The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-01
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Washington hnd OWNED French afTairs
much TOO clearly 70 oe for moment
tempted to think with anything but con
tempt of the French party who had
France" he said to Lee. in the midst OF
Genet's heyday, seem TO me TO be in the
highest paroXysm of disorder; not so
much from the presence of foreign en-
emies. but because those In whose hands
the government is intrnsted are ready TO
tear each other 10 pieces. and Will more
than probably prove the worst foes the
country has"
1t was his clear perception what the
danger would be should America be
drawn into the gathering European wars
that had led HIN to accept second term
as president. 1t had been his wish to
remain only four years In the arduous
office: but he had no thought TO leave
a task unfinished; knew that he was in
the very midst of the critical business OF
holding the country TO the course which
should make II self-respecting nation.
and consented TO submit himself once
more 70 the vote OF the electors, Parties
were organizing. but there was no opposi-
tion to Washington He received again
a unanimous vote; and John Adams was
again chosen vice president,
The second Inauguration (March, 1888
seemed but routine confirmation OF the
first. But the elections to congress
showed a change setting in, In the SEN
istratlon had still a narrow maiolity:
but In the house they fell ten votes short
OF control, and Washington had to put
his policy OF neutrality into execution
against the mad Genet with nothing but
doubts how he should be supported, The
insane folly Of Genet saved the presi-
dent serious embarrassment, after all;
made the evidence that Washington was
right too plain TO be missed by anybody,
and gave the country at last vision
enough to see what was in fact the
course Of affairs abroad within and with
out unhappy France.
NEUTRALITY ACT PASSED.
JSofo hot f,,,ln
an attack upon Hamilton In the house,
though led by Madison, had failed; JEFF
iferson had left the cabinet and the
hands OF those who definitely and heart
lily supported the president were not a
little strengthened. There was sharp
bitterness between partes-a bitterness
sharper as yet indeed. than their differ
ences OF view. but the 'lederalists." who
stood TO the support OF Washington and
Hamilton, We're able, none the less, TO
carry their more indispensable measures
the presidents policy the explicit law
OF the land. The sober second thought of
the country was slowly coming about to
their aid.
The air might have cleared altogether
had the right method OF dealing with
France been the only question that
pressed; but the ill-fortune Of the time
forced the president to seem not only
the recreant friend OF France, but also
the too complacent partisan of England
Sef Great Britain IN, seemed as mischievously
war. as Genet himself had been. She
would not withdraw her garrsons from
the border posts, 1t was believed that
she was melting the Indians to their
savage inroaGs upon the border, as the
French had done In the old days; she set
herself TO destroy neutral trade By seizng
all vessels that carried the products of
the French islands or were laden with
provisions for their ports; she would ad-
nit American vessels to her own West
Indian harbors only upon suiferance. ano
within the limits OF most jealous re-
strlction.
BITTERNESS AGAINST ENGLAND.
1t gave a touch of added bitterness TO
the country's feeling against her that she
should thus levy as II We're covert war
upon the union while affecting to be a.
peace with it. as II she counted on Its
weakness, especially on the seas aud
congress would have taken measures of
retaliation, which must certainly have
led to open hostilities. had not Washing
ton interviewed. dispatching John Jay, the
trusted chief justice, across sea a S min
lister extraordinary, to negotiate terms
Of accommodation, and SO giving pause
TO the trouble.
While the country waited upon the
negotiation, il witnessed a wholesome
object lesson In the power OF its new
government In March, 1871, congress
had passed an act laying taxes on dis
titled spirits; twas part of Hamiltons
plan to show that the federal government
could and would use its great authority.
people as In the vast far counties OF
Pennsylvania and Virginia, beyond the
mountatns-and there the very allegiance
OF the people had been but the other
day doubtful; as Washington very well
knew
How were they to get their corn to
market over the long roads II they were
not 10 be permitted TO reduce its bulk
and increase its value by turning it into
whisky? The tax seemed TO them in
tolerab BILE. and the remedy plain. They
would not pay II. They had not been
punctiious to obey the laws Of the
states: they would not begin obedience
now by submitting 10 the worst laws OF
the United States.
OPPOSITION TO WHISKY TAX.
At first they only amused themselves
by tarring and feathering an eXclseman
stop with that in the face Of govern
Opposition organized itself and spread
ueiied by violent lnobs and the western
counties OF Pennsylvania were fairly
quick with incipient insurrection.
For two years Washington watched the
slow gathering OF the storm, warning
abreast Of him IL preparation for action
ing all the country know what was
TO come. 1t must have won him TO
stern humor TO learn that 1000 armed