The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-06-27
An Overwhelming Rebuke.

wondered how he had ever dared make
such a venture.
BE assured, sir" said the indignant
commander, mo occurrence in the
course of the war has given me more
painful sensations than your informa-
ton of their being such ideas existing
in the army. am much at a
loss to conceive what part of my con-
duct could have given encouragement
to an address which to me seems big
with the greatest mischiefs that can
befalI my country. II / am not de-
cieved in the knowledge of myself,
you could not have found a person to
whom your schemes are more disa-
greeable Let me cOniure you,
if you have any regard for your cOun-
try, concern for yourself or posterity,
or respect for me- to Danish these
thoughts from your mind, and never
communicate, as from yourself or any
one else. a sentiment OF the like ma
ture.''
Cut to the Quick.
He was cut to the quick that his
own officers should deem him IN adj
venturer, willing to advance his own
power at the eXpClGe Of the very
principles he had fought for.
His thought must have gone back
at a bound to his old deship
with brother Lawrence, with the Fair
faxes, George Mason, and the Lees,
and all that free company of gentle
men in the Northern Neck who re-
vered law, loved liberty, and hated
usurper
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
manner he scorned, no mans grief or
indignation was deeper than his that
the army should be left penniless aft
er all it had suffered and done, and be
sthreatened. besides, with being turned
adrift without reward or hope of pro-
vision for the future.
Promises Justice to the Army.
mo man possesses a more sincere
wish to see ample justice done to the
army than Tdo," he had declared to
Colonel Nicola; and as far as my
power and influence, in a constitu-
tional way, extend, they shall be en-
ployed to the utmost of my abilities to
effect it,
The pledge was fulfilled in almost
every letter he wrote, private or pub
lie. He urged the states, as he urged
the congress, in season and outtOf sea
son, to see Justice done the mem who
had won the Revolution, and whom he
loved as if they had been of his own
blood
His Counsel Disregarded.
But even his great voice went too
long unheeded. The spirit of party
private interest, slowness, and na-
tional Incidence slacken, suspend
and overthrow the best concerted
measures" the Able Robin had o.
served upon his first coming with
Rochambeau; and now measures were
not SO much as concerted until a final
menace from the army brought the
country to its senses
A troubled summer came and went,
and another winter of anxious doubt
and Intellectual counsel.
The very approach of peace, as it
grew more certain, quicl9ened the
angry fears of the army, fest peace
should be made pretekt, when it
came. to dispense them fbefore their
demands could be drivsh home upon
the 'demoralized and reluctant govern
ment they were learning to despise.
Another spring and the mischief so
long maturing was ripe; it looked as
if even Washington could not prevent
it.
A Menace From the Army.
1t had been rumored in Philadel.
phia, while tie winter held, that the
army had secretly determined not to
lay down their arms until due pro-
vision and a satisfactory prospect
should be afforded on the subject Of
their pay and that Washington had
growDf unpopular among almost all
ranks because of his harshness
against every unlawful means of Sc
curing justice
'fI4is extreme reserve, mixed some
times with a degree of asperity of
temper, both of which were said to
have increased of late. had contribut-
ed to the decline of his popularity
so ran the repOrt-and it grew every
week the more unlikely he could
Bcheck the reasonable purposes of his
men.
springing the Mine.
I In March, 1888, the mine was
! sprung; and then men learned, by a
new sign, what power there was in
the silent man; how he could handle
disaffection and disarm reproach.
An open address was spread broad
east through the camp calling upon
the army to use it's power to obtain
its rights, and inviting a meeting Of
the officers to devise a way.
Can you consent to be the only