The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-07-25


conrzas ~ TIE MisxsssiprE, lest terri.
togsas aggression sh0nid b. pnshed 100
snr4~eiy IL lkst quarter. and ness
rsacAns she settlers Beyond the moan
'aans. - ne FAR counties q North
casplaas and Virginia that Mr.. Jay.
Fhe Confederation secretary Tor for.
sign sdalrs. had proposed TO The
cpngreas 10 yield the navigation 81 the
AissisSip3i Ter a generation 10 ex.
change Tor trade On me seas They
aatly declared they woul6 give ,hen-
selves. and their lands TOO. into the
hands of FngIand again rather than
sssuit 10 be 50 robbed. cT1mped ard
deserted
The Mex Eaglana states. on their
part threatened 10 Withdraw from the
confeeerstion il treaties were to BE
made 70 wzit npca me assem- Of
srontseTsmen en- fhe Tar Mississippi
The situation WaE flu Of menace or
10 ordinary sort
X could pront The Confederation lit
AZ that great states ike Virginia and
New York had grown rnagnanimoas.
and we're endowing the Confederation
~ith vast gifts Or territory In the west.
II sueh gifts were but 70 loosen SIN
further the already siackened bonds o.
the common government. leaving set
tlsrs il the unclaimed lands no allie
gianee they could respect
Without . national government spiE-
tied and strong enough to frame poll
cies and command obedience. I'VE
shall never establish national char
acter or Be considered as On a respect
able footing b. the powers OF Europe.
Washington had said from the first
Washington Urges Union.
He had made most solemn appeal
10 the states IN bis last circular to
them, ere lie resigned hts commission.
urging them 10 strengthen the powers
o. congress, put faction and jealousy
away. and make sure cf "an sndis
soluble union Under one federal head Z
An option ~ still left 10 the United
States OF America be had told them.
with all his plain and stately elo
quences IN Is n their choice. and de-
pends upon their conduct. whether
they viii be respectable and prosper
GUS, or contemplate and miserable,
az a nation This Is the time OF their
political probation"
The hazards OF that probation had
been burden upon his heart through
all the toll Of the Revolution. and now
Il seemed as II the states must needs
make every evil choice in meeting
them. Congress could not SO much as
carry out the provisions OF the treaty
Of peace. for Its commissioners had
made promises In the name OF the
states which the states would not re-
deem.
England Breaks Her Agreement
England consequently refused to
keep her part OF the agreement and
relinquish the western posts. She
levied commercial war against the
country. besides. without fear OF re-
prisal. for congress had no power to
regulate trade. and the states were too
jealous OF each other 10 cooperate
in this or any other matter.
English statesmen had consented to
give up the colonies. and recognize
their independence as nation. rather
than face any longer the world in
arms: but they now looked to see
them presently drop back into their
hands again. out OF sheer heIpIessness
and hopeless division In counsel: and
there were observant men In America
who deemed the thing possible. though
II brought an intolerabIe fire into
their blood to think OF Il.
In Financial Straits.
Other nations, too. were fast con
ceiying like contempt for the Con
federation.
II was making no provision for the
payment OF the vast sums OF money IL
had borrowed abroad. In France and
Holland and Spain; and Il could not
make any. II could only ask the
states for money. and must count It.
self fortunate 10 get enough to pay
even the interest on its debts.
II was this that foreign courts were
finding out. that the Confederation was
a mere government of supplication. +"
as Randolph had dubbed Il, and its
credit broke utterly down. French
man and Spaniard alike would only
have laughed Ia contemptuous deri-
sion to see the whole fabric 90 to
pieces and we're beginning TO interest
themselves with surmises as to what
plumber Il would afford.
Resort 10 lrreeeenaabIe Paper.
The states which lay Reighbors 10
each other were embroiled In boun.
dairy disputes. aud We're fallen to levy
ing duties en- each Others commerce.
They wars individually IN debt. be-
sides. aud we're many OF them resort
ing 10 issues OF irredeemahle paper
money 10 relieve themselves OF the in.
eyitable taxation that must sooner or
pay their reckonings.
We are either united people. or
xe are not so" cried Washington. III
HE former. let US in all matters Of
general concern act as nation which
has . national character 70 support:
II W. are not. let as no longer act a
feres ~ pretending 10 H." As the
,s,r,rftse U3kSed Il began 10 look as II