But probably the supreme mark of Washington's greatness was the eu tire absence, throughout his career, of self-seeking. Had he consulted his personal interests he would hardly have espoused the Revolution at all. Ho was a well-to-do country gentleman, of aristocratic birth, with thousands of broad acres in Virginia and_ 20,000 more along the Ohio. His natural sympathies were thus with the existing order; why should he seck to overthrow it? Clearly not to escape a stamp tax!
As in other questions he made the decision upon principle. Through years of reflexion the convietion had been forced upon him that a colonial regime as then administered was an_ obstacle to the progress and welfare of his country. How different might have been the sequel could he have been assured of a status like that of Canada today. With his colleagues he tried other means of securing a change and accepted the gage of battle only as a dernier resort.
The post of Commander-in-Chief was also forced upon him and in accepting it he set a new standard of public duty in these words I beg leave to assure the Congress that as no pecuniary compensation could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, I do not wish to make any profit from it, I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those, I doubt not, they will discharge, and that is all I desire.
As time went on and public funds became scarcer he is said to have drawn on his own purse to meet the needs of the army and even to have mortgaged his property for that purpose. An early biographer informs us:—
In choosing men to serve his country Washington knew no recommendation but merit—had no favourite but worth, no relations, however near—no friends, however dear—stood any chance for place under him, provided he knew "men better qualified. Repecting such men, he never troubled himself to inquire, whether they were foreigners or natives, federalists or democrats Indeed, his great soul was so truly republican, that, during the whole of his adminis tration, he wag never known to advance an individual of his own name and family.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.