The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-17

capacity for making trouble. The
soldier was Thomas Conway. British
subject, who had lived since early
childhood in France. There he had
Joined the army and risen to colo
nelcy. When he came here he was
joyfully received. The Revolutionists
lacked expert officers and they made
him a brigadierg general.
The mans boasts and his dashing
ways impressed the SIMPLER states
men. But George Washington read him
at a glance, for a windy, vicious In
competent.
So when congress decided little
later to make Conway a major gen.
eral the chief sternly opposed such a
promotion and gave his reasons for
doing so. From that moment Conway
was Washington's sworn foe. One
active mischief-maker can sometimes
work more harm than a dozen wise
men can undo. Conway at once join
ed Washington's opponents In con-
gress and the army. and started a
campaign for the chiefs overthrow.
He and his associates formed what
was known as the Conway Cabal,'
and did all in their power to under
mine Washington's influence. In Sc
ries of anonymous letters Conway rid
iculed the chief as coward and as
too feeble Of mind as a leader. He
suggested Gen. Horatio Gates as COM
mander-in-chief in Washington's place.
Not only did Conway and his friends
win Gates over to this scheme, but
they induced several prominent con-
gressmen to lend their influence to
the movement.
1t was the Revolution's dark hour.
New York and Philadelphia were in
the hands of the British. Washing
ton and his army were starving and
freezing at Valley Forge after sum-
mer and autumn of repeated defeats.
Mems hearts grew faint and their al.
iegiance weakened. Conway's crafty
words at such moment fell on ready
ears.
The cabal waxed strong. But for a
mere accident it might readily have
ended by deprivlng Washington OF
power and of placing the command OF
the patriot armies In the hands OF Gen.
Gates. And with fussy, inefficient,
coward!y old Gates at the head Of the
American troops American liberty
would have been doomed. Here. in
brief, is the story Of the accident that
saved our country:
Gates aid, Wilkinson, drank too
much one night and babbled to friend
of the chief some Of the contents OF
"a letter from Conway to Gates in
which Conway had spoken ipsultingly
of Washington. The story was told to
Washington, who called Conway to ac
count. Conway rushed to Gates for
laid, and Gates tried to get out Of the
difficulty by branding Wilkinson as a
liar
Wilkinson promptly challenged
Gates to duel Gates wept on Will
kinsons shoulder and implo-ed him
to withdraw the challenge, speaking OF
himself as feeble old man who loved
Wilkinson like father. In this way
the frightened old general wrlggled
'out Of fighting.
Meantime. thanks to the first hint,
Washington learned Of all Conway's
anonymous letters and other treacher.
fies. The facts were made known to
the people. The cabal was crushed un'
der a storm Of public disapproval.
But Conway was not to escape sc
easily. He was challenged to a duel
by Washington's friend. Gen. Cadwal
lader, who proceeded to shoot him
through the mouth.
Conway, believing himself dying
wrote one more letter. This time to
Washington. asking forgiveness for
his villainies and declaring the CHIEF
to be great and good man." Then
.he "conditionally" resigned his com
mission as an officer In the American
.service. Congress accepted the res
fgnation. unconditionally. and Conway
went back to France.
There he styled himself Count de
Conway" and managed to win an ap
pointment as governor Of one OF
Frances Oriental provinces He made
such mess Of his diplomatic work
lin his province Of the Orient that he
almost wrecked the French interests
there. He returned to France and be
came a general In the royal armies
During the French Revolution he
was condemned to death. He was
saved only by an appeal to Great Brit
ain against which he had fought In
the American Revolution). but was
compelled to fee from France for his
life.
After that Conway disappeared from