http://www.capitol-college.edu/troxler/essay8.htm [1] Thoughts from Under a Black Hat Be sure to read the other essays in the "[2]Thoughts from Under a Black Hat" series. Waiting for the Light to Return The holiday season is here. Time to reflect. Time to consider the hope of humanity and celebrate the return of light to the sky that embraces us. Astronomers and astrologers, antagonists to be sure, agree - light will return. Regrettably, America's immutable political antagonists cannot similarly agree on when or whether light will return to the civic life that embraces us. Too bad. We could use a little civil discourse on civic matters. From January into November, the American public will endure a continuous, aural and intellectual gang rape perpetrated by a gaggle of men from New Jersey, Arizona, Tennessee, Utah, Texas, New York and elsewhere around the country. All of these political performers want to be President of the United States. They will use our money to make political commercials, spin the truth their way, and maul our minds with sound bites. For our part, we will yield without effective protest to such civically destructive behavior. In a republic, the quality of government is a direct measure of the quality of non-partisan civic commitment of the people. The quadrennial political tournaments of the US parade the inept before the inattentive with the promise of good governance as the outcome. The political results have been abysmal. [INLINE] George Washington by Robert Edge Pine - 1785 I think we should stop comparing one poor choice against another. We ought to compare the presidential hopefuls against the man who did the job best. It is time to measure our 21st century presidential candidates against the 18th century standard of excellence that George Washington gave our country. It is possible to do this objectively because George Washington's Last Will and Testament did much more than disperse his property. This twenty-two page document was completed only six months before his death on December 14, 1799. It is our great fortune that he used his Will to convey his personal political manifesto. At the 200th anniversary of his passing, here is how George Washington speaks to contemporary candidates and to us. Slavery is the second item in Washington's Will - right after his bequest to his wife Martha. At the time of his death, 316 slaves lived at Mount Vernon. Of these, 184 were worked and about three-quarters of these worked in the fields and of these field workers, about 60% were women. Washington freed his slaves upon the death of his wife. The delay of freedom was meant to be humanitarian. Washington owned some of the slaves and Martha owned the rest. He knew that freeing his slaves but not Martha's would cause the break up of slave families because manumission would have driven the freed people out of the slave state of Virginia. Washington's Will also required that his slaves be taught to read and write. Providing such simple education to a slave would soon become a crime in Virginia and throughout the south. Washington's Will demonstrates that he knew slavery was wrong, indefensible and unsustainable. From the comfort of the 21st century, his action to free his slaves may appear too little, too late, perhaps even too selfish and too callous. Yet in his time, Washington's actions were bold; leading edge, social actions. Access to a basic education for everyone is the third item in Washington's Will. He gave stock worth $4,000 to the Trustees of the Academy in the Town of Alexandria as an endowment toward the support of a Free School: "...for the purpose of educating such orphan children or the children of such other poor & indigent persons as are unable to accomplish it with their own means." Washington believed that the strength of the country was directly proportional to the educational attainment of all citizens, not just the moneyed class. Service without personal gain was a principle Washington never abandoned. His Will states that he refused all: "... pecuniary compensation for any services I could render my Country in its arduous struggle with Great Britain, for its Rights." This was a deeply ethical matter for Washington. In his mind, civic engagement was a responsibility that must not bring financial profit to the citizen. The creation of a national university was of paramount importance to Washington. He wrote that a national university would help young people: "... in acquiring knowledge in the principles of politics & good government; -- and (as a matter of infinite importance in my judgment) by associating with each other, and forming friendships in Juvenile years, be enabled to free themselves in a proper degree from those local prejudices and habitual jealousies which have just been mentioned; and which, when carried to excess, are never failing sources of disquietude to the public mind, & pregnant of mischievous consequences to this Country." Washington had a gut sense of the civic value of a liberal education. His Will endowed the creation of a national university to be located in the District of Columbia. Patriotism was a passion. Washington gave each of his five nephews: "... one of the swords or cutteaux of which I may die possessed . . . . These swords are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheath them for the purpose of shedding blood, except it be for self defence, or in the defence of their Country & its rights; and in the latter case, to keep them unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands, to the relinquishment thereof." [INLINE] ^ Washington's Original Tomb at Mt. Vernon Washington was a devout capitalist. His land holdings extended from Virginia to Ohio. He was certain that a system of canals and locks would soon tie the ocean to Ohio via the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. Washington's Will advises executors not to sell off his land: ".... the price of land (especially above the Falls of the Rivers and on the western waters) have been progressively rising and cannot be long checked in its increasing value." He also advised his executors to hold onto his stock in the Potomac Company that would build the canal: " ...