The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-14

opposite interest.
MoNRoE's MISSION.
And II turned out not much better with the next
choice that was made Washington meant IL for the
best. He lookea carefully among the public men,
and ms eye rested upon James Monroe man uis-
tngulshea for service In the reyoiU ionary war,
then Senator from the state or Virginia, OF sober
minu, bat yet understood to be sanguine Ia the
ultimate success OF tue great movement then IN
progress. Mr.. Monroe accepted the trust. and
immediately repaired TO France. But Mr.. Non
roe, being In no sympathy with the admnistra-
ten Tell into the error OF constrng nls Instructions
as he wished and not they were intended. The
poilcy OF Washington before the negotiation OF
rays Treaty, and While there was danger Of a rup
tnre With Great Britain was to DO all ne could to
cultivate friendly relation with france. TO that
department. which might open the way TO an nlti-
mate alliance Ia case war with England should prove
inevitable, bat In no way TO commit the country or
hod out any hopes in advance OF departure from
the established neutrality. Bat mr. Monroe opened
MS career with public demonstration OF his sym
pathy with the new .egtne aud went on ~ II no
regarded breach with Great Britain certain, and
ne had nothinS TO do bnt 10 prepare the French
authorities to seize the irst moment to close some
such alliance as IL had been the object OF Mr..
ceeding had the erect Of rovlving Their hopes,
then nearly extnguished. Whether the public
manifestation OF this change did or aid not have an
effect In qEckening the movement OF the British
Cabinet then engaged IN Negotiation with Mr..
Jay u Il not 20 sibe 10 say But the TACT ~ certain
that the news which followed OF tina conclusion OF
that treaty filed Mr.. Monroe with CONSERVATION and
the Directory with disgust. Very naturally they
looked 10 him for explanations or tho reasons
why ne had misled them so much, and he
found II hard 10 give them good ones But he sue
ceeded far as This that they acquitted him OF all
blame and threw the whole responsibility upon his
government. This line or separation was q dan-
gerous one to draw and the Liberation OF IL by Mr..
Monroe implied state OF feeling IN hum by no
means suitable 10 his place. Whether he went
far rs TO Gsly their impression II Is not my province
10 determine. But or course he received orders 10
return home. Not discouraged by this second un-
Fortunate Issue OF his Efforts, Washington felt
prompted TO make still q third attempt to concIate
France. Tao treaty OF Mr.. Jay had cut or
all remaining chance OF shaking the neutral
policy "a 1t respected England, so that he
very naturally hoped tha', instead Of INDUCING FUR
ther Indignation, she would see the wis iou GA her
size Of regulating her hold upon American sympathy
by an anlcable reception or such IL repeated over
ture SO he appointed Charles Cotswor,h pinckney
10 the task Of correcting the mistakes OF his prede-
cessor and replacing the TWO countries on the an
TIE pIGHEApED DIRECTORY
The Directory had taken their bent and were
determined TO follow 1t at all hazards. Indignant at
the treaty OF Mr. Jay and fully aware thai General
Washington's great hold on the affections
by his voluntary retirement IRON Office they pre-
ferred TO try their chances to restore their influence
the par In power and TO Cooperate TO the utmost
In the efforts OF the opposition to overthrow It. 1t
rival Of Mr. PincKney. 10 Mr. Monroe they con-
tinued their studied attentions down 10 the last
ment Of his stay and they honored his departure
by public ceremony, In which the chief director
made parting address OF the most Mandatory kind.
