politicians; that he had the country at large behind him, which never wavered in its devotion to him, is shown in the expressed belief that had he stood for election in 1796 as he had in 1789 and 1792 his return to office would shave been Just as unanimous. In considering Such a man as Washington the question must necessarily arise as to when a rebel ceases to be such, as to when success removes from him the obloquy of recalcitraney. and endows him and his movement with that permanence which brings with it a concomitant credit. The question is not always easy to answer, for the old cliche that nothing succeeds like success is not, in such matters, wholly applicable.
It is definitely not in this stance, for though Washington led rebellion against the British Crown, it was in defence of those very rights which were constitutionally those in search of which the English forebears of the rebels had left their native land some generations earlier. The War of Independence is capable of just as much easy justification as was the rebellion which led to the overthrow of Charles I and actuated by just as noble motives. Indeed, it is not unreasonable to suggest that such a struggle could never have taken place 2 century later, that an improved outlook, and a great statesmanship would have Prevented any such thing. For it must be remembered that even in England there were great minds who viewed with alarm the courses which led to the uprising, and who used all their eloquence and influence to avert the conquences of a Court's ill-advised policies. Thus, viewed largely, the War of Independence was in defence of the rights of Englishmen. It undoubtedly had a considerable effect upon the political fortunes of the motherland, and, in pointing to the perils of misgovernment, undoubtedly assisted in the political evolution which marked British history during the nineteenth century. All this seems somewhat laboured prelude to the contention that now the sweet and gentle breeze of time has blow away many old prejudices this. day may be appropriately marked by Britons as well as the citizens of the United States, for while the latter received the im-
[mediate benefits of the leadership of 90 great a figure, it would be idle to deny that the old country itself in the long run obtained much that was good, if not 30 readily apparent, from the lives and: activities of such men George Washington. That that ood cost England half a continent also true, though of this it might bbe said the lesson was cheap at the price. Thus the British in congratulating the American community on the recurrence of another Washington's Birthday are able to do so with the knowledge that their interest in the event is by no means academic,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.