Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-22
REVOLUTIONS
THEN AND NOW
What Wilson, Now Up Against
Russian Upheavals, Once Said
of Washington's Attitude
Toward France
By WOODROW WILSON


From George Washington" printed by special
arrangement with Harper Bros
WASHINGTON had taken jefferson direct
w from France. where for five years he
had been watching a revolution come on
apace, hurried from stage to stage, not by
statesmen who were masters in the art and
practice Of freedom. like those who had pre-
sided in the counsels of America, but by
demagogues and philosophers rather; and
the subtle air of that age of change had
crept into the mans thought. He had come
back a philosophical radical rather than a
statesman He had yet TO learn. in the
practical air of America, what plain and
steady policy must serve to win hard-headed
men to his following: and Washington
found him a guide. who needed watching.
Foreign affairs, over which it was Jeffer
sons duty to preside, began of a sudden to
Jefferson's thought was so much engageu.
The year 1889. In which America gained self
possession and set up government soberly
planned to last. was the year in which
France lost self-possession and set out upon
a wild quest for liberty which was to cost
her both her traditional policy and all the
hopes she had of a new one In that year
broke the storm of the French Revolution.
1t was dangerous infection that went
abroad from France in those first days of
her ardor, and nowhere was II more likely
to spread than in America. Was
not France now more than ever Americas
friend and close ally against all the world?
'Twould be niggardy to grudge her aid and
love to the full in this day Of her emulation
of Americas great example.
Washington an Expert on Revolutions
But washngton's vision In affairs was
not obscured. He had not led revolutionary
armies without learning what revolution
meant. 1.-THE revolution which has been
effected in France" he said. sis of SO won-
derful a nature that the mind can hardly
realize the fact'-his calm tones ringing
strangely amid the enthusiastic cries Of
the time. II fear. though it has gone
triumphantly through the first paroxysm II
Is not the last 1t has to encounter before
matters are finally settled" He
hoped but did not believe, that II would
run its course without fatal disorders; and
he meant. In any case. to Keep America from
the infection She was herself but 'ln a
convalescent state as he said, after her own
great struggle. Washington's first
and almost single object at every point of
policy was to make of the provincial States
of the Union veritable nation. independent
at any rate, and ready to be great when its
growth should come. and its self-knowledge
EVERY true friend to this country" he said.
II is not to embroll ourselves with any ration,
whatever. but to avoid their disputes and
their politics, and, II they will harass one
another, to avail ourselves Of the neutral
conduct we have adopted" He
had been given charge of nation in the
making, and he meant It should form. under
his care; an Independent character
1t was thus he proved himself no senti-
mentalist, but a statesman II was the stun
OF his character, this purpose of independ-
ence He would have played like part of
self-respect for himself among his neighbors
on the Virginia plantations and he could
neither understand nor tolerate the sentiment
which made men like Jefferson eager 10
ning themselves into European broils. Truly
this man was the first American. the men
about him provincials merely, dependent still
for their life and thought upon the breath
Of the old World. unless like Hamilton. they
had been born and had stood aioof or like
0ouvsrneur Norris. had OWNED Europe In
hsr own capitals with clsar. unenan,orsd
eyea. ~ 'Twaa plain - - seen, q
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