To The Editor:

February is known as the month of the presidents. Three presidents of note were born in February: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

We want to eulogize and salute two of them: Washington and Lincoln. Reagan, having served in the 1980s, is still fresh and alive in our minds. However, all three are memorable in their deeds and worthy of note!

Washington was the first and without doubt the best president ever. He was the epitome of leadership and statesmanship. With his acumen and ability he was able to hold together the Colonies, wage war against a strong and more powerful enemy, and due to his courage, fortitude and cunning, was able to fight, persevere and ensure victory and freedom for the colonies!

He was respected and beloved both in his public and private life. Like most of his noble and well educated contemporaries, he had been schooled in the Bible and in Roman History. Like most of his contempories he believed that Democracy as a form of government is born out of expediency and can lead to chaos.

To him a Constitutional Republic was the purest and best form of government. The elite among the citizenry are supposed to emerge and take their place as leaders. The leaders must possess unusual qualities: love of country, love of the people, and the ability and desire to do things for the benefit of all. Washington possessed these qualities in ample measue.

Turmoil propelled the second greatest president, Lincoln, to the forefront.

The middle 1800s were times of expansion, migration and also the beginning of a social consciousness. Our country was becoming divided into two sections: the North, industrial and free; the South agrarian and relying on slavery. With the westward movement, new problems arose.

New states were going to be admitted to the Union. Would they be free or slave states? Clearly we were headed for trouble. The people of most states did not want slavery. Mr. Lincoln made a good argument for the Union: A house divided against itself cannot stand. When he was elected, the Southerners Saw the writing on the wall and they seceded from the Union.

The Civil War ensued. Lincoln was assured his place in the line of great presidents because in the hour of need and turmoil he did not falter, waiver or prevaricated.

He proceeded to wage war to keep our country united. In the process he was also responsible for the freeing of slaves.

These three presidents will be remembered forever. Washington forged the Republic. Lincoln saved it. Reagan reenergized it.

Rocco Calabrese

Watertown

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Month of the Presidents - PrimePublishers.com