The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-02-21
E2NA

without an adequate provision by Con-
gress for meeting The claims Of the
troops. these aiscontsots manifested
Themselves In audible murmur and
complaints. which forsbcdsd serious
consequences. Dut . spirit SILL mere
to b dreaded wa secretly At work.
In rejecting OF the limited powers Of
Congress, and On the backwardness Of
the states to comply with the most
essential requisition, even In support
OF their W interests, many of the
omcers were led to look for the cause
In the form Of government, and to
sistrust the stability Of republican in
stttutions. So far were they carried
BY their fears Int speculations that
they meditated the establishment Of a
new and o 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 q letter
deliberately and skilfully written, after
describing the gloomy state OF affairs,
the financial difficulties. and the in
Vulnerable endorsements in which
the country had been involved during
the war, on account of its defective
political organization, the writer adds:
This must have shown Il all, and
to military men In particular, the
weakness Of republics, and the exsr-
tons the army have been able to make
BY being under = proper head. There
fore I little doubt that, when tho ben
edts OF q mixed government are point
ed out and duly considered such will
b readily adopted. In this case it
will. I believe, be uncontrovertsd. that
the same abilities. which have led us
through difficulties. apparently insur-
mountabls by human power, to victory
and glory. those qualities that have
nerited and obtained the universal o.
TEEN and v%eneration Of an army, would
b most likely to conduct and direct
us in the smoother paths Of peace.
Some people have SO connected the
ideas Of tyranny and monarchy - to
hnd 1t very difficult to separate them.
It may therefore be requisite to give
he head Of such = constitution A. l
propose some title apparently more
moderate: but, II all other things were
once adjusted, l believe strong argu-
nents might be produced for admitting
the title OF King. which I conceive
would be attended with. some material
advantages"
To this communication, n lnexpect-
ed as 1t was extraordinary in Its con
tents, Washington replied ~ follows:
"Nswburg. ~ May, 17s2.
"Sir-With q mixture Of great sur
prise and astonishment I have rsad
with attention the sentiments you have
submitted to my perusal. Be assured,
sir. no occurrence In the course Of the
war has given me more painful sensa-
tons than your information of there
being such ideas existing In tho army.
as you have expressed, ana 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 q dis
closure necessary.
II am much at q 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 I am not deceived in the knowl-
edge Of myself. you could not have
found q person to whom your schemes
are more disagreeable. At the same
time, In Justice to my wi feelings, l
must add that no mar Possesses q
more sincere wish to see ample justice
done to the army than I do, and a.
far ~ my powers and influence. in q
constitutional way extend. they shall
b employed to the utmost Of my abil-
tiles to effect it should there be any
occasion. Let me- conjure you, then.
II you have n regard for your
try, concern for yourself or postsrity.
or respect for me, to Danish H.ese
thoughts from your mind. and
communicate, as from yourself or any
one else. a sentiment Of the like ma
ture. I 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, it was proposed to him to be-
come . king. After this indignant re-
ply and stern rebuke. 1t is not prob
-
made to him on the subject.
e e
II Die Hard, but