The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-26

"A result Of French resentment of the
Jay treaty diplomatic intercourse with
the United States was suspended and
various Unfriendly acts perpetrated.
American ENJOYS sent to Paris for con-
ference with the French government
were even approached by secret ennis
saries of Prince Talleyrand, who Of
fered to put an end to Outrages upon
American ships and to settle all mat
tiers in dispute on the payment of a
large sum of money to certain mem
beTs Of the French government. Reply
ing to this proposition, Mr.. Pinckney.
one of the commissioners. exclaimed
Indignantly. Millions for defense: not
one cent for tributei" The Y. Y. z.
dispatches $50 called because those let
tiers were substituted for the names Of
the unworthy French agents. relating
the insulting incident having been laid
before congress, were published, and
the nation went wild with Indignation
Washington was commander in chief
of the army, and preparations for war
with France were eagerly set on foot.
The widespread approval of the atti-
tude Of the administration carried the
Federal party to its highest pitch Of
popularity. The fortunes Of the Re
publican party babe fair to be utterly
/ overwhelmed. All classes clamOred for
wiping out in blood the indignity which
had been put upon the nation. Mil
lions for defense; not one cent for tTi-
buteH' rung through the length and
breadth of the land. For nearly a year
war upon the seas actually existed.
but no formal declaration of war was
made by either party to the quarrel
/ There can be little doubt that but for
/ the coolness and good judgment of the
/ president the two peoples would have
speedily become involved in serious and
| bloody strife. But Mr.. Adams met with
read cordially the first sign Of the rise
I of a cOnciliatOry temper on the part
of the offending power. A new minister
and commissioners were sent over to
adjust matters. They found Napoleon
as first consul at the head of the gov
eminent, the directory superseded and
those in power ready for an amicable
settlement. President Adams assumed
the responsibility Of concluding a
| treaty Of peace. But to the excited
warlike temper of his cOuntrymen this
wisdom and nOdera tion seemed weak
ness and DusilIanimitv and were made
the ground of renewed opposition to the
Federal party. The Federalists who ia
vored the war were also offended. The
president steadily lost popularity. and
his reelection became impossible.
Causes of the Decline of the Federal
ist Party.
The fall Of the Federal party from
power now became inevitable. Various
causes contributed. along with the di-
verse views as to foreign affairs. to ac-
celerate it's downfall. There were dis
sensiCns and Jealousies within the
B ~ M
vided. Some of the presidents personal
qualities offended and repealed those
who might have been his friends. His
temper was cold and somewhat sus-
| picious. and he was thought to have
an overweening sense Of his own Off
cial dignity and Importance. Especially
were the principal acts of the admin
istratiOn calculated to discredit the
party. A stamp act imposing a duty
upon stamped paper and vcllum: a
naturalization bill requiring fourteen
years residence instead of five; an act
increasing the army and navy; certain
/ direct taxes and public loans-aH these
were OdiOus 10 the people. But above
all did the alien and sedition acts OF
I 179S arouse an indignant and powerful
| popular opposition.
/ The alien act authorized the president
to remove from the country such
| aliens born, not entitled by the con-
stitutiOn and laws to the rights of
I citizenship. as may be dangerous to
Z its peace and safety" In spite of the
resistance Of influential statesmen.
/ headed by Albert Gallatin, to this dras-
/ tic and uncalled-for measure, the bill
was passed. limited in its operation ia
| two years. Though 1t was never en-
forced, it still worked its disintegrat-