The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-07

" continued the French alliance. as we
had done during the revolutionary war
there is every reason to believe that the
results would have continued to be sat
isfactory. Combined, we were stronger
than Great Britain; separately, she could
overcome each. The Hamilton policy
played into England's hands by giving
her the advantage OF combating her enc
mics one at a time. How any honest
student can fail to see this without put
ting out his eyes, we cannot understand
Bold, open alliance with France gave the
weak colonies victory over Great Britain
bold, loyal observance OF our treaty
with her would have continued to main
tain a superiority over her. Had We
kept faith had kept flags OF the
two republics intertwned. the tree which
had borne such good fruit would nave
continued to bear good fruit.
France had asked us for nothing that
we could not safely have granted. Genets
pr.vateers were not hurting us. Genets
proposition to have George Rogers Clarke
call for volunteers and march against
Spanish New Orleans was not likely to
damage us. Genet's prayer that we pay
France what we owed her was not such
n very extravagant prayer-especially IN
view of the fact that he was willing to
take it in trade" Jefferson thought
that the request should be granted ana
81 wrote But most unfortuna tely the
scell of Hamilton was upon the cabinet,
and the British faction carried the day
They kept us from getting the immense
benefit of the sudden strength displayed
by the French republic. They kept US
from deriving any benefit from the vic
tories of Napoleon. And they could not
prevent England from searching our YES
sells SELLING our sailors and capturing
our merchantmen during the whole hu-
initiating period. And then when France
had been exhausted and lay bleeding at
every pore, England bounced upon the
silIv nation which had not known what
an opportunity was when they saw it, and
she had the extreme good luck to fight us
when France could not have helped had
She been inclined.
MIR Theodore Roosevelt speaks of the
'infan7ous conduct" OF jefferson and Mad
iscn ir not preparing this republic for
war. Infamous is a strong word even
Y hen applied to well-recognized knaves;
vhen applied to such men as Jefferson
and Madison II has no more meaning
tran Daniel O'Connelrs reference to the
duke of Wellington as "a stunted corpo
raj or the British epithet "Corsican
oyer" when applied 10 Napoleon. Mr..
Roosevelt was young when he denounced
Jefferson and Madison as Infamous"
he would not repeat that statement now,
we may be sure.
But when even a younger man. il might
have occurrej to MIR Roosevelt that all
vars have their remote causes sometimes
hidden sources: and he might have In
qrired What was the true origin of our
subject the same fearless. intelligent and
Independent study that he gave to the
conquest Of tie southwest he would have
nut his unerring finger on the broken
conquest of the southwest he would have
ravely told the world. This dishon-
cred treaty. this breach of national faith.
this selfish ingratitudc to the people who
came to us in the hour of our need-this,
iais was the origin of our woes"
In short. the fight was already begun
and we had q friend whose strength and
fidelity had borne the sternest of the
battle field We threw away that friend
aSd during the strife which had never
really ceased and which was kept UP
tll the southern volunteers annihilated
the British at New Orleans, we got buff
lets from both France and Great Britain.
when we could have continued the alb
arce with France and compelled Great
Britain TO keep The peace
As matter of fact. M jefferson made
considerable preparations for war The
regular army was Increased by 5000 men;
militia to the number Of 100000, to serve
six months was authorized: and 5000
600 spent upon war equipment and coast
defeuses
As events showed afterwards. we did
rot lack for troops or guns or money
What ne needed was strong, loyal pub
nc sentiment supporting the administra~
tion-and generals who would fight.
TO PIE CONII MED