[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E501-E502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PRESIDENT'S DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LAMAR S. SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 1, 2004

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last month America celebrated 
President's Day. In recognizing a generic holiday, though, perhaps we 
didn't take the time to focus on our first President, George 
Washington. A friend, advisor, constituent and cousin, Frates Seeligson 
of San Antonio, wrote an article for the San Antonio Express-News that 
conveys the greatness of the individual called, ``First in war, first 
in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.'' I hope my 
colleagues and others will enjoy Mr. Seeligson's trenchant 
observations.

           [From the San Antonio Express-News, Feb. 22, 2004]

                  Olympian in War, Sagacious in Peace

                         (By Frates Seeligson)

       During the past three decades, knowledge and appreciation 
     of George Washington have declined to an all-time low.
       One survey has revealed that Washington's coverage in 
     history textbooks has declined by 90 percent since the 1960s. 
     One high school textbook has only a paragraph on George 
     Washington but more than two pages on Marilyn Monroe.
       For that reason, his birthday today is an appropriate time 
     to remind ourselves about his wonderful contributions to 
     America, which resulted in his being known as the ``Father of 
     his Country.'' It is even more appropriate at a time when we 
     constantly are looking for role models.
       Consider Washington's greatest services in the creation of 
     our country:
       For 8\1/2\ years, he commanded the Continental forces, 
     which won our independence.
       He presided over the constitutional convention that 
     produced the document under which we live, and without his 
     support it would not have been ratified.
       He became the first president of the United States.
       Washington was a magnificent horseman and looked every inch 
     a general. He was one of the wealthiest men in America, yet 
     he pledged his life, his future, his beloved Mount Vernon and 
     his sacred honor to win our freedom. At one battle he stopped 
     his retreating army, turned them around and fought the 
     British to a draw.
       The Marquis de Lafayette described the effect of 
     Washington's arrival on the tired, discouraged, beaten men: 
     ``His presence stopped

[[Page E502]]

     the retreat. His fine appearance on horse, his calm courage, 
     roused to animation by the vexations of the morning, gave him 
     the air best calculated to excite enthusiasm.''
       Lafayette also recalled how later he ``rode all along the 
     lines amid the shouts of the soldiers cheering them by his 
     voice and example and restoring to our standard the fortunes 
     of the fight. I thought then, as now, that never had I beheld 
     so superb a man.''
       After the war, no one knew whether the 13 states would 
     separate into different countries or become one nation. The 
     government under which they lived was basically a league of 
     states absorbed in their own concerns.
       The country found it impossible to operate under this type 
     of government, and a constitutional convention was called.
       Washington was already a legend.
       As John Adams said: ``He made every crowned head in Europe 
     look like a valet. Noble, incorruptible, Olympian in war, 
     sagacious in peace, he was the ideal man to preside over the 
     convention.''
       The Constitution that the founding fathers created was 
     absolutely new and revolutionary for its time. To create it 
     was one thing; to get it ratified by the states was another. 
     Washington's support was essential to its passage.
       As he said: ``It is too probable that no plan we propose 
     will be adopted, perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be 
     sustained.
       ``If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves 
     disprove, how can we afterwards defend our work. Let us raise 
     a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair.''
       Once the Constitution was ratified, most of the European 
     powers felt there was no question it would be a failure.
       They underestimated the first president. He guided the 
     nation through its first eight years and set it on a course 
     that has lasted to this day.
       Washington's last service to his nation was to retire after 
     two presidential terms.
       To paraphrase what has been written before, there are two 
     roads: one to absolutism and another road to democracy. On 
     the first we see Napoleon and emperors, perpetual presidents, 
     Mussolinis, Hitlers, Maos and directors of the proletariat 
     advancing to band music to the death of political freedom.
       On the other road, to democracy, there is a solitary figure 
     in a rusty blue and buff uniform hasting to the happy halls 
     of Mount Vernon.
       All hail to Washington. First in war, first in peace and 
     first in the hearts of his countrymen.

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