In that hour of debility and relaxation, a military seizure of the government and the erection of some form of monarchy would not have been difficult.
Whether such a change would have lasted is another question, but there is no reason to doubt that at the moment it might have been effected.
Washington, however, not only refused to have anything to do with the scheme, but he used the personal loyalty which might have raised him to supreme power to check all dangerous movements and put in motion the splendid and unselfish patriotism for which the army was conspicuous, and which underlay all their irritations and discontents.
The obvious view of Washington's action in this crisis as a remarkable exhibition of patriotism is at best somewhat superficial.

In a man in any way less great, the letter of refusal to Nicola and the treatment of the opportunity presented at the time of the Newburgh addresses would have been fine in a high degree.

In Washington they were not so extraordinary, for the situation offered him no temptation.

Carlyle was led to think slightingly of Washington, one may believe, because he did not seize the tottering government with a strong hand, and bring order out of chaos on the instant.

But this is a woeful misunderstanding of the man.