The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-07

mcnt. the wise, patient wcll-poiscd
Vcrgennes Is the next most potent per
sonality to consider In 1898, Ner-
gcnnes was France and France was
Ncrgennes. As strong men admire
strength in others, this statesmans
love of Franklin and his cause and
desire TO cripple England at the oppor-
tune time. led him to form the two
generous treaties OF Amity and ALI
ancc in IT'S. to advance to the strug-
Cling colonies nearly forty millions OF
francs; to send over to our aid De
Cirassc. Rochambeau and about fifteen
thousand sailors and soldiers. to rec
ognizc our sovereignty and indcpend-
cncc earliest. and when triumph came
after the combined French and Ameri-
can assaults on Yorktown. to take the
first firm steps towards permanent
peace. Ncrgenncs agreed to make and
did make q peace treaty Of even date
with Great Britain. keeping pace with
our own negotiations. even after he
was coolly informed that "a secret
treaty was about to be sent to Ameri-
ca the terms of which were to be
withheld from him. on this disregard
of Instructions from the American gov
good faith. Versenncs' wounded feel
ings find dignified utterance in note
to Franklin In his reply. although
excusins a breach of diplomatic pro-
cedurc which he himself opposed, Our
cunning moralist rises to an elevation
of distinction and graceful speech of
unsurpassable leicities. Yet this
slight did not deter the forgivng
n ict. rpn,
Mississippi boundary and all other
controverted claims Of both the pre-
lmnary and final treaty. In the
clearer historic light of today, the sus-
picions of Adams and Jay must give
way to facts. An unbroken series of
unmistakable acts. events and results
are worth thousand suspicious"
The end crowns all. The truth is, that
until the day of his death. in 1857.
Nersennes was as true to this coun-
try as his duty to his own king and
country permitted him to be. IF Ver-
cennes sold us out. we. not England
or Spain. got the profits of the sale.
IT, with his alleged duplicity. we got
all we asked for. what more could we
have gotten if he had been blunt and
sincere? In the accusations against
Rear Admiral Schley. we seem to have
the Nersennes case over again. Meas
ured by triumphant results the
the French diplomatst and the Amer-
can hero. each did the best possible.
But against each it is charged that if
he had done this. that or the other
thing. results would have been better
than the best possible
Ncrgennes was Il minister of peace
who may sleep calmly amid the en-
during fragrance and reposc of his
many peacerestoring treaties.
LORD SHEBI-RNE..
This British statesman was the friend
of America when America needed
friends most For this. the impla cable
George LII once said that he disliked
him as much as he did Alderman
Wilkes. In February, 17S2. Shclburnc
voted with the opposition to Lord
North when they carried Il resolution
through the house of commons. declar-
ing that those who advise prolonginG
the war with America We're enemies of
their country. In March, when the
king was compelled to call upon Lord
Shelburne to form cabinet. the lat
ter unscliishly advised that Lord
Rockingham he made premier and
himself took the modest post of home
and colonial secretary.
The leader of the ROckin CHAM Wings
having died on July !, 1882, just three
months after he assumed control of
the new ministry, Lord Shelburnc be-
came prime minister and soon honor
ably and amicably concluded the pre-
liminary treaty of peace with America.
This he deliberately did at Il sacrifice
as he feared. and as 1t proved of his
high office. The earl Of Shelburne has
been bindIy accused of duplicity but
results speak for themselves and amply
vindicatc him. From first to last he
favored such liberal terms for our
treaty commissioners that the British
parliament would not sanction his
liberality and he was cNilcd from
power. Although supported by Ed
mund Burke, this friend of the great
Lord Chatham and patron of William
Pitt, wus driven from Office by the en-