Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-02-20

without an adequate provision by Con-
gress FOR meeting the claims Of the
troops, these discontents manifested
themselves In audible murmurs and
complaints. which f~Orsboded serious
consequences. But a spirit still mors
to se dreaded was secretly at work.
In rejecting ON the limited powers OF
Congress. and or the backwardness OF
the states to comply with the most
essential requis!tion, even in support
or their ewn interests. many of the
officers were led to look for the cause
In the form Of government, and to
distrust the stability Of republican in
stitutions. So far were they carried
by their fears and speculations that
they meditated the establishment OF a
new and more energetic system. A
colonel In the army, OF a highly re-
spectacle character and somewhat ad-
vanced In life, was made the organ
for communicating their sentiments to
the commander-in-chief. In a letter
deliberately and skilfully written, after
describing the gloomy state of affairs,
the financial difficulties, and the in
Vulnerable embarrassments in which
the country had been involved during
the war, on account OF its defective
political organization, the writer adds:
This must have shown to all. and
10 military men In particular, the
weakness Of republics, and the exsr-
tons the army have been able to make
by being under a proper head. There
o r / little doubt that, when the ben
efts OF a mixed government are point
ed out and duly considered such will
be readily adopted. In this case it
will. I believe, be uncontrovertsd. that
the same abilities. which have led US
through difficulties. apparently insur-
mountable by human power, to victory
and glory. those qualities that have
merited and obtained the universal es-
TEEN and yeneration OF an army, would
be most likely to conduct and direct
US In the smoother paths Of peace.
Some people have 60 connected lie
ideas OF tyranny and monarchy as to
find 1t very difficult to separate them.
II may therefore be requisite to give
the head of such a constitution as /
propose some title apparently more
moderate: but, IL all other thinge were
once adjusted, I believe strong argu-
ments might be produced for admitting
tho title OF King, which I conceive
would be attended with some material
advantage"
To this communication, as unexpect-
ed as 1t was extraordinary in Its con-
tents. Washington replied as follows:
"Nswburg, 20 May. 1882.
"Sir-With a mixture of great sur
prise and establishment / have read
with attention the sentiments you have
submitted to my perusal. Be assured,
sir, no occurrence In the courae OF the
war has given me more painful sensa-
tons than your information Of there
being such ideas existing in the army,
as you have expressed, and I must view
with adherence and reprehend with
severity. For the present, the COM
munication of them will rest in my
own bosom, unless some further agi-
tation of the matter shall make a dis
closure necessary.
81 am much at a loss to conceive
what part OF my conduct could have
given encouragement to an address.
which to me seems big with the great
est mischiefs that can befall my coun-
try. II l am not deceived in the knowl-
edge OF myself, you could not have
found a person to whom your schemes
are more disasreeable. At the same
time, in justice to my own feelings, l
must add that no man possesses q
more sincere wish &c see ample justice
done to the army than ! do, and as
far as my powers and influence. in a
constitutional wsy extend, they shall
be employed to the utmost of my abil-
tiles to effect 1t should there be any
occasion. Let nj conjure you, then,
II you have any regard for your coun-
| try, concern for yourself or posterity,
or respect for me, to Danish pese
thoughts from your mind. and never
communicate, as from yourself or any
n else, a sentiment Of the like ma
ture. ] am, sir, etc.
George Washington"
Such was the language of Washing
ton, when, at the head of his army and
at the height Of his power and popu-
larity, 1t was proposed to him to be-
come a king. After this indignant re-
ply and stern rebuke, 1t is not prob
able that any further advances were
made to him on the subject.