The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-01-14
The OBSERVATORY
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS

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the, so-called, French party in thi.
country led by Jefferson, and by
them given to the press to try to force
the hand of our government. Talley-
rand's letters are long, verbose and tor
tuous, to hide his purpose; Gerry's are
short and go directly to the point. But
the abundant illusions "neutrals, y
neutral ships" and neutral ports
forcible reminds one of some or the
labored communications which have
passed between our government and
those of Europe during the past IS
months.
New London being a sea port, this
paper has much marine news, and a
good part Of it is regarding American
merchant ships which French naval
vessels and privateers have captured,
claiming they carried contraband
goods; they took many such and did
everything almost to provoke us into
war The ports of the French West
India islands were full of such YES
sells, among them the u. S. Schooner
Retaliation" commanded by Lieut..
cambridge. This was apparently one
of our naval vessels and cambridge
the one who afterwards distinguish
ed himself in our navy; he was taken
into Gaudaloupe. About that time
there had arrived at that island a re-
preventative of the French govern
ment charged to get out of the snarl
with the United States government ii
possible; the French wished to Save
their face" as the Chinese say. This
official thinking it rather high-handed
to detain an American naval vessel
told cambridge that if he would take
the officers and crews of the Ameri-
can merchant vessels detained in the
island and sail directly for Philadel-
phia he was at liberty to take his
schooner and go. This cambridge in
stantly refused. The paper states:
"Desfourneaux then informed
cambridge that unless he i'm
mediately complied he would or
der the Retaliation to be sunk.
Capt. cambridge replied that he
would depart for Philadelphia if
Desfourneaux would state his de-
mand in writing, which he COM
piled with.
Had the Retaliation been con-
demned. the act would have
amounted to declaration of war;
for which the 'Faithless Republic
was not yet ready"
And then this French official writes
to the President of the United States,
a copy of his document being printed
in this paper as follows:
LIBERTY EQUALITY.
Agency of Gaudaloupe.
CONSTITUTION. Article l56.
The particular Agents will ex-
ercise the same functions as the
+ Directory, and will be under their
direction"
The Particular Agent of the
5. Executive Directory for Gaudal-
oupe and its Dependencies to
JOHN ADAMS
President of the United States OF
America
Sir:
And then is detailed narrative of
the detention of the Retaliation, and
why and by what authority he sends
this vessel home. and as smooth as
honey
1t is all Intensely interesting; Just
change a few names and dates and the
various items would very we'll fit In
with current events. as we are related
to European countries at present.
1t is an unending wonder to me
that Thomas Jefferson should have
been such hot-headed leader of the
French party in our country from 1870
to l8OO; he tried the soul of Washing
ton. But when he came to be Presl-
dent 1t was another thing. And his
purchase of Louisiana from Napoleon
in 1903 stirred up just the same kind
OF an excitement against him and his
administration as he tried to stir u,
against Washington in 1893 and fol.
lowing years.
Tucked away in one corner of this
paper is the following:
Christian Charity. A whim-
steal writer has illustrated Christ
ian charity by the following fable;
A poor man fell down in an
apoplectic fit; churchman raised
him up from the ground by lift
ing him under his arms: while a
Presbyterian held his head and
wiped his face with a handker-
chief; Roman Catholic lady took
out her smelling bottle and asst
duously applied it to his nose;
Methodist ran for a doctor;
Quaker supported his poor wife;
and a Baptist took care of the
childrenw OBSFRVER