Evening star., 1924-02-04

tation, replied as follows:
Mr. Madison presents his compli-
ments to Mr.. Merry. He has COM
municated to the President Mr.. Mer-
rvs note of this morning and has the
honor to remark to him that the
Presidents invitation. being in the
style used by him in like cases. had
no reference to the points of form
which will deprive him of the pleas
ure of Mr.. Merry's company, at dinner
on Monday next.
MIR. Madison tenders to Mr.. Merry
his distinguished consideration"
The friction arising out of this and
interlocking incidents was part of
the unfortunate train of events which
later led up TO the war of 1922
| so much for the rule of the plain
people," said Burr, as he laid the
tips of his fingers together contem-
platively.
"Yet, Col Burr. you are Vice Presi-
dent under this administrations"
broke out Merry
One must use agencies and oppor-
tuni tiles us they offer. My dear sir
perhaps you do not fully know me-
took this election only in order to
be close to the seat of affairs. l am
no such rabid adherent to democracy
as some may think. You would be
startled if | told you that | regard
this republic as no more than an ex-
pertinent. This is a large continent.
Take all that western country
Louisiana-it ought not to be called
attached to the United States. At
| thiS very moment it is half in rebel
lion against its constituted author
ties. More than once ii has been
ready to take arms. to march against
New Orleans and to set up new
country of tits own. 1t is geography
which fights for monarchy against
democracy on this continent-in spite
of what all these people say"
Sir" said the British minister, "you
have been a student of affairs"
And why not? l claim intelligence,
good education, association with men
of thought. My reason tells me that
! conquest is in the blood of those men
who settled in the Mississippi valley.
They went into Kentucky and Ten
| nessee for the sake of conquest.
They are restless. unattached. dis
| satisfied-ready for any great move.
No move can be made which Will
| seem too great or too daring for
| them. Now let me confess somewhat
to you-for l know that you will re-
| spect my confidence if you go no
| further with me than you have gone
/ tonight. l have bought large acre
ages of land in the lower Louisiana
country. ostensibly for colonization
| purposes. I do purpose colonization
there-but not under the flag of this
! republic!'
Silence greeted his remark The
! others sat for IL moment. merely gaz-
| ing at him, half stunned, remember
| ing only that he was Jefferson's col
| league, Vice President of the United
| States
You cannot force geography" re-
| sumed Burr in tones as even as If he
! had but spoken of bartering for
| house and lot Lower Louisiana and
Mexico together-yes. perhaps. Flor
! territories larger perhaps than any
| of us dare dream at present. once
our new flag is raised. All that i
purpose is to do what has been dis
| cussed a thousand times before-to
| unite in a natural alliance Of self
| interest those men who are sundered
In every way of interest and alliance
| from the government on this side of
Observation-Disclosures? 1 dislike the
4 words. 1 call it rather a plan based
upon sound reason and common sense,
and l hold that its success is virtu-
| ally assured"
You will explain more fully. Col.
| Burr?" Mr.. Merry was intent now
on all that he heard,
Il march only with destiny. yon
der-do you not see. gentlemen?''
| with me are in alliance with natural
| events. This republic is split now,
at this very moment. 1t must follow
its own fate If the flag of Spain
| the flag of Britain west of ii on the
| north, why, then we should have the
| natural end of the republics expan-
! sion. With those great powers in
! alliance at its back. with the fleets of
| England on the seas, at the mouth Of
| the great river-oWning the lands in
! Canada on the north-it would be
| simple thing, l say. to crush this re-
public against the wall of the Appa-
| lachians or to drive it once more into
| the sea"
! They were silent alike before the
| enormousness and enormity Of this.
! Reading their thoughts, Burr raised
r In,
| II know what is in your minds,
| gentlemen The one thing which
| troubles you is this-the man who
| speaks to you is Vice President of the
! country would be treason. In this
+; country maintain it is not yet trea-
! son. because thus far we are in an
experiment. We have no actual reign
! of reason and of law; and he marches
| to success who marches with natural
! laws and along the definite trend of
| existing circumstances and condi
J tions."
Merry gravely, "assuredly has the
| merit Of audacity. And I see that
you have given it thought
Il interest you, gentlemen. You
| interest and to that of your coun-
tries to join with me in these plans.
! They have gone far forward-let me
| tell you that. 1 know my men from
| st. Louis 10 Ne" oTledHS-l kHoW my
! leaders, know that population. If
| this be treason. as Mr.. Patrick Henry
said, let us make the most of 1T. At
1 least it is the intention of Aaron
Burr. I stake upon it all my for
| tune, my life, the happiness of my
| family. Do you think / am sincere?"
Merry sat engaged in thought He
could see vast movements In the game
| Of nations thus suddenly shown be-
! fore him on the diplomatic board.
And on his part it is to be said that
he was there to represent the inter-
ests of his own government alone.
In the same even tones Burr re-
| sumed his astonishing. statements.
MY son-in-law, Mr.. Aston of
South Carolina-a very wealthy plant
er of that state-is in full accord
with all my plans. My own re-
| sources have been pledged to their
utmost, and he has been so good as
| to add largely from his own. I admit
| to you that I sought alliance with
| him deliberately when he asked my
| daughters hand. He is an ambitious
man, and perhaps he saw his way to
| the fulfillment of certain personal
| ambitions. He has contributed fifty
/ thousand dollars to my cause. He
| will have place of honor and profit
| formed yonder in the Mississippi val
| $50, then" began Yrujo. "the f1nanc-
| ing is somewhat forward! But fifty
! thousand is only drop"
I'VE may as we'll be plain" re-
know that it is short. We all heard
! what Mr.. Jefferson said-we know
| that If we are to take action it must
+. be at once. That expedition must not
| succeed! If that wedge be driven
| through to the Pacific-:and who can