The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-19

WI, TEDROAR1 IL, 1918
which to reproach himself" but II was
tnese last years which were 20 crown
this perfect praise with It's full mean
ing In the absence OF any real govern
ment' Washington proved almost the only
prop or authority and law. What the
crisis was no one knew quite so thor
ougnly or so particularly as ne. il con-
sisted In the ominous fact that the army
was The only organized and central power
IN The country. and that y had deep rca-
son for discomfort and insubordlnat ton.
When once Il had served its purpose
greatly at Yorktown, and the war seemed
ended At a stroke. the country turned
from II in irditference-lcft ~ without
money; talked OF disbanding IL without
further ceremony, and with no provision
made Tor arrears OF pay: seemed almost
70 challenge u 10 Indignation and mutlny.
II was necessary. for every ason Of
prudence and good craftsmanship. 30 keep
the army stlll upon a war footing
SIGNS OF PEACE.
There were sure signs OF peace, no
DOUBT, out no man could foretell what
might be the course OF politics ere Eng
laud should have compounded her quar-
rel with France and SPAIN and ended
the wars with which the revolution had
become ineNtricably involved II were
folly 10 leave the English army at New
York unchecked. Premature confidence
that peace had come might bring some
enemy take the field again The army
must be ready TO night, II only 10 make
hghuDg unnecessary. Washington would
have assumed the offensive again. would
nave crushed Clinton where he lay In
New York. and the congress was not
sldck-as slackDess was counted there
In sustaining his counsels. But the con-
gress had no power TO raise money: had
no power to command. The states alone
could make 1t possible 10 TAX the coun-
try TO pay the army; their thirteen gov
ernments were the only civil authority
and they took the needs and the dis
contents OF the army very lightly. deemed
peace secure and war expenses unneces-
sary, and let matters drift as they
would.
They came very near drifting TO an
other revolution-a revolution such as
politicians had left out OF their reckon
Ing. and only Washington could avert.
After Yorktown, Washington spent four
months in Philadelphia, helping the con-
Sress forward with the business OF the
winter, but as March OF the new year
NiS2l drew towards its close he re-
Joined the army at Newburgh. to resume
his watch upon New York.
PROPOSES KINGDOM.
He had been scarcely two months at
his post when a letter was placed in his
hands which revealed more fully than
any observations OF his own could have
revealed ii, the pass to which affairs
had come. The letter was from Colonel
Lewis Nicola, an old and respected Of
ficcr. who stood nearer than did most Of
his fellow officers to the COMMANDMENTS
chief in intimacy and affection. and who
felt IL his privilege to speak plainly. The
letter was calm In temper, grave and
moderate in tone. with something OF the
gravity and method OF disquisitlon writ
ten upon abstract questions of govern
ment; did not broach its meaning like
a revolutionary document But what II
proposed was nothing less. when read be-
tween the lines. than that Washington
1. 1fF H.. III.
and that so an end should be put to the
and ingratitude OF a band
OF weak and futile republics.
Washington met the suggestion with
n rebuke so direct and Overwhelming that
Colonel Nicola must himself have won
dered how he ever dared make such a
venture. BE assured, SIR said the In
dignant commander mo occurrence in
painful sensations than your inforna-
tion OF there being such ideas existing
in the army. ! am much at a
loss TO conceive what part of my con-
an address which TO me seems big with
the greaest mlschiefs that can befall
my country. If | am not deceived In the
knowledge of myself. YOU could not have
are more disagreeable. Let me
conjure you, II you have any regard FOR
your country. concern for yourself or pos
terity, or respect for me. 10 Danish these
thoughts from your mind, and never COM
as from yourself or any one
else, sentiment OF the like nature" He
was cut TO the quick that his own Of
ticers should deem him AN adventurcr.
willing to advance his own power ut the
expense of the very principles he had
fought for. His thought must have gone
back at bound 10 his old comradeship
with his brother Lawrence. with the Fair
faxes. George Mason. and the Lees. and
all that free company OF gentlemen I'm
the Northern Neck who revered law,
loved liberty and hated n rsurper.
GRIEVES FOR ARMY.
But he could not blink the just COM
plants and real grievances OF the army:
nor did he wish TO. Though others were
angry after a manner he scorned no
mans grief or Indignation was deeper
than bis that the army should be left
done and he threatened. besides. with
being turned adrift without reward or
hope OF provision for the future.
''No man possesses n more sincere
wish TO see ample justice done TO the
army than do he had declared TO
Colonel Nicola land as far as my power
and influence. In a constitutional way.
extend, they shall be employed to the
utmost Of my abilities to effect IT,"
The pledge was fulfilled In almost every
letter he wrote. private or public. He
urged the states, a S he urged the con-
.rcss, In season and out OF season. 10 sec
Justice done the men VINO had won the
revolution, and whom he loved rs II they
lad been Of his own blood.
"The spirit OF party. private interest,
;lowness, and national Incidence slackcr. |
:uspond and overthrow the best con-