306 The Winning of the West 



low. They believed that their worst fears were jus- 

 tified. Kentucky and Tennessee clamored for in- 

 stant action, and Claiborne offered to raise in the 

 Mississippi territory alone a force of volunteer rifle- 

 men sufficient to seize New Orleans before its trans- 

 fer into French hands could be effected. 



Jefferson was President, and Madison Secretary 

 of State. Both were men of high and fine qualities 

 who rendered, at one time or another, real and great 

 service to the country. Jefferson in particular played 

 in our political life a part of immense importance. 

 But the country has never had two statesmen less 

 capable of upholding the honor and dignity of the 

 nation, or even of preserving its material well-be- 

 ing, when menaced by foreign foes. They were 

 peaceful men, quite unfitted to grapple with an 

 enemy who expressed himself through deeds rather 

 than words. When stunned by the din of arms they 

 showed themselves utterly inefficient rulers. 



It was these two timid, well-meaning statesmen 

 who now found themselves pitted against Napoleon, 

 and Napoleon's Minister, Talleyrand; against the 

 greatest warrior and lawgiver, and against one of 

 the greatest diplomats, of modern times ; against 

 two men, moreover, whose sodden lack of con- 

 science was but heightened by the contrast with 

 their brilliant genius and lofty force of character; 

 two men who were unable to so much as appreciate 

 that there was shame in the practice of venality, dis- 

 honesty, mendacity, cruelty, and treachery. 



Jefferson was the least warlike of presidents, and 



