He fought, but not with love of strife; he struck but to defend;
  And ere he turned a people’s foe, he sought to be a friend;
  He strove to keep his country’s right by reason’s gentle word,
  And sighed when fell injustice threw the challenge sword to sword. 
  He stood the firm, the wise, the patriot, and the sage;
  He showed no deep, avenging hate, no burst of despot rage;
  He stood for Liberty and Truth, and daringly led on
  Till shouts of victory gave forth the name of Washington.

  No car of triumph bore him through a city filled with grief;
  No groaning captives at the wheels proclaimed him victor-chief;
  He broke the gyves of slavery with strong and high disdain,
  But cast no scepter from the links when he had rent the chain. 
  He saved his land, but did not lay his soldier trappings down
  To change them for a regal vest and don a kingly crown. 
  Fame was too earnest in her joy, too proud of such a son,
  To let a robe and title mask her noble Washington.

  England, my heart is truly thine, my loved, my native earth,—­
  The land that holds a mother’s grave and gave that mother birth! 
  Oh, keenly sad would be the fate that thrust me from thy shore
  And faltering my breath that sighed, “Farewell for evermore!”
  But did I meet such adverse lot, I would not seek to dwell
  Where olden heroes wrought the deeds for Homer’s song to tell. 
  “Away, thou gallant ship!” I’d cry, “and bear me safely on,
  But bear me from my own fair land to that of Washington.”

* * * * *

WASHINGTON, THE PATRIOT

An extract from President McKinley’s address on Washington, taken from a report in the Cleveland Leader

Washington and the American Republic are inseparable.  You cannot study history without having the name of Washington come to you unbidden.  Bancroft said, “But for Washington the Republic would never have been conceived; the Constitution would not have been formed, and the Federal Government would never have been put in operation.”  Washington felt that the Revolution was a struggle for freedom, and it was by his strong character and wonderful patriotism that the army was held together during the prolonged and perilous war.  In all the public affairs of the colonies Washington was the champion of right.  His military career has never been equaled.  He continued at the head of his army until the close of the war, overcoming jealousies and intrigues, which only the greatest courage and the sublimest wisdom could do.  The ideal he had ever cherished was one in which the individual could have the greatest liberty, consistent with the country’s best interests, and it was with this ideal constantly in mind that he carried on the war and embodied the principles of liberty within the government.  Washington had many temptations, but the greatest of them came after