The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-28
III
American Reprisals Against France
in John Adams's Time.

must OeClue now 1ar we NUS go IN ue-
Tending the rights OF all our citizens and
must look In the face our preparedness
to maintain those rights. II may be In
.erestlng to recall what has been styled
one OF some forgotten fights forced
on the United States when we we're re-
garded as almost a negligible Power
Gin 1889 and the manner In which we
met our responsibilities. I quote the
story in part from r. Alexander
Powelrs Gentlemen Rovers":
AT the time when this narrative
opens Bonaparts had finished his won
derful campaign In northern Italy. and
tho French nation. flushed with conf
dence by his remarkable series OF VIC
tories. was staggering about with a chip
on It's shoulder. and defying the nations
OF the world to knock II OF. In fact. the
leaders OF the Reign OF Terror. drunk
with unaccustomed power. had lost
their heads as completely as the victims
they had Euillotined on ,he Place De la
Revolution. Thoroughly typical of this
i~nsolent and arrogant attitude was the
French Directory's %peremptory demand
that we instr ntly abrogate the treaty
which John Jay. our Minister to Eng
land. had Just concluded with that coun-
try. basing It's u~nwarrantabls interfer-
ence with our affairs on the ground
that the terms of the treaty we're %injuri-
Gus to commercial interests Of France.
Upon our curt refusal TO arcede TO
this p~repoeterous demand. Charles c.
Pinckney. our Minister AT Paris. was
notified by the French Government mat
II would hold no further intercourse
with him, and the very next mail packet
brought the news that ne had been AZ
PEELED from France. Not content will
this extraordinary and uncailed for af-
front TO a friendly nation. French
cruisers began seixing our ships under
a decree OF their Government authoriz-
ing the capture Of neutral vessels hav-
ing on board any OF the products OF
Great Britain or her colonies for at
this time. remember. France and Eng
land were al war. as they were. indeed.
through nearly the whole Of Napo-
Icons reign A the bulk Of our trade
at this period was with the British
colonies In the West Indies. II was evt-
lent that this decree was aimed directly
at US. Every packet that came from
West Indian waters brought news OF
American ships overhauled and plum
dered, OF sailors beaten and kidnapped.
and OF seized and confscated
by the French. tho authenticated des-
patches TO the State Department nam
ing nearly a thousand vessels which had
been captured.
Though 4. was evident that nothing
short OF a miracle could avert war,
President Adams. approaching the I'll
prepa redness OF TIRE United States.
which had only recently emerged from
the Revolution. in a weakened and i'm
poverished condition. determined 20
make one more try for peace bv des-
patching to France a special mission
composed OF Minister pinckney. Ell
bridge Gerry and John Marshall. the
last named later Chief Justice OF the
United States. Though IN all our dip
lomatic history we have sent abroad
no more able or distinguished embassy.
the reception It's members received at
the hands OF the French Government
was as d~isgracefui as Il was lud,crous.
The French Directory at this time was
composed Of low and irresponsible poll
ticians Of the ward heller type. who
had climbed 10 power during the French
Revolution. 40 that. incredible a. such n
state OF affairs may seem In these days.
the negotiations soon degenerated into
an attempt 10 fleece the American en-
voys. who were Informed quite frankly
that their success depended on their
agreeing TO brlbe, Or as the French po-
litely put Il. 20 give n douceur 20 GER
tain avar!cious members OF the Direc-
tory. Not only this. but the American
diplomats were old that II the brihes
demanded were not forthcoming orders
would be given 20 the warships on the
French West Indian station TO avage
the coast Of the United States.
Then all the pent up rage and indigna-
tion Of Pinckney hurs, forth. War Ne
II them he exclaimed. Millions for de-
fence. sir. but not one cent for tribute
. Talleyrand's attempt 10 whip
America into a revocation OF Jays
treaty had igncminiousfy failed. He had
made the tn~excusable mistake OF under
estimating the spirit and resources OF
his opponent. Congress promptly ahro-
gated all our treaties with France. pro-
hlblted American vessels from entering
French ports and French vessels from
coming into American waters. and voted
a large sun for national defence. The
land forces were Increased. the coast
wise Notifications strengthened. ships 81
war were hurriedly laid down. volun-
teers from every walk OF LIE hesieged
the recruiting stations, Washington re-
assumed command OF the army.
ny the beginning OF 1879 the West In
dian waters were as effertually pa
trolled by American warships az n great
city Is patroll~i by policemen. 1.-THE
story OF the fght between the Constella-
tlon and lIrsurgent Is told
THUS continued until February. 1901.
An unbroken series OF American sue
cesses. French warsh!ps, French priva-
teers and French merchantmen alike
being sunk. captured or driver from the
seas. Forced TO admit tina
from Arst 20 last his ships had been out
sailed. outfought and outmanruvred Ivy
the despised Americans, n that a con-
tinuance of the war could only result
In further disaster and loss OF prestige.
Napoleon began negotiations which led,
about the time hat tho nineteenth cen-
fury passed It's first birthday. to a -us-
pension of hostillties,
During the two and a half years Of
this unofficial war with tho most
powerful military nation in the world
our infant navy had captured eighty
four armed French vessels, mounting
over five hundred guns, n success all the
more remarkable when II IL remem-
bered that our entire naval establish
ment at the outbreak OF hostllities com.
prised hut twenty-five vessels. with asa
guns. In other words. we had captured
almost four times as many ships as we
possessed. Not only had we practically
detroyed French commerce on this side
the Atlantic. but our own had
risen under the protection Of our guns
from $4,000, 900 in 1877 TO more than
SIS. OO0, 900 In 1899"
VIII tho sons OF those fathers sur.
render any OF their rights7 l.
H~AcKENsACK, N. j.. May 30.
Reason and Folly.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: II