The Ordway new era., 1913-11-14
InstaIIment "a

utok 0ulllVIk 6V
He had taken Jefferson direct rom
France. where for five years he had been
watching a revolution come on apace.
hurried from stage to stage. not by
statesmen. who were masters In the
art and practice of freedom. like
those who had presided in the coun-
sells 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
back a philosophical radical rather
than q 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 q guide who needed watch
ing.
Foreign affairs. over which It was
Jefferson's duty to preside. began Of
. sudden to turn upon the politics Of
France. where Jefferscn's thought was
so much engaged. The year 1888, 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 q
new one. In, that year broke the
storm of the French revolution.
1t was dangerous infection that
went abroad from France in those first
days Of her ardor. and nowhere was
It 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, 'ls of 30 wonderful
q nature that man can hardly real
ize the fact"-his calm tones ringing
strangely amidst the enthusiastic cries
of the time. II fear. though 1t has
gone triumphantly through the. first
paroxysm, 1t is not the last 1t has to
encounter before matters are finally
settled. The revolution Is Of too
great 3 magnitude to be effected in 30
short a space and with the loss Of SO
little blood"
He hoped. but did not believe. that
Il would run its course without fatal
disorders: and he meant. in any case.
70 keep America from the infection.
She was herself but "in . convales-
cent state" ~ he said. after her own
struggle. She was too .observant still.
moreover. of European politics and
opinion. like a province rather than
like a nation-inclined to take sides
a. II she were still a child of the Eu-
Fov h~ hoA "
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
acknowledge. Every true friend
70 this country" he said. at last must
sse and feel that the policy of It il
not to embroq ourselves with any na-
ton whatever. but to avoid their dis
putes and their politics. and. II they
will haraas one another. to avail our
solves Of tho neutral conduct we have
adopted. Twenty years peace. with
such an Increase of population and re-.
sources as we have a right to expect.
added to our remote situation from the
jarrins powers. will in all probability
suabIA US. in Just cause. to bid de-
nance to any power on earth" and
senh were his thought and purpose
fom 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 nation in the making, and
he meant It should form. under his
care. an Independent character.
1t was thus he proved himself NO
sentimentalist. but statesman. Ie
vas stun of his character. this pur-
pose Of independence. He would have
played q like part of self-respect for
hi,uself among his neighbors on the
Virginia plantations: and he could
psither understand nor tolerate the
sentiment which made men like JEFF
farson eager to nfng themselves into
European broils. Truly this man was
the American. the men about him
provincials merely. dependent still for
lheir life and thought upon the breath
Of the Old World. unless. like Hamil.
ton, they had been born and had stood
sloof. or. Ike Gouverneur Morris. had
OWNED Europe in her own capitals
with clear. unenamoured eyes.
Fortunately affairs could be held
steadily enough to q course Of wise
aeatrality and moderation at first.
while Frances revolution wrought
only its work Of internal overthrow
and destruction; and while things went
thus opinion began slowly to cool.
'Twas plain to be seen. as the months
v<at 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 It for what It was. q