But they rs steadily refused to take. the smallest
notice OF Mr. Pnckney. 1t was in vain that ne APP
piled for o recognition OF mis- credentials. both
directly ana through third persons. Tne Directory
months was this game kept up. Mr. Pinckney,
wholly unprepared for so extraordinary course to q
diplomatic representative, was afraid to act without
Instructions until he at least received Official notice
from the Foreign Secretary that in accordance with
o law lately passed expeng foreigners he must
the mission OF Mr. Adeb. the third envoy sent
out to the United States since the Revolutisn, had
beginning his career IL Victory IN italy. and the
Directory felt as II they could afford 60 be arrogant
The reason as IL respected the Tn ted States was
tue English treaty negotiated by Mr.. Jay. Aware
OF its unpopularity in America, they hoped still to bo
able TO make 1t q fulcrnm by which to overturn the
policy OF neutrality which had always been the
object OF their attacks. Washington, weary with
contention but firm in purpose 10 the last,
thing the next administration was called to
meet was this deliberate insult TO the dignity or the
nation. Under ordinary circumstances tue natural
course would have been defiance, and upon the
happening OF the first overt ac5 OF hostility de-
claratton OF war. But this was precisely what 1t
had been the steady purpose to prevent. So IL was
deemed best to cali Congress together for consuta
ton, and TO make stu third effort at reconcil.
OF three persons distinguished FOR character az we'll
as moderation. These three were Charles cotes-
Elbrldge Gerry Of Massachusetts, This fourth eiort
| to save the neutral psl.cy by establishing recon
oil her attempts to plunder us the ocean, and no
moderation In her offensive demands OF salts action
! for tue negotiation with Great Britain were
made. In this emergency the administration had
no alternative Dug TO submit TO the world complete
report o. AL the proceeangs Hence the exposure
Iaieyrand, designated by the letters OF X. Y. H.,
| which went back 10 Europe end became notorious
In every quarter Of It, THIS was unsupported by
the Directory and their Secretary as IL Was unwe-
come. Frenchnen are more sensitive to the
ridiculous than 10 the wckedness Of transaction
The publication hal the effect In America OF rallying
the whole people to the support OF the government.
Tne scheme OF charging the administration win the
cooperation OF the opposition was dssipased; for
everybody was ashamed OF being suspected to favor
such scandalous doings. The ALTERNATIVE was war
~. ar
parailoDs made. Washington was called back from
his retirement to head the army, and the navy was
put on Il footing at once 10 sally QUE for ofIen-
sive as wei as defensive operations The
President, in bis Message TO Congress laying
the facts before them, lett single opening
which, properly used, might bring matters back az
least 20 q possibility OF reopentDg negotiation and
tsge He Accepted the Condition declared 70 be m
dispensaple TO It, and complied with 1t. OverCures
were indirectly made to the ad ADMINISTRATION, the
acceptance or rejection OF which imposed very
onerous euty upon IL. Notwithstanding the strong
current OF popular feeling which had set in for her,
the President, assuming upon himself the entire
responsibility for the step, decided put trust In
Their sincerity so far as 10 originate another illu-
France. And The blunder was redeemed. Chief
Justice Ellsworth William Richardson DAVIS and
William Vans Murray were 81 once appointed to re-
par TO Paris, and this time the gates were left wide
open to receive them. Not word OF offence about
the British treaty. Not whisper about money
the republic, and the supple Minister understood
that Cancellation was the policy. The consequence
was treaty, and the American right TO be neutral
In the wars OF Europe was for the third time rescued
III q moment OF lis greatest Danger
THE FRENCH Treaty.
And this treaty Is not Only memorable on this
account, but Tor another reason. 1t retrieved the
great error which had been committed by us all the
way back In the FIRST treaty Of alliance negotiated
before We could be called independent. / mean the
treaty with France In 177s Conscious as our COM
hissOners then were TO get the assistance OF so
great s. Power Ia the severe struggle for liberty,
IL Is not surprising that they should have
omitted to study the force Of every word
w ryhf Scrtn aVAV
posed TO guarantees Oh her part to the United Stses
their liberty and their posSesslons, as they should
be determined III America By the Issue oil the war,
IL did not seem very much on her part 10 ask that
we should in our turn guarantee to her all the pos
sessions she might have In America at the same
date. All this might nave been well enough but
for tie slipping In OF enc little pit OF word which
yet means so much thai 1t does not become as
poor, feeble, finite beings TO play with 1t AZ ran
put after the word 'gnaranteen 1t signiled no END
Of obligation. 1t was like placing figure one In