The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-07-18
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fngton's stanch friend and Intimate
counsellor, who had at first been his
spokesman in the house, began to
draw back-first doubted and then
opposed the policy of the treasury. He
had led the opposition to the bank
and grew more and more uneasy to
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 30 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 a 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 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
sometimes come into the senate in no
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 stormcd Il sudden fury, as
sometimes in TIE cid days of the war,
scorning soldiers who must needs
blunder aud fail. The compulsion of
his will grew often little irksome to
the minority in congress; and the op-
position slowly pulled itself together
as the months went by to concert a
definite policy of action
Washington saw as plainly as any
man what was taking place. He was
sensitive to the movements of opln-
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 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repealed by the measures he had sup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 a great and
hopeful confidence that the right view
will 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 it 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, 1898, ut
| behooves the government of this coun-
| try to use every means in it's 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 dec ned most likely to effect
was hardly ashore before he hadS be-
gun to arrange for the fitting out of
privateers, to issue letters of marque
to American citizens, and to author
ize French consuls at American ports
to act as judges of admiralty in the
condemnation of prizes.
AS he journeyed northward to Phil
adelphia he was joyfully confirmed in
his views and purposes byl his recep-
ton at the hands of the people. He
was everywhere dined and toasted and
feted, Jas if he had been a faporite
prince returned to his subjects. His
speeches by the way Nrang in 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