
 in their attacks, which were prompted mainly 
 by envy, jealousy or disappointment; and 
 which he felt very keenly. 
 
 His answer to these attacks was character- 
 
 16 
 
istic of his patriotic and long-suffering nature: 
 
 *'My temper leads me to peace and har- 
 mony with all men; and it is pecuKarly my 
 wish to avoid any feuds or dissensions with 
 those who are embarked in the same great 
 national interest with myself; as every differ- 
 ence of this kind must, in its consequence, be 
 very injurious." 
 
 And again he said : 
 
 " I am gliding down the stream of hfe, and 
 wish, as is natural, that my remaining days 
 may be undisturbed and tranquil; and, con- 
 scious of my integrity, I would wilhngly hope 
 that nothing would occur tending to give me 
 anxiety. But should anything present itself, 
 in this or other publication, I shall never un- 
 dertake the task of recrimination; nor do I 
 know that I should ever enter upon my justi- 
 fication. " 
 
 But while he made enemies, he left none at 
 his death. All parties — Whigs and Demo- 
 crats, Republicans and Federahsts — united in 
 doing him honor. 
 
 At the inauguration of his successor, John 
 Adams (March 4, 1797), an eyewitness states 
 that when Washington introduced Adams he 
 
 17 
 
proceeded to read a brief valedictory, and thus 
 describes the scene: 
 
 "The most profound silence greeted him, 
 as if the great assembly desired to hear him 
 breathe and catch his breath in homage of 
 their hearts. Mr. Adams covered his face 
 with both his hands; the sleeves of his coat and 
 his hands were covered with tears. Then, 
 when strong, nervous sobs broke loose, when 
 tears covered the faces — then the great man 
 was shaken. I never took my eyes from his 
 face. Large drops fell from his cheeks." 
 
 What more glowing tribute could be paid 
 to his greatness and usefulness than the lan- 
 guage of Talleyrand, French Minister of 
 Foreign Affairs, in his report on the occasion 
 of Washington's death : 
 
 *'The man who, amid the decadence of 
 modern ages, first dared believe that he could 
 inspire degenerate nations with courage to 
 rise to the level of repubhcan virtues, Hved for 
 all nations and for all countries." 
 
 His life has taught the great lesson that 
 virtue is the chief attribute of true heroism, 
 and that the only ambition worthy of man is 
 that which is purified by patriotism. 
 
 18 
 
Webster found in him and his teachings the 
 inspiration for his noblest flights of oratory. 
 And the hold which Lincoln has upon the 
 hearts of the people today is attributable to 
 the fact that he, more than any other Ameri- 
 can, possessed the same attributes and was 
 governed by the same motives and principles 
 as Washington. 
 
 In him were concentrated, httle of genius 
 and no wit, but the simple virtues of integ- 
 rity, patience, courage and loyalty ; and these 
 he placed unreservedly at the disposal of his 
 country. 
 
 Alexanders, Caesars and Napoleons flash 
 through the pages of history, hke meteors 
 across a cloudless night-sky; dazzhng in their 
 brilliancy, but leaving behind them little else 
 than wonder, amazement and admiration. 
 But Washington, hke the glorious sun, has 
 spread the rays of his beneficent and hfe- 
 giving influence for the benefit of all nations 
 and all times; and has shown that the grandest 
 thing in the world, next to the radiance that 
 flows from the Almighty Throne, is the hght 
 of a noble and beautiful hfe, wrapping itself 
 in benediction round the destinies of men. 
 
 19 
 

 
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