. The Jeffersonian Democracy Thomas Jefferson . er having faithfully en-dured through the disconsolate period of domesticpolitics, the Republican leader seemed in a fairway to gain the upper hand when foreign politicsusurped the attention of every one. Had it onlybeen a measured Gallic craze instead of absolutemadness that ruled the hour, he might not havebeen obliged even to abide the interval of JohnAdamss incumbency, but might have been thesecond president of the United States. On April 4, 1793, news arrived in the UnitedStates that France had proclaimed war againstEngland. Five days later
. The Jeffersonian Democracy Thomas Jefferson . er having faithfully en-dured through the disconsolate period of domesticpolitics, the Republican leader seemed in a fairway to gain the upper hand when foreign politicsusurped the attention of every one. Had it onlybeen a measured Gallic craze instead of absolutemadness that ruled the hour, he might not havebeen obliged even to abide the interval of JohnAdamss incumbency, but might have been thesecond president of the United States. On April 4, 1793, news arrived in the UnitedStates that France had proclaimed war againstEngland. Five days later Genet, the new Frenchminister, landed at Charleston. An anxious andstormy period was opened for the administrationby these two events. The duty, which was alsothe honest wish, of the government to maintain aStrict neutrality was of unusual difficulty for manyreasons. (1.) There were entangling treaty obli-gations towards France, which bound the UnitedStates to guarantee her in the maintenance of herWest Indian islands in any defensive war; and. SECRETARY OF STATE 133 nice questions were: whether the war declared byFrance should be considered, as she claimed, defen-sive; also, whether treaties entered into with theroyal government were binding towards its suc-cessor. (2.) Both combatants soon manifested aresolution to have no neutrals; and each, com-mitting outrageous infractions of neutral rights,treated any nation not taking part with it as beingagainst it. (3.) Genet cherished and carried out,in the most unscrupulous and energetic way, thedeliberate purpose of embroiling the United Stateswith Great Britain. (4.) Very few persons in theUnited States really had the neutral temper; Ham-ilton led an English party, Jefferson led a Frenchparty, and the passions which, in those strangetimes, set all Europe aflame, blazed with equal furyin the United States. A cabinet meeting decided, as was inevitable,that a proclamation substantially of neutralityghould be issued by the President.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecthistory, bookyear1916
