Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-22


Gates COMMUNICATIVE hief-Gates,
who, by taking New Lngland's view
in the Vermont dispute had won the
regard of the two powerful Adamses;
Gates, who in December OF 1915 had
failed to obey orders and join Wash
ington in the Trenton campaign, and
instead had ridden or to tell congress
OF the toOlishness OF Washington's
plans Gates, who had preferred fool
ish, malicious charges against snyder
ana Arnold, and by spreading preJu-
dice and Misunderstanding concerning
the latter had brought upon that UNI
fortunate man the sights and insults
which undermined his patriotism
Gates, to whom went all the glory OF
Saratoga, rightly regarded today as
the turning point of the revolution. II
was Washington who foresaw the
British plan TO separate New England
from the rest of the colonies, who laid
the cOunter-plans which worked out
81 successfully. lie aroused New Eng
land and New York, and to keep
Howe from joining Burgoyne he kept
Howe busy. Credit to Gates, yes, but
credit to Washington for the terrific
sacrifices he made, while congress
were plotting against him, to secure
victory for Gates at the north.
The Conway Cabal.
The success of Gates greatly en-
couraged those who were trying to
drive Washington out OF power, We
now come to the infamous Conway
Cabal,' and can leave the Adamses
out OF the story. The story now to be
told has a curious sound when we
compare ii with the description OF
Washington as FRS. in war, first in
peace, and first in the hearts OF his
countrymen part of the machin-
cry OF this wretched cabal was the
publication in London and the repub-
lication in the colonies OF a collection
Of forged letters bearing the name Of
Washington and intended to prove
his insinccrity in the cause of the rev.
oution II was only in 1896, when he
was about TO retire from the presiden-
cy that Washington flied, in the office
OF the secretary OF state, denial OF
its authenticity
The moving spirit in the cabal was
an Irish adventurer named Conway
who had obtained n commission in the
American army and who made exor-
bitant claims to promotion. Lowell
and Gates and a number OF minor Of
licers of the American army were also
concerned in the plot against Washing
ton. Gates, by the way had not taken
the trouble to send washington a re-
port of the victory at Saratoga and
the commander-in- chief had received
his first information through acciden-
tai channels. Then Gates had refused
to send the troops which Washington
urgently needed in the effort To con-
troll the Delaware. The cabal went
down to one apparent defeat, but raj
lied and late in the year of l717 Sc
cured the enlargement of the board of
war TO a membership of five, with
Gates at its heat and Conway as in
spector general After the known
machNations of Gates and Conway it
was a direct insult to Washington.
The story of Lee Is insignificant by
comparison, yet Lee tried TO ruin
Washington, in the expectation that
ne would succeed to supreme COM
mand His first disobedience was in
November, 1876, when he made neces-
sary the retreat through New Jersey.
Not only did he disobey orders, but he
began a letter writing campaign in
the effort To discredit his chief. Dis
obedience was in the way of becoming
his hahit until it was checked at Mon
mouth, two years later
The greatness of Washington tri-
umphed over domestic malice The
revolution came to n successful end.
But Washngton's later experience in
the service of the country he loved so
well was such that lesser man might
easily have surrendered to bitterness