[I am] thoroughly convinced myself, that no uses to which the money can be applied will be so productive as the Tolls arising from this navigation when in full operation (and this for the nature of things it must be `ere long,) & more especially if that of the Shenandoah is added thereto." A quiet, selfless passing was Washington's hope. He had to know that his country worshipped him. Yet, he wanted no fanfare over his death. Greater than all others in life, Washington was selfless and humble in death. His Will states: [INLINE] "And it is my express desire that my corpse may be interred in a private manner, without parade or funeral oration." < Washington's Sarcophagus in his Final Tomb at Mt. Vernon These selections from Washington's Will convey much about his mind and character. They also give us a set of fair, tough and telling questions we should ask about this year's crop of presidential aspirants. 1. Commitment of Personal Fortune for Public Good. Although Washington was a dedicated capitalist, like many of the Founding Fathers, he was a lousy businessman. The Potomac Company went bankrupt and so the stock that formed the educational endowments of his Will was too soon worthless. The free market killed Washington's dream of a national university in the District of Columbia. Set aside this lack of fulfillment and you will see the key point is that Washington committed substantial personal resources to public good. What personal generosity defines the contemporary presidential candidates? How have they personally contributed to the public good? Are their goals personal enrichment and power or civic well-being? 2. Acting on Political Positions. In caring for, educating and ultimately freeing his slaves, Washington did what he could about the most contentious issue of his time - slavery. He did what he could, when he could do it, how he could do it. He was innovative, courageous and offered a path for others to follow. What personal actions have the presidential candidates taken to resolve intractable issues facing the country? What civic template of personal action do they hold up to which we may aspire? 3. Patriotism. One contemporary candidate for president is a former prisoner of war - unassailable patriotic credentials. Most of the rest are notable for their intricate and successful efforts to evade or minimize, however legally, military service. The current batch of presidential-would-bes yowl about patriotism and national defense, but their record is academic not experiential. All but one of these candidates found their peace in the bleeding done by surrogates. Most of these secure, evasive patriots still do not comprehend the political violence of Vietnam and should not be trusted to lead the country through similar tragedies of the future. What is the patriotic integrity of the current presidential candidates? [INLINE] George Washington by Rembrandt Peale circa 1853 4. Selflessness. Our political leaders no longer accept Washington's belief that service to the country must not bring personal gain. From book deals, to five-figure speaking fees to business deals, politicians capitalize on their celebrity. Humility and politics are no longer brothers. Washington who wished to pass in privacy and silent dignity would find the greedy, yapping politicos of our time to be as profane as they are incessant and loud. Frame your own questions on this point. Good luck stomaching the answers. To hope for the return of Washington's selfless light of patriotic courage may be nothing but foolish and futile optimism. The only thing of which I am certain is that no one will find the bearer of Washington's light among the current parade of political pygmies. Not one of them is tall enough to peer over the rim of Washington's chamber pot. I maintain a vigil waiting for the light to return - political and otherwise. I cannot tell you when it may return, but I know that it has not yet recovered the brilliance it lost on December 14, 1799. gwt.gif (1400 bytes) G. William Troxler, Ph.D. President _________________________________________________________________ Waiting for the Light To Return If he could run for office today, would you vote for George Washington? Total of 14 votes Yes (9) 64% No (5) 36% Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding [3]Click here to return to Thoughts From Under a Black Hat _________________________________________________________________ Ballot-Box 2.01. Copyright © 1999, [4]Ballot-Box.net. All Rights Reserved. _________________________________________________________________ End Notes Whisky and Washington Mount Vernon operated five stills. Corn and rye were the main grains distilled into whiskey. In 1799 George Washington produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey and sold it