John Jay:
Caught in the Middle

In the euphoria after victory in the Revolutionary War very few of the patriots understood how weak America was left by that conflict. Many of her best young leaders died in battle. The economy was depleted and the country needed at least 20 years to recover.

One man had his finger on the national pulse. It was George Washington. In his book Founding Brothers, Joseph Ellis argues that the linchpin of Washington's foreign policy as president was the 1793 Proclamation of Neutrality.

Americans wanted to believe that their victory had dealt a deathblow to the British Empire and that the recent French Revolution had started France on the road to becoming the next world super power.

Leaders like Jefferson fanned this view into popular flame. He acted like an American Voltaire. As in Paine's book, The Rights of Man, Jefferson's ideal showed a noble citizenry producing a classless society with a government devoid of all links to European styles and norms.

Washington and Adams rejected this daydream. In fact they saw the fancy as dangerous. The main point of American Neutrality was to keep England from fresh attacks on what looked like a pro-French America.

Here's where things got ugly. Washington asked John Jay to journey to London in 1794. After some prayer he accepted the task. He was to negotiate with the English.

His Washington-backed "ace" was the promise that America would not side with France.

Oh oh, some folks back here better not have heard that! The bargaining seemed to go badly. The agreement that 49-year-old Jay signed, annoyed everyone. On paper it looked pro-English.

The British only agreed to allow limited American trade in the West Indies & to removing troops from their western posts. They kept tariffs on our exports and England obtained "most favored status" on what they shipped here. We promised to pay our pre-Revolutionary debts.

Hamilton had secretly informed the British before hand that Jay would be willing to compromise on most issues, but that's another story. He had his own agenda and paid for it with a rock to his head while trying to defend the treaty to a New York mob.

Washington however was delighted even though an angry crowd also besieged his dwelling in Philadelphia. Madison shared his notes on the treaty negotiations with Jefferson and fuel was on the fire.

Poor John Jay. He was made to look like the village idiot. Your world too can be a tough place for someone who just tries to do their duty. In taverns, neighborhoods and newspapers ordinary people gnashed their teeth at how "Jay" had betrayed the revolution. Who did he think he was going cap in hand to the English?

Tough to admit it but even some of his associates joined the popular outcry that repeated: D_ John Jay, and D_ everyone who won't D_ John Jay.

Jay could have considered the scripture: "do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you." He may well have done so for I understand that he was a devoted Bible reader. Thing is though, knowing your Bible well doesn't take away the sting of being misunderstood or reviled.

Be Patient. Historians look back on the results of Jay's treaty as a great blessing.

Jesus said: "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you because of me."

Go live that. Time will be your friend!