FIGHTING FOR THE STATUS QUO 367

ministrks, was already marking out for the future political
progress of the American colonies. But the path was yet too
thorny to be comfortable, and the need which he so keenly
realized had not yet been sufficiently grasped by the pro-
vincial statesmen of America to lead them to clear and im-
prove it for the safe and prosperous passage of the teeming
millions who were destined to travel it. In attempting this
task he had no encouragement or support from England
and possibly the ministry were not disappointed that his
efforts failed of fruition.^

The result proved that there was no general sentiment for
united action of the colonies and that the remaining colonies
were content to leave the management of the problem of
defense to those goverrmients whose frontiers would be im-
mediately affected by the defection of the Iroquois. Prob-
ably, also, the belief that peace would not be long delayed,
and the fact that the French and Indians were not appear-
ing in strength upon the frontiers of most of the colonies
had an influence upon their action.
