The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-21
CHAPTER Ii.

Ths tederalist school of historians have
peea very severe on Jefferson and Madi"
fon because of the war of 1872 The
harshest words of the voca bulary have
peen applied to them: and Mr. Theodore
roosevelt has been Incorporate enough
TO say that Mr.. jefferson was perha ps
the most incaT able executive that ever
hlled the presidential chair" %
Living in New England Woodrow VIII
son catches the color of the leaf upon
"hlch ne feeds and he, also, raises his
southern voice in condemnation of Mr..
JEFFERSON. accusing him virtually with re-
sponSlblity for the war of 1872. Mr..
JEFFERSON had become deeply entangled
with Franco beyond hope of extrca-
lon. had become the protested friend of
France" etc. Friendly dealings with
England had been given up" etc
was ever the truth OF history 50 dis
torted? Dill Thomas jefferson really
provoke patient England Into the war
or 1872 by giving To her the cold Shout
DER, while 10 France he gave warm en-
braces? Had our dealings with Great
Britain been friendly until our most in
capable executive" entered upon the Of
fee?
The literal facts are that our relations
TO England and TO France had been
fixed before SIR jefferson was elected
and that he did not change them Wash
ington had made the treaty with Great
Britain Adams had made that with
France Friendly ministers representing
both those powers We're at Washington
when jefferson became president an4
they remained throughout MS term.
In the purchase OF Louisiana he had
not entangled himself with Napoleon at
all. In his efforts to buy Florida from
Spain he asked the good Offices Of
France because it had been understood
That they would 10 given Napoleon re-
fused to say = word in our behalf and
there the matter ended What was It
that jefferson had done chat had carried
him beyond the hope OF eXlricaucn?'
As TO England the facts are equally
clear. MIR jefferson exhausted every
effort from frsi 10 last to secure honor
able treaty relations after the expira-
ton Of the JAY treaty; AMI he was so
patient, so persistent, SO earnestly con-
1liiatory that nothing drove him 10 break
with England. She might seize our mer-
oh9ntmen. impress our sailors, kill cit
liens in our harbors. as at New York;
riddle a war vessel and bloody its deck,
g DIT tNF cltidtft OI a.. MESA pea Ike,
and still the president strove Tor peace.
Josiah Quincy flung AZ him the taunt in
congress that this administration could
not be kicked into war with Great Brit
ain.
Yet the transplanted southerner, Wood
row Wilson. discovers that jefferson
broke off friendly dealings with Eng
land and brought On the war by going
so far in Friendship to France that he
vas beyond hope Of extrisation."
Where rests Inc blame fer the war
with Great Britain? 1t must have been
on her FOR SIS repealed tne orders in
council, stopped the impressroent Of sea-
men. recognized the principle that free
ships make free goods"-the points at
issue between us
Do jefferson and Madison deserve the
who sale abuse they get from the fed
eraIist school Of historians-ab based
upon the assertion that the country WIS
rot put in state of defense?
The president alone cannot prepare
republic for war lie must be supported
by congress and the country 1t was the
misfortune Of both jefferson and Madison
not to have that support
The greatest weakness in the position
of these two presidents at this crisis was
New England That great section was
honeycombed with conspiracy and the
impulse toward secession. Presidents
and presidential policies We're denounced