for $7,674. Profanity and Washington One of Washington's officers said that the General could out-swear any man when angered. However, he did not want his troops to use profane language. Witness this general order issued at New York on August 3, 1776 just prior to the battle of Long Island: The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice heretofore little known in an American Army) is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavour to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our Arms, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests and despises it. Capitol College and George Washington - well, sort of About two miles north of Capitol College is the colonial era Montpelier mansion. Montpelier was known throughout the colonies for producing high quality iron. The mansion was a favorite overnight stop for George Washington along the way from Mount Vernon to northern cities. He admired the five-part, hyphenated, Georgian style mansion as well as the good management of the estate. The boxwoods adorning Mount Vernon were started from cuttings of the plants that still surround Montpelier. Today Montpelier is a park enjoyed by thousands of people every year. Here is the text of a 1786 letter George Washington sent to Major Snowden, master of Montpelier, requesting one ton of iron for use at Mount Vernon. Major Snowden - Gent. Agreeably to the enclosed list, be so good as to send to your correspondent at Alexandria for my use a ton of iron; I order it not to be mixed with any other iron - - I am Gentlemen, Your most obedient Servant G. Washington Mount Vernon 7th Octr. 1786 Links [5]http://www.familykinship.com/washington_george_will.htm Complete text of George Washington's Last Will and Testament. [6]http://www.virginia.edu/gwpapers/civility/civ-tran.html Before he was 16 Washington collected or authored one hundred and ten "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation." Biographers have made much of this collection of maxims as a formative influence in the development of Washington's adult character. [7]http://www.virginia.edu/gwpapers/ A joint project of the University of Virginia and the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, to publish a complete edition of Washington's correspondence. [8]http://www.gwashington1999.org/ A site commemorating the 200th anniversary of Washington's death. [9]http://www.findagrave.com/pictures/1075.html Images and history of the tomb of George Washington. [10]http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/GW/ George Washington's Papers at the Library of Commerce. [11]http://www.mountvernon.org/ George Washington's home. Reading Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution - A.J. Langguth's 1988 mix of biography and history describing the Founding Fathers and their actions during the revolution. An entertaining, informative read. Published by Simon and Schuster. Images The images of George Washington used in this essay are property of the Smithsonian Institute. These images are protected by copyright and have been used under the Smithsonian Institute's educational policy: [12]http://www.si.edu/siphotos/CAPTIONS/oppsrules.html. Reproduction of these images for commercial purposes is prohibited without written consent from the Smithsonian Institute. Accession Number for the Pine portrait is NPG.80.16. Accession Number for the Peale portrait is NPG.75.4. Images of Washington's Tombs were captured by the author and are protected under the copyright of this essay. _________________________________________________________________ Responses welcome: [13]http://webboard.capitol-college.edu/~blackhat Be sure to read the other essays in the "[14]Thoughts from Under a Black Hat" series. © 1999, G. William Troxler All rights reserved. The views expressed in this essay are not statements of the official position or policy of Capitol College on any matter. Dr. Troxler's essay does not necessarily reflect views of the faculty or Board of Trustees of Capitol College. This essay was not reviewed by the faculty or board prior to publication. Dr. Troxler offers his opinions to the Capitol College community as a means of stimulating discussion and prompting the notion that Capitol's students should participate in an education experience that attempts to balance the development of excellent, marketable technical skills with the expansion of peripheral intellect. 1pixblue.gif (41 bytes) [15]home | [16]help | [17]contact capitol spacer.gif (67 bytes) _________________________________________________________________ Capitol College - 11301 Springfield Road - Laurel, Maryland 20708 - 301-369-2800 / 800-950-1992 References 1. http://webboard.capitol-college.edu/~blackhat 2. http://www.capitol-college.edu/troxler/default.htm 3. http://www.capitol-college.edu/troxler/ 4. http://www.ballot-box.net/ 5. http://www.familykinship.com/washington_george_will.htm 6. http://www.virginia.edu/gwpapers/civility/civ-tran.html 7. http://www.virginia.edu/gwpapers/ 8. http://www.gwashington1999.org/ 9. http://www.findagrave.com/pictures/1075.html 10. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/GW/ 11. http://www.mountvernon.org/ 12. http://www.si.edu/siphotos/CAPTIONS/oppsrules.html 13. http://webboard.capitol-college.edu/~blackhat 14. http://www.capitol-college.edu/troxler/default.htm 15. http://www.capitol-college.edu/default.htm 16. http://www.capitol-college.edu/resources/help.htm 17. http://www.capitol-college.edu/inquire/default.htm