The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-31
VILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?

n war just n Century ago, that MAY De
Duplicated by the Present Trouble-Our
Last Collision with France-Two Naval
Battles Ended the Struggle and Brought
Peace.
History has great fashion of repeating
itself, and struggle with France which
we had at the close of the 18th century
seems likely to foreshadOw the course OF
the present dispute. 1t was war, how
ever, upon which we entered with much
more fear and trembling than we enter
tain with regard to the present, for France
was then at the hight of her power, while
we were but congerie of weak, disjointed
States, but lately formed into a Nation,
and very poor in population, resources and
all that go to make up formidable fight
ing power.
In 1896 the French Directory then in the
fulness of its power, began to treat us
very harshly. They were disappointed
that we would not allow ourselves to be
forced into war against Great Britain, as
their allies. They then felt that they
dictated to the world, because their young
General, Napoleon Bonaparte, had won a
series of astonishing victories in Italy, and
they had brought Spain into alliance.
They issued secret orders to their cruisers
10 annoy ana ADltICd1l SitlDDlfp.
They treated our ENJOYS with marked in
suits, and issued decree that any Ameri-
can sailor found on board of a British
vessel. no matter whether there by his
own free will or impressed, should be re-
garded as pirate and hanged
We recalled one set of Envoys and sent
another who were treated lust as badly
They were informed that they would re-
ceivc no attention until they first paid the
Directory S250,000 as a friendly gift and
bought a large block of Dutch bonds, which
had been wrung out of Holland as the
price of peace. If they did not do this,
they would be turned out OF the country,
and the United States coasts would be
rava@ed by French vessels from San Do
mingo.
The ENJOYS were firm, and Pinckney
uttered the famous sentiment, Millions
for defense; not one cent for tribute. We
had a strong peace party at home, which
insisted that it would be far better and
cheaper to pay the tribute than to go to
war But the majority of our people were
for fighting, and in spite OF the opposition
in Congress bills were passed providing for
calling out 80 900 militia, and greatly
strengthening our young Navy.
Washington was called from his retire
ment at Mt. Vernon, and commissioned
Lieutenant General. The active command
of the Army was given to Alexander Hamil-
ton who was made a MajOr-General. The
country was put in as good n condition Of
defense as was possible with our limited
means, and in July, 1898, Congress de-
cIared all the treaties with France at an
end. and authorized American men-of war
to attack French vessels wherever found
ers, and among this number were the
famous United States, Constitution Con-
steilation Delaware etc.
The Delaware was under the command
of the celebrated Capt. Stephen Deca-
tur He left Baltimore in April 1893 and
few days after fell in with the French cor
sair Le Croyable. II guns, captured her
and sent her to Philadelphia. where she
was added to The Navy under the name of
the Retaliation. she was the first vessel
captured by the present Navy of the
United States. \ little later she mistOoll
some French vessels for English men-of-
war, ran III among them, and was cap
tured.
The Navy was considerably increased
during the year 1898, and it succeeded in
capturing large number OF French mer-
chantmen.
On Feb. 9, 1799 Capt. Thomas Truxtun.
in the Constellation, was cruising in the
West Indies, when he came upon the In
one OF the finest and largest
frgateS in the French navy. She carried
10 guns and 400 men, 10 50 guns and 300
men on the Constellation.
IruXtun Immediately attacked. and after
a fight OF one hour and IA quarter the
Erenc,lman surrendered. having lost 20
men killed and wounded. The Constela-
ton only lost three wounded. Nothing
more beyond the capture OF merchant
men was done in 799.
In February. 1900, Truxtun. still in com
mand OF the Constellation, was off Guade-
loupe seeking for a large French frieate
La Vengeance. ST guns and 400 men
~ ,Erh W. tlJnZa rl1kIf1o tratthla
Tor our people. He came up with her at
o'clock of Feb. / and, notwithstanding the !
disparity in strength, Immediately attack
ed and a desperate battle lasted until
D clock in the morning. Then the French
man ceased firing and disappeared so sud
denly that TTuxtun thought she had gone
TO the bottom.
heavy squall had come up, which
threatened to destroy the Constellation.
whose rigging had been badly cut uD by
the enenly's fire. When she was righted
her enemy was gone. La Vengeance sue
ceeded in making her way to Curacao.
where she arrived i'm very shattered con
dition and reported loss of 162 men
killed and wounded in the battle The
lost 25 killed and wounded.
and France grew very tired Of the war
She invited our Enjoys back and Sept. 80, 4
1890, signed a treaty OF peace, which gave
us substantially all that we asked for
# is Altogether probable that our war"
will be a pretty fair duplicate of our war
with France 100 years ago.