The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1917-04-22

In the following brilliant paper on
the War Of 1872, read by Mrs. NJ M.
Fakes at the March meeting Of Fort
Early chapter, may be found an in
teresting parallel to some of the con-
ditions existing in our country at the
present hour:
A little more than one hundred years
ago, On March 4th, 1909, James Madi-
son, democratic statesman and pub
licist, political philosopher Of renown,
diplomat CT note, and ideaIistic doc
trinare, took oath as Fourth Presi-
dent CT the United States of America.
Turbulent and uneasy was the sea
OF world politics upon which this Vir-
gilman weighed anchor for our youth
full and untired ship OF state, and upon
whose bosom he was destined to be
borne like its pillows onward" IN
like Glide Harold, however, the expe-
rience was to him no "joy of youthful
sports" but was fraught with the most
roten realities, not merely for the time
i'll which he lived and the people whom
he served, but more for great nation
in the making.
Europe was ablaZe with the Napole-
chic wars The Incompatible aDili-
ties in organization and leadership,
Of that remarkable nEglishman, Will
liam Pitt, the younger, had been, for
for many years, engaged in mortal
combat with the genius of the great
Bonaparte as he sought to conquer
the world. Now Pitt was dead. The
issu was still in doubt. The contest
was most bitter and raging. The Cor
sican fought for dominion; the island
kingdom contended for its lift. In
such circumstances, it is but natural
that every rule and standard should
be found inadequate to the needs Of
bclligerents. Retaliatory measures in
council and reprisals Of every descriD-
ticn soon brought the combatants, On
both Sides to q hopeless disregard
ali!le Of the law OF nations and the
rights Of belligerent5.
Years before, England had declared
al the ports Of Europe closed to neil
trail trade, though she could not hope
TO make the blockade effective, from
the sheer magnitude of the undertake
ing Bonaparte, in turn, declared a
blockade Of all the ports Of the British
Isles, though his ships had not sailed
since they met Nelson at Trafalgar.
They were mere paper blockades, and
neutrals were entitled to hold them
in disrebard. But Brittania ruled the
waves, then as now, and our young
Republic, busy with growth and eX-
pansion, had found little time for
building a navy. She had only few
ships and they poorly fitted out for
service England, therefore, felt that
she could, with impuity, halt our mer-
chant ships on the high seas, which
she examined their routing and
bills of lading, turned back the car
goes if she chose, and impressed our
seamen into the service of her navy.
No doubt many of those on American
ships were deserters from the English
navy, and it was unQuestioned English
law that her citizens could not divest
themselves of citizenship and lay it
aside as if it were a garment to be put
aside at ones pleasure. An English
man born could not renounce his al
Iegiance; it was indefeasible. 'Onca
an Englishman, always an English
man." was the cry which she raised.
Hence, she declined to recognize nat
uralization papers of any expatriatc,
and her commanders quickly came to
disregard any and all measures Of cau'
ton or discrimination in enforcing
their contention. With unrestricted
use the right Of search which they
maintained, was early transmitted in
to utter lawlessness and license Brit
ish commanders took whom they
chose, American or English, and her
disregard of our rights, and her in
suits to our flag soon became intel
cradle.
Such was The state of our relations
with England when the affair OF the
Chesapeake startled our government
from it's lethargy into a FESTIVE activ-
ity which brought the nation face to
face with war. It was in 1907 the Amer
lean frigate Chesapeake sailed ont
from Hampton Rroads, and was follow
ed and fred UPON by the English cTuis-
er Leopard, killing three and wounding
eighteen. Not expecting any such at