The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-24

shoulder which he carried the remainder
of his life Monroe had served with the
French appreciated the help the French
gave us at that crisis. and carried to
France a lively recollection of the days
when he and the French officers had gone
into battle side by side to face British
guns.
Gouverneur Morris had been our min
lister to France succeeding Jefferson. and
Morris had given the republicans such Of
tense that they insisted upon his recall.
Washington sent Monroe after having
rendered the place to others, who declined.
Monroe was young, and had not yet
lost capacity for enthusiasm Caught up
in the whirlwind of democratic passion
n Paris. the young Virginian's conduct
was very different from that Of the British
cristocrat Gouverneur Morris
The national convention of France
(Which had Just Overthrown Robespierre
and put an end to the reign Of terror
gave Monroe n public reception. Over
looking Genets treatment. making no
references to the broken ai,.ance of 177S,
nor to our refusa! to pay France some Of
the debt we owed her when her need was
so great. the French national convention
greeted James Monroe with loud applause
and the president gave him the brotherly
embrace
The convention decreed that the flags
Of the United States and Of France
should be intertwined; and, thus joined
together. should be displayed in the hali
of the convention as a sign to all the
world of the union and the eternal friend
ship of the two people-of the sister re-
publcs
Join the flags together: hang them n
h111 he
France is not ashamed nor afraid to let
every monarchy in Europe know how her
people love Americans and their repubict
Thus the voice of France! And this was
al a time when every king in the civilized
world was banded against her and march
ing upon her
What was the response of our govern
ment? Edmund Randolph acting under
the orders OF Washington and his cabinet,
wrote to Monroe a singing letter of
buke His course had been too friendly
1t would embarrass us with England.
Monroe should have expressed his good
will to the French republic privately, 'be-
cause the dictates of sincerity do not de-
mand that we should render notorious an
our feelings in favor of that nation In
otlf>r words, our friendship must be OF
the cautious sort which shrinks from
open avoWal.
Thomas Paine had aided the French
revolution as he had aided ours. lie had
risked his head first for the republicans
when the king was still strong. and then
for mercy when democracy was victorious
and the kings fife demanded. He had
stood against all odds opposing the kings
execution. Robespierre's faction marked
him for the guillotine The July re'nlt
against Robespicrre saved him. But ne
still lay in Jail ard his suffering was
great
Gouverneur Morris had refused to lift a
finger in his behalf. In fact, Morris seem
ed quite willing to lift a couple of fingers
on the other side.
Neither would Washington intercede
Monroe had not forgotten. nor was he
ashamed. He interposed in behalf II
Paine. got him out of jail. took him to nis
own house. and there gave him shel~r
and protection :
Impartial history reviewing this trans
action Will not make comparisons injur-
Gus to Monroe!
Afterwards came Jays mission to Es-
land, his violation of the plain terms ~
his instructions. his treaty which threw
France over and which sacrificed urn-
cip'e and honor in the interest of Ncw
England trade. or course. the indis0a-
point Of view. America had used her
against Great Britain, and was low
making sacrifice of her 10 Great Britain.
Not content with violating her treaty
with France. she was making VITA }.Hg
land treaty most injurious 10 France
From the French point Of view. Wa not
the feeling of resentment natural7
The British faction in Washiusens
cabinet was no longer willing that James
Monroe should be minister to France
His recall was sent and c. G. PircRrey
was named to succeed him
Now, the i'll luck OF John Adams was
that he fell heir to this quarrel
The French government, looking pan
Monroe's recall as an unfriendly aet
fused to receive Pinckney; but their re-
fusal came too late to embarrasa wash
ington. 1t caught Adams at the th.esn-
old of his administration.
During Washington's term Great 8rit-
am had heaped insults upon us; had
made bloody record along our north
western frontier; had seized our la5r-
chahtmen; had impressed our sailors
w hen the French minister, Fauchef bad
returned TO France preparations fer ns
capture had been made by the Ems al
IN our own harbors. Even after the Jas
treaty, British ships continued their
oepredauons seizing our vessels and our
men Washington had done nothing fed
eralism was helpless to prevent or re-
venge the outrages.
Besides, Hamilton was go heat npor
mat British alliance of his that nothing
permanently angered him
ADAMS succeeded to all this--cou1 not
possibly have escaped it, for it was upon
nun at the very moment he stepped No
the presidency. Neither could he have
escaped the French snarl 1t was there
Hamilton and Washington bad
made 1t; Adams was left to sragger M
der it.
Badgered by France, baited by Jefsr-
son republicans undermined by his own
caDinet John Adams found the pfesi
dency to be what Jefferson had said !
was. "a splendid miseryr-the misery
being much more apparent than the spen-
dor.
The whole nation rallied to the British
faction When Talleyrand made the ceie-
DRAFTED * Y. T." attempt to eXto,'
Iloute from the grand embassy WA.Ch
Adams had sent to negotiate for peace
ana there vas wild talk Of French
INVASION. Congress voted supplies WASH
lnSton was placed in command Of ne
army OF defense, ana preparations mao'
on an extensive scale for war
Here, again, there were mortifcatoNS
for Adams
General Washington named Hamilton