The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-08-22
InstaIIment "a

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France, where for five years he had heen
watching revolution come on apace.
hurried from stage to stage. not by
statesmen who were masters in the
arr and practice of freedom, like
those who had presided In the coun-
seis OF America, but by demagogues
and philosophers rather; and the sub
tie air of that age of change had crept
INTO the mans thought He had come
Dack philosophical radical rather
tnan statesman. He had yet to
learn, in the practical air of America.
what plain and steady policy must
serve him to win hard-headed men to
to his following; and Washington
found him a guide who needed watch
ing.
Foreign affairs, over which 1t was
Jefrerson's duty to preside, began Of
sudden to turn upon the politics of
france, where Jefferson's thought was
SO much engaged. The year 1889. in
which America gained self-possession
and set up government soberly plan
ned to last. was the year in which
France lost self-possession and set out
upon a wild quest for liberty which
was to cost her both her traditional
| polity and all the hopes she had of a
new one. In that year broke the
storm of the French revolution.
It was a dangerous infection that
went abroad from France in those first
days Of her ardor. and nowhere was
1t more likely to spread than in Amer
lea.
But Washington's vision in affairs
was not obscured. He had not led
revolutionary armies without learn
ing what revolution meant. THE rev
olution which has been effected in
France" he said, is Of SO wonderful
a nature that man can hardly real
iZe the fact"-his calm tones ringing
strangely amidst the enthusiastic cries
of the time. Il fear, though 1t has
gone triumphantly through the first
paroxysm, it Is not the last 1t has to
encounter before matters are finally
settled. The revolution is of too
great a magnitude to be effected in so
short a space and with the loss of SO
little blood"
He hoped. but did not believe, that
It would run its course without fatal
disorders; and he meant, in any case.
to keep America from the infection.
She was herself but sin a GONZALES
cent state" as he said, after her own
struggle. She was too observant still,
moreover, OF European politics and
opinion. like province rather than
like a nation-inclined to take sides
as If she were still child of the Eu-
ropean family. who had flung away
from her mother England to cling In
pique to an ancient foe.
Washington's first and almost single
object, at every point of policy. was to
make OF the provincial states of the
Union veritable nation. independent.
at any rate, and ready to be great
when its growth should come. and its
self-knowledge, Every true friend
to this country" he said, at last must
see and feel that the policy of it is
not to embroil ourselves with any ma
ton whatever. but to avoid their dis
putes and their politics, and. If they
will harass one another, to avail our
selves OF the neutral conduct we have
adopted. Twenty years peace. with
such an increase of population and re-
sources as we have right to expect,
added to our remote situation from the
jareing powers. will in all probability
enable us. in a Just cause, to bid de-
fiance to any power on EARTH" and
such were his thought and purpose
from the first
II want an American character" he
cried, that the powers OF Europe
may be convinced we act for our
selves, and not for others" He had
charge of a nation In the making. and
he meant It should form, under his
care. an Independent character.
II was thus he proved himself no
sentimentalist, but statesman. 1t
was stuff of his character. this pur-
pose of independence. He would have
played like part of self-respect for
himself among his neighbors on the
Virginia plantations: and he could
neither understand nor tolerate the
sentiment which made men like JEFF
ferson eager to fling themselves into
European broils. Truly this man was
the American, the men about him
proyincials merely, dependent still for
their life and thought upon the breath
Of the Old World. unless, like Hamil-
ton they had been born and had stood
aloof. or. like Gouyerneur Morris. had
OWNED Europe in her own capitals
with clear. unenamoured eyes.
Fortunately affairs could be held
steadily enough to course OF wise
neutrality and moderation at first,
while Frances revolution wrought
only its work OF internal overthrow
and destruction: and while things went
Tins opinion began slowly to cool.
Twas plain to be seen. as the months
went by. that the work being done In
France bore no real likeness at all TO
the revolution in America; and wise
men began to see 1t for what It was.
aoc,al distemper, not a reformation Of
liant affartfya enough as