lves as soon as the war was at an end, and by their quarrels and
bickerings led all the European nations to believe that the
contentious Colonies, like the Kilkenny cats, would end by destroying
each other. Such a nation could command little respect, and the
stronger powers were not slow to show their contempt for the United
States. American vessels, coming back to port, would report that a
British ship-of-war had halted them in mid-ocean, and seized American
sailors as suspected British deserters. Other American ships, sailing
full of hope from American ports, would never re-appear, and their
fate would be a mystery, until, after many months, some sailor
wandering home told of his ship's capture by a French privateer or
Tripolitan war vessel. For years a debasing tribute was paid to the
Bashaw of Tripoli, upon condition of his granting to American ships
the privileges of the sea, that are the undoubted rights of every
nation; yet even this compact was more often ignored than observed.
Small wonder was it that the sage old statesman, Benjamin Franklin, on
hearing a young man speak of the "glorious war for independence,"
responded gravely, "Say rather the war of the revolution: the war for
independence is yet to be fought."

In the year 1789, the States, after much debate and bickering, finally
ratified the document known as the Constitution of the United States.
While the work of the American Revolution was thus being completed,
and a new nation was being formed, events were transpiring on the
other side of the Atlantic that were destined to affect gravely the
growth of the new nation. The oppressed peasantry and laborers of
France, smarting under the wrongs of centuries, rose in a mighty wave,
and swept away the nobles, their masters. The royal head of King Louis
fell a prey to the remorseless spirit of the guillotine, and the reign
of terror in Paris began. Soon the roll of the drum was heard in every
European city, and the armies of every nation were on the march for
France. England was foremost in the fray; and the people of the United
States, seeing their old enemy at war with the country of Lafayette,
fired by generous enthusiasm, were ready to rush to the aid of their
old ally. But the wise prudence of their rulers restrained them; and
for the next twenty years the United States were neutrals, while all
the nations of Europe were plunged in war.

The first effect of this condition of affairs was most beneficial.