The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-03-03
on the coveted
srcM.

49, 1900
silington ac,- alowly, deliberate
" even, with that majesty of seif-con-
troll. thai 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
uuan taeir captorss tte }alse ainiia
eeDrts wese <isat NJ The amy .
HAltea states Was made re& Is e
gAsa, the risinea III the .ecpth tsa
west, should there pc need ~ col
PAINTS of The British minista.
silenced by deeds as well as By MoIds-
the clamor of those who had wei-
coined the Frenchman so like proyin-
cials was ignored, though>for a season
it ssemed the voice of the country it
self; and the hurailiating work, which
ought never TO have been necessary.
was at last made effective and G :
plete.
Towards the close OF Jun9. VI
ington ventured to go for little =
to Mount Vernon for rest. a. o. =
there was trouble. A privateer
found taking arms and stores aic
in the very river at Philadelphia; j
ferson allowed her to drop down tc
Chester, believing Genet instead e
the agents of the government: an.
she was upon the point of getting to
sea before Washington could reach
the seat of government. JeffeFs "A
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. els the minister of the French
republic to set the acts of this gov
eminent at defiance with IMMUNITY?
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 fcs decision;
and as you have had time to consider
them, I 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. It 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 chilling rebuke; the correspond
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 af-
fairs much too clearly to be for mo-
ment tempted to think with anything
but contempt of the French party who
had truckled to Genet. 1t was his
clear perception what the danger
would be should America be drawn in
to the gathering European wars that
had led him to accept second term
as president. It 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 bust
ness of holding the country to the
course which should make it self
respecting nation; and consented to
submit himself once more to the vote
of the electors.
Elected for Second Term.
Parties were organizing, but there
was no opposition to Washington. He
received again a unanimous vote; and
John Adams. was again chosen vice
president. The second inauguration
March, 1899 seemed but a routine
confirmation Of the first
But the elections to congress showed
change setting In. In the senate
the avowed supporters Of the admin
istration had still a narrow majority;
but In the house they fell ten votes
short Of control; and Washington had
to put his policy Of neutrality into ex-
ecution against the mad Genet with
nothing but doubts how he should be
supported. The insane folly of Genet
saved the president serious embar.
rassment, 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 without un
happy France.
Before that trying year 1898 was
out, an attack upon Hamilton in the
house, though led by Madison, had
failed: Jefferson had left the cabinet;
and the hands of those who definitely
and heartily supported the president
were not little strengthened.
There was sharp bitterness between
psrties-a. bitterness sharper as yet
indeed, than their differences of view
but the "federalists," who stood to The
support of Washington and Hamilton
were able, none the less, to carry theil
more indispensable measurement al
act of neutrality which made the pres
dents policy the explicit law OF tn,
land. The sober second thought o
the country was slowly coming abou
to their aid.