New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-24
MONROE.
THE FIFTH VOLUME IN THE COLLECTED
EDITION OF HIS WRITINGS.

THE WRITINGS OF JAMES IE: MoNR %oT Ed Ts7i
lSls. Svo. pp. xviii 800 G. P. Putnan's Sons
Shortly after his retirement from the Presi-
dency jefferson visited Monroe and attempted
TO persuade him Of the friendly disposition OF
Yae new administration, to which he was openly
hut passively unfriendly. Writing to Madison
an account Of the visit and Of the tenders or
Office rejected because they were not high
enough Jefferson said: Everything from him
breathed the purest patriotism. involving. how
eyer, a close attention to his own honor and
grade" Nothing could better characterize Mon
roe as he reveals himself in the period covered
nv this volume. At it's beginning he was en-
pbatically a man with a grievance. After a
long diplomatic service in Europe he returned
home in 1907, under cloud. The Louisiana
Purchase which the Virginia dynasty, anxious
not TO strengthen Livingston and the New
Workers had done their best 10 turn to the
credit Of Monroe at the expense of his colleague.
was an old story. Monroe was suspicious and
disconnected In his letters he complained that
the administration had withdrawn its conf
dence from him while he serving it faith
>n1,v IN London He had received only meagre
advices and instruction. and his self-respect had
t,aen hurt by the sending of William Pnkney
as a special envoy TO be associated with him
1n the negotiation over impressments on which
he himself already engaged Pinkney.
moreover, had brought letters for Monroe which
left him at liberty return home at his pleas
ure and which, indeed. he was inclined TO in
terpret as an invitation to retire He and Pink
,,ev however made q treaty without article
on irnpressments. The British Government,
while willing Informally to give friendly assnr
ances would make stipulation disavowlng
its pretensions, and the ministers concluded that
a treaty of friendship which ignored the sub
iect was the best that could be obtained, and
much better than nothing. Jefferson thought
otherwise, put the treaty in pigeonhole ana
refused even to submit it to the Senate
This treatment from his party and his
own mentor cut Monroe to the quick 1t was
his second diplomatic failure. and he was hardly
less bitter than he had been over his recall from
Paris in disgrace by Pickering in 1876. for his
extravagant devotion and complacency to the
French Directory Then, however. he was wei
coined by the Anti Federalists. and made open
war on the Adams administration, and felt that
he WAS doing noble deed in using his own
wrongs as an instrument for the destruction OF
<1e .rnonarchists,' whom he distrusted With all
the superstition of Virginia Repubilcanlsm- IN
1907 he was differently situated He was as
much as ever persuaded that the Feoerahsls
,ve-e fine enemies of the constitution. and that
Republican defeat meant a king He coulo not
even ally himself with the anU-anfnIllslidt alum
faction of the Republican party in Congress
So we find him writing to Jefferson, whom he
does not cease TO worship, protesting against
his treatment and processing personal ana party
1ovalty. To others, especially John Taylor. OF
Caroline whose strict construction prlnclpiee
have not been subjected to the temptations OF
mower like Jeffersons, he writes apologlZlng Tor
not making an open fight against the hereIlcai
tendencies of the administration He cannot
secrsane the cause" He openly declares his
Instrumentation of particular measures. He would
never support even his pontcal lrienus al
courses his conscience did not approve. He Is
TOO independent for that; too good hepupl-
can too devoted to the notion Of keeping the
Chief MAGISTRATE In check But as Tor sys-
teratic orposition, that is not to be thought
of Under existing circumstances the only gam
ers would be the Federalists, and, anyhow, po-
litical parties with administration and opposi-
ton are not his ideal Of republican govern
rnent That is a mark Of British monarchy
Monroe's belief in the possibility OF doing
without parties and finally bringing all but a
few lost '-mouarchists' into the one Republican
Marty of his devotion seems the most unsub-
stautiaI of fancies quite Oh par with the other
Virginia dreams. he continued 10 cherish 1t.
however while applying il very practically to
hts own purposes, and in one of his letters TO
Andrew Jackson. just after the election OF 1910,
ne tells the general how he means 10 be the
President of the country, not of a party. and
compose a Cabinet accordingly. Nevertheless
II viii not do to recognize the Federalists, even