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

AS he journeyed northward to Phil
adelphia he was joyfully confirmed in
his views and purposes by his recep-
ton at the hands of the people. He
was everywhere dined and toasted and
feted. as If he had been a favorite
prince returned to his subjects. His
speeches by the way rang In a tone
of authority and patronage. He
reached Philadelphia fairly mad with
the sense of power, and had no con-
ception of his real situation till he
stood face to face with the president.
OF that gr:n coutenance and cold
greeting there could be but one inter
pretation; and the fellow WINGED to
feel that at last he had come to a
grapple with the country's govern
ment. It was, no doubt, in the eyes of
the SOLDERING man, strange and start
ling thing that then took place. The
country itself had not fully known
Washington till then-or its own dig
nifty either. 1t had deemed the proc
lamation of neutrality a party meas
ure, into which the president had been
led by the enemies of France, the par
tisans of England.
But the summer undeceived every
body, even Genet. Not content with
the lawless mischief he had set af0ot
on the coasts by the commissioning
of privateersmen, that mad youth had
fastened to send agents into the south
and west to enlist men for armed ex-
petitions against the Floridas and
against New Orleans, on the coveted
Mississippi; but his work was every
where steadily undone.
Neutrality Is Enforced.
Washington acted slowly, deliberate
ly even, with that majesty of self-con.
troll, that awful courtesy and stiffness
in wrath, that had ever made him a
master to be feared in moments of
sharp trial. One by one the unlawful
prizes were seized; justice was done
upon their captors; the false admiralty
courts were shut up. The army of the
United States was made ready to
check the risings In the south and
west. should there be need; the COM
plants Of the British minister were
silenced by deeds as well as by words;
the clamor of those who had well
coined the Frenchman so like provin-
Gals was ignored, though for a season
It seemed the voice of the country It
self; and the humiliating work, which
ought never to have been necessary.
was at last made effective and COM
plete.
Towards the close Of June, Wash
ington ventured to go for little while
to Mount Vernon for rest. At once
there was trouble. A privateer was
found taking arms and stores aboard
In the very river at Philadelphia: JEFF
ferson allowed her to drop down to
Chester, believing Genet instead OF
the agents of the government; and
she was upon the point Of getting to
sea before Washington could reach
the seat of government. Jefferson
was not in town when the president
arrived.
Rebuke for Jefferson.
What Is to be done in the case Of
the Little Sarah now at Chester?"
came Washington's hot questions after
him. rs the minister Of the French
republic to set the acts of this gov
eminent at defiance with impunity?
And then threaten the executive with
an appeal to the people? What must
the world think Of such conduct. and
of the United States in submitting to
it? Circumstances press for decision;
and as you have had time to consider
them, l wish to know your opinion
upon them. even before tomorrow. for
the vessel may then be gone" 1t
was indeed too late to stop her: a
gross violation of neutrality had been
permitted under the very eyes OF the
secretary Of state. Washington stayed
henceforth in Philadelphia, in person
al control of affairs. 1t was an ap-
peal to the people that finally deliv-
cred Genet into his hands. Washing
ton revoked the exequatur OF one Du-
PLANE, French consul at Boston. for
continuing to ignore the laws Of neu-
trality; Genet declared he would ap-
peal from the president to the SOW
ereign state of Massachusetts; rumors
of the silly threat got abroad, and
Genet demanded of the president that
he deny them. Washington answered
with a chilling rebuke; the correspond
ence was given to the public prints;
and at last the country saw the
French minister for what he was. A
demand for his recall had been re-
solved upon in the cabinet in August;
by February, 1894, the slow processes
of diplomatic action were complete,
and a successor had arrived. Genet did
not venture to return to his distract
ed country; but he was as promptly
and as readily forgotten in America.
Some might find it possible to love
France still; but no one could any
longer stomach Genet.
Washington had OWNED French az