The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-07-25
by The President

and grew more and more uneasy t.
note the course affairs were taking.
1t looked as if the administration
were determined of set purpose to in
crease the expenses of the govern
ment, in order that they might add to
the loans, which were so acceptable
to influential men of wealth, and
double the taxes which made the pow
er OF the government so real in the
eyes of the people. Steps were urged
to create navy; to develop an army
with permanent organization and
equipment; and the president insisted
upon vigorous action at the frontiers
against the western Indians. This was
part of his cherished policy. 1t was
his way of fulfilling the vision that
had long ago come to him, of a nation
spreading itself down the western
slopes of the mountains and over all
the broad reaches of fertile land that
looked towards the Mississippi; but
to many a member of congress from
the quiet settlements in the east 1t
looked like nothing better than waste
of men and of treasure.
Seemed Too Imperious.
The president seemed even little
too imperious in the business: Would
temper to brook delay in the consid-
Grafton and adoption of what he pro-
posed in such matters. When things
went wrong through the fault of the
commanders he had sent to the from
tier, he stormed in sudden fury, as
sometimes in the old days of the war,
scorning soldiers whQ must needs
blunder and fail. The cof1pGlsion OF
his will grew often little irksome to
the minority in congress; and the OPP
position slowly pulled itself together
as the months went by I'd concert
definite policy of action.
Washington saw as plainly as any
man what was taking place. He was
sensitive to the movements Of opin-
ion; wished above all things to have
the government supported by the peo-
pies approval; was never weary Of
writing to those who were in a posi-
ton to know, to ask them what they
and their neighbors soberly thought
about the questions and policies under
debate; was never so impatient as to
run recklessly ahead Of manifest pub
lie opinion.
He knew how many men had been
repealed by the measures he had sup
ported Hamilton in proposing; knew
that reaction had set in; that even
to seem to repulse France and to re-
fuse her aid or sympathy would sure
ly strengthen it. The men who were
opposed to his financial policy were
also the men who most loved France,
now she was mad with revolution.
They were the men who dreaded a
strong government as direct menace
to the rights alike of individuals and
of the separate states; the men who
held a very imperative philosophy of
separation and of revolt against any
too great authority. If he showed
himself cold towards France, he would
certainly strengthen them in their
charge that the new government
craved power and was Indifferent to
the guarantees Of freedom.
He Acts Promptly.
But Washington's spirit was of the
majestic sort that keep great and
hopeful confidence that the right view
win prevail; that the standard to
which the wise and honest will repair"
Is also the standard to which the
whole people will rally at last, if it
be but held long and steadily enough
on high to be seen of all. When the
moment for action came he acted
promptly, unhesitatingly. as if in in
difference to opinion. The outbreak
of war between France and England
made 1t necessary he should let the
country know what he meant to do.
War having actually commenced
between France and Great Britain" he
wrote to Jefferson in April, 1893, 1T
behooves the government of this coun-
try to use every means in its power
to prevent the citizens thereof from
embroiling us with either of those
powers, by endeavoring to maintain
a strict neutrality. / therefore require
that you will give the subject mature
consideration, that such measures as
shall be deemed most likely to effect
this desirable pu. pose may be adopted
without delay. Such other
measures as may be necessary for us
to pursue against events which it may
not be in our power to avoid or con-
troll, you will also think of. and lay
them before me at my arrival in Phil
adelphia; for which place l shall set
out tomorrow"
He was at Mount Vernon when he
dispatched these instructions; but it
did not take him long to reach the seat
OF government, to consult his cabinet,
and to issue a proclamation of neu-
trality whose terms no man could mis-
take. 1t contained explicit threat of
exemplary action against any who
should presume to disregard it.