This was in 1783.

Twenty years later, in 1803, occurred the heap of jackstraws that led to the Louisiana Purchase.

Twenty years later, in 1823, occurred the heap of jackstraws from which emerged the Monroe Doctrine.

Each of these dates, dotted along through our early decades, marks a very important crisis in our history.

It is well that they should be grouped together, because together they disclose, so to speak, a coherent pattern.