New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-25

Series. 16mo, PIP vi, ga. Hougnton, Mimn /" w.
Modern methods of historical research have snip
wrecked many a reputation long supPol'e"
by tradition The insistance upon lhlorma-
ton direct from the source must Always
he Instantaneous to artificial ann hou
tious fame. Under this scrutiny the pseudo
hero shrinks and dwindles as did LOUIS
the Fourteenth in the well-known illustration
when stripped of wig and robes and hign-heeie"
shoes But when the reputation suoJectco 10
this fierce light is genuine. when 1t rests upon III
dubitable virtues proved public services,or uhoeh-
able achievements in politics. literature or ar'' the
only effect of the severest criticism is 10 clea away
all surviving misconceptions and to bring out IN
strong relief the high qualities and deeds OF 'he
treat dead This is what has happened in the
case of John Jaw During the years in which
the old bigoted and extravagant view of the rela-
tions of France to the United States prevailed,
there was a marked tendency to beltte the
American statesman, to suspect him of undue
GOODNESS to his country's best friends; even TO
charge him, when partisan feeling ran highest,
with preferring British interests 20 American
Nor can it he questioned that Jays habits or
patiently enduring whatever bcfeil when once ne
had made up his mind as to where his duty lay
encouraged this depreciatory tendency; for there
is popular disposition to assume that charges
which are not answered are unallswerable jay
never defended himself. and not because he de-
spised his opponents, but because he was an
optimist, and believed always that the sober
second thought of the people would do MN
Justice.
Since his death the mists have been cleared
away from all the points in his pubic career
which had been selected for attack while he hVed.
The great activity in historical research which has
oil sln
of the French Revolution written during the
first half of the century, and which has necess'-
tated the reconstruction of so many views OF the
"ancen regime" and the prclimnarieS Of the rev
oution. has also brought to light mass of docu-
mentary evidence hearing upon the Franco-Amcrl-
can relations during the War Of independence. The
most important effect of these discoveries has re:-
erence TO the diplomacy of France and spain
during the Ministry of Nergernes and neccs-
sarily all the new matter has important bearings
anon the action Of the American ENJOYS who we've
accredited 10 the Court of France at this time.
As 10 the course of these ENJOYS IT must he said
that American biographers are chargeablc with no
little justification through their efforts. not al
WAYS judiciOus. 10 vindicate each his own special
hero Thus the bioCraphers of Adams, Franklin
and Jay have created unwttinGly, no doubt.
hut none the less efFcctually. the erroneous idea
that these three statesmen were opposed 10 one
another regarding the peace negotiations at Paris.
and that they dislpproved each the others policy.
The ORIGIN Of this misconccption has been the
natural desire 10 maintain at its highest the repu-
,ation Of each one Of the negotiatoIs. The un-
fortunate part Of the is that the hiographers
should have failed to recognize that theory Of
opposition or enmity between the American repre-
:en,atives is entirely unnecessary ana. moreover,
Wi
been reserved for Mr. Pelcw TO settle this in
terestinr historical question with the help of the
most recent archival disclosures.
But another important sequence is thus brought
into prominence. Passion having been eliminated
from the situation, it is now possible to realize
that the French Government may have been far
less devoted TO American interests than the ma
orty of Americans believed hundred years ago,
and vet have been free from any faint of treachery
His enemies. always exceeding in their judgments
as enemies wll-iumped - the conclusion that If
jay did not put the same implicit faith in Yer
GENES and his master commonly, but untruly, AT
tributed to Franklin, il WAS because he was proin
diced or because his preferences were English.
To-day. and chiefly through Mr. Pellew's rcctif-
cations of tradition, il is plain enough that JAY
was orc Of the east-preiudiced of men. that his
feeling toward France was always friendly. that
ne held himself guard against Ncrgennes be
cause he clearly saw that the French Minister
was in duty bound 10 put French interests first
in all negotiations that, in like manner, jay felt
il his duty TO sacrifice no iot or tittlc Of Amer
lean interests by making dangerous concessions
The case Of Spain was different. The Government
refused steadily and discourteouSly 10 recognize
American Independence, and al the same time
maintained claims regarding the Floridas and
the navigation Of the Mississippi which precludcd
10" bot, +1ta
two countries. When Jay was sent by Congress
to Spain he was hampered with instructions which
made his position almost untenable In speak
ing Of the navigation of the Mississippi, Mr.,
Schouler, in his excellent history. characterizcs
Jaw as "tinid negotatOr," and seems TO charge
upon him the withdrawal of the United States
lnsstencc upon having the Mississippi open But
il should be clearly understood that Congress in
structed Jay TO this effect after he had reached
Madrid the opposition Of the Southern States 10
closing the great waterway having almost sud
denly given away owing TO the adrot dissemina-
ton Of panic-breeding reports as 10 the conse-
ouenoes Of losing the support of Spain in the war.
OF course it will not do TO put too much
weight upon Congressional instructions, partic-
ularly in jays case for he well knew how and
when 10 disregard and violate such instructions,
as he demonstrated afterward, when he was con-
WINGED that Congress was wrong, or that it was
corrupt. Like Franklin, and in the same crcnm-
stances, Jay had suffered from the reckless men
dacity of Congress, which, after sending him
abroad TO borrow. began drawing upon him be-
fore he had reached his destination, and long be-
fore it knew whether his quest was successful or
not When he had sounded the depths Of Paris
diplomacy he, perhaps, became aware for the
first time of the extent TO which the venality
of his compatriots in Congress could be worked
upon by the French Minister. But jay dSap-
proved of the new instructions sent him AT Madrid
and said so. Spain, he argued, was now at wal
for her own purposes and would be induced
by no cession TO be more liberal or 10 fight
harder" In effect, Spain was trying 10 get
everything and to give nothing. Her Govern
ment was not friendly to the American Republic
What she wanted was Gibraltar, and she only
ioined Erance in the war that England might be