4068. JACOBINS, Republicanism.—
The
reserve of President Washington had never permitted
me to discover the light in which he
viewed[your censure of the Jacobins], and
as I was more anxious that you should satisfy
him than me, I had still avoided explanations
with you on the subject. But your letter induced
him to break silence, and to notice the
extreme acrimony of your expressions. He
added that he had been informed the sentiments
you expressed in your conversations were equally
offensive to our allies, and that you should
consider yourself as the representative of your
country, and that what you say might be imputed
to your constituents. He desired me,
therefore, to write to you on this subject. He
added that he considered France as the sheet
anchor of this country, and its friendship as a
first object. There are in the United States
some characters of opposite principles; some of
them are high in office, others possessing great
wealth, and all of them hostile to France, and
fondly looking to England as the staff of their
hope. * * * Their prospects have certainly not
brightened. Excepting them, this country is entirely
republican, friends to the Constitution,
anxious to preserve it, and to have it administered
according to its own republican principles.
The little party above mentioned have espoused
it only as a stepping-stone to monarchy, and
have endeavored to approximate it to that in
its administration in order to render its final
transition more easy. The successes of republicanism
in France have given the coup de grace
to their prospects, and I hope to their projects.—
To William Short. Washington ed. iii, 502.
Ford ed., vi, 154.
(Pa.,
Jan. 1793)
