Evening star., 1941-09-19
Letters to the Editor
Widow Of Late New York Representative
Directs Attention to Patriotism of 1898.
"a the Editnr Of Tn. star.

Widow of Late New York Representative
Directs Attention to Patriotism of 1898.
To the Editor of The Star:
Because of their extraordinary bearing
on the present situation, it might interest
Americans to read few of the letters
found in book published in 1913, en-
titled Patriotic Addresses to the Pres
ident"
They were written at the time John
Adams was President, and France was
ruled by the Directory. According to Mr..
Adams. France had treated us neither
as allies nor as friends, nor as sovereign
State" In q fresh attempt at nego-
tiation, John Marshall and Elbridge
Gerry had been sent on a special mission
to join Pinckney, our Minister to France,
in Paris. Talleyrand's secret ENJOYS,
Messrs. *" "Y" and o." tried to levy
blackmail on our Government, to which
Pinckney answered, Millions for defense,
not cent for tribute"
When President Adams sent the
French Commissioners dispatches to
Congress and published them to the
Nation, Republicans and Federalists
united in policy of preparation for war.
War was not declared but the Treaty
OF l778 was abrogated and state of war
existed A provisional army was raised
and Washington was put in command
Eighty French vessels were captured.
When one thinks of the length of
time it took for news to travel in those
days compared to its instantaneous re-
ception today, it is edifying to realize
the awareness Of public opinion at that
time. as evidenced by these letters, Sc
lected from many hundred more sent
from the Is States, from Maine to
Georgia, and subscribed to by thousands
of individuals.
Far from dreading the horrors of war
so soon after their own Revolution and
undeterred by the natural desire to
develop their own young country, the
constituencies Of that day had a lively
and articulate sense of the value of the
ideals for which they had fought. And
they were willing to risk their lives anew
rather than jeopardize their hard-won
freedoms or suffer any indignity to their
honor.
What has happened to the spirit and
soul of this Nation, that it now can be
said that there is a slump in the morale
of our people? When public opinion
shows itself so allergic to disagreeable
truths that the representatives Of the
people-who after all are hired to know
the facts and appraise the situation
feel that they must cater to wishful
thinking even to the extent Of inflaming
a positive resistance to irrefutable facts,
we are in bad way.
According to report of the Co-opera-
tive Analysis of Broadcasting, the radio
audience Is smaller than it has been at
any time since 1880, indicating a pref
erence for undisturbed ignorance. And
ignorance in the face of today's facts
constitutes criminal negligence.
Whether the fault lies with the rep
reSentatives or with their constituencies
when the latter know what the former
has no right not to know, the day of
awakening will be day of reckoning.
VIRGINIA M. BACON.
(MRs. ROBERT LOW BACoN)
Editors note:
The historic letters to which Mrs
Bacon refers include one from Gen.
Washington to President Adams in
which the Father Of His County says:
1T was not possible for mo to remain
ignorant Of. o. Indifferent TO. recent