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

be resisted. Had that unhappy chief only possessed
which might have saved the national honor, too
rashiy compromised and preserved the peace
have pulled hnn down lrom his nigh estate. But in
such fall, attended by the preservation OF his
country, he could have earned praise much higher
than ever attended his days OF power. Instead Of
which he now stands before our gaze as DESERVING
his post on The nrst great disaster IN tue neid ani
Tying for safety to lay his head in the lap OF the
enemy he had provoked and from his prlncely
prison he mas the leisure TO comprehend now cnance
and fate rule exclusively over the distracted coun,
sells OF people ne has betrayed, aud To observe
how the wheels Of the conaueror are steaoiy rolling
over the necks OF the innocent community he has
ruined Verify, verify, pusanimity like tins shall
nnd its condemnation in the most Illuminating page
OF the record OF the nation
TIE TROUBLES or PRESIDENT WASHINGTON
With this Illustration Of the portentous nature OF
the responsibility inseparably attached TO the ES-
ecative agency OF State In It's foreign relations.
now return TO the consideration or the position OF
Washington VIII he was summoned by The great
uprising IN France TO decide for the infant govern
nent what position TO take in the complications
vsioy TO ensue. He had already taken care call
TO ms council two OF the ablsst and best qualified
statesmen that the great struggle for liberty had
proauced, the only drawback 10 when was the mis-
fortune that they scarcely ever could agree. The
one, absnnding In capacity, Leaned to speculation
| and theory, To which ne sought to accommodate
facts the sther equally gifted, prefer ed to view the
lacIs nrst, ana To them accommodate has theories
afterwards The lrst had synthetic, the other an
analytic mind. The former would have been best
philosophers, The later's province would nave
been 10 marshal armed squadrons on the bat
clements IL was the peculiar faculty Of
Washington TO be able TO educe from each
most valuable contributions to the regulation
OF his decisions. They never served HIM better than
IN the present emergency. His nrsD step was to em-
body his objects OF inquiry in the form OF sixteen
questions and to submit them " the consideration
Of his councillors. This was On lae 1stn Of April,
1905. On the next day al four OF tho Cabinet had
the first which was sn's an essental aHs one. Il
ran IN the following words;-''5hall procla.
ma.en ssae sr me pnrpase Of preventing
In the wax between France aud Great Briains"
The next qoestion--whether the Minister known 10
republic should be receyed--was also unanimously
agreed TO- Ane here the President fam 10 stop.
for the opposing forces Jefferson aud Hamilton fell
INTO sacu aierenees upon tue remaining questions
that IL was weeks before they got tarough their
one answer ne at once lad the great foundation of
his policy. Proclamation was Immediately drawn
up and issued ON the 22d OF April, l7s3. The SUD-
stantial part was IN these words
Whereas It appears that state OF war exss between
Austria. Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain United
he and Il hs usa STATES me @
sas conx sndy aad 1oe % .dp s aud p
geren Powers 4 have therefore thought it, BY hes. pre-
serve conduct soresad towards those Powers
sna 70 70 ya sad II the ana citizens q the United
ever which may IN any manner tend to conyenc such
position.
IL is to be particularly observed that throurhout
this paper the true object for which 1t was issued
was not declared. There is no collective generaza-
the subsequent session OF Congress, which met on
the ID OF December, the President in mis- message
communicated TO both houses the fact Of Wnat he
had done, and transmitted copy or his proclama-
tien; but In that paper too, 1t may be that the
word neutrality" nwhere appears. Such juggles
about words have NOT been uncommon In our
history.
FRENCH nTRIGUEs.
.hls important step was not taken q bit tee soon;
for now the pinch OF severe struggle In behalf OF
what had just been done was at hand 1t was well
nj w IN
way to America. The President had been advised
by his Cabinet to receive hlm at once on his ar
rival; but neither he nor they had any idea that
the chief object OF the new mission would DO
t. break Tp inc he, very policy Just formally pro
OF French politics were locking TO this country for
aid in their conflict with the other Powers, and es.
an unequal fight with Great Britain. To that END
they mad, In appealing TO the old alliance OF I77s
which, in consideration OF exclusive privilege OF
trade Ia the ports OF each other making practical
q s en.r ,na n nde for We MIGHT
1t might be worded, must inevitably have made
US In the end pary to-. the war. TINS
popular current In 1ayor OF France was OF the
laoment running mountain high all over America,
and even in the Cabinet Of Washington 1t had its
most earnest sympatnizer in the person or Mr.. JET
ferson. Though honestly In favor OF preserving
net without good reason or ability to preserve
IL against the superollious El-wil or Great Britain
Sna mite mn eyeh l o. raptpT MS disposition led
Ton himself oy any means ayerse to this policy I'M
DER certain Limitations. good field was. there
the msment 1t was announced that he had landed
from French irigate 1t Charleston, in South
Carolina
Mr.. Adams then. at length, displayed the dinl-
culnes into which the government OF Washington
were plunged by the conduct OF the Envoy OF the
French republic and che unriendy attitude Of super.
cllious indifference assumed by the British govern
ment. He Continued
JeuN JAY.
At this critical moment Washington, VINO had
been closely watching the rise OF this tide which
threatened an early close to hE cherished policy at
once determined to make final effort In It's behalf
he instituted special mission to Great Britain and
In order TO be sure OF ms agent, he nominated ali
eminent citizen OF your own State--John Jay, then
tn sus ~ o. f .ns snpae Court and perhaps
OF me ire OF party trials leaving the most spotess
name behind hip. u was great stroke or policy,
Ministry OF Great Britain. They at last showed signs
OF conception that i5 would be better 10 conclliate
Power which, however Insignificant they might re-
gard 1t, II was folly 10 catspaW Ia the hands
OF france. They, therefore, became as amiable Us
they had been Indifferent The consequen ce as natl-
raj. When this happens the style OF correspondence
Immediately changes. From being long ana OBJ
Jecess II becomes BRIEF friendly, and TO the point.
was once more saved. OF the merits or dement's or
this famous treaty have no intention upon this oc-
casion 10 go INTO general examination. LIZ Ii open
to criticism IN some Details and, at best 1t cannot
DE ranked among the trunlphs oil our diplomacy,
But In the single view In which considering lt
now, as connected with new system OF lnterna-
t0na policy It's value cannot be exaggerated.
cIed tue country from slough In winch 1t was sink
ing, ana Wnefe, but for that IL might have 1ouu-
dered for the next twenty years. The treaty
was signed. Bur what q spectacle followed
Poor George washington He had had troubles
and discouragements manifold, especially at Valley
Forge. He had faced many British army on Long
Island, at White Plains, at Monmouth. and a5
Brandywine, anu often With but dubious results
but never before had 1t been his fortune Is meet
With such storm as this. Always before he had to
meet his enemies and those OF his country; 1t
was to meet his frienus and those who "vepsratel
him. hut gave him no rest.n From one end OF the
country 10 the other, on the receipt OF the details
OF Tie treaty. there rose one general acclaim OF Jn
dignation and reinenstrance. Never was there such
eager Interest to understand the particulars Of ne
COLLATION., and never since has there been 80 eab0.
rate popular discussion OF 1t In the newspapers ana
upon every public Platform. The literature con.
nscted WIN tnat treaty now fills volumes IN orr II
brarles. Everybody knew all about IL better than
Mr.. Jay or all tho Cabinet. No President slncc
Washington could have stood that blast and even