Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-03-05
Governments, as they hope" A most afro

Governments, as they hope" A most afro
cious calumny. OK II e--'t .za-1-
; He speaks sneeringly of John Hancock, as
"a man without head or heart-a mere shad-
ow of a man and yet, Governor Of Massa-
chusetts?' He did not like to hear the prais-
esof Washington. One day he dined With a
company Of gentlemen in a. town joining this.
After the dinner clergyman wished to help
him on with his cloak He objected, but the
clergyman said, 81 cannot do too much for
you, when think what you and Washington.
have done for the cointry." q" w ashington
and me-" growled out'the old man, .'don't
let me hear that again I! Washington was a
dolt! ~ 1t was a hnomentary spasm of wrath,
coming from "that rash humor which his moth
er gave him. or that came from somewhere
else. At other times he did Justice to WASH
ihgton, but always little coldly, for neither
liked the other much. 81.
Mr. Adams had strong religious emotions ;
but must pass over what / had written on
this theme He was not what is called on elo-
quent man. He had no rhetorical tricks no
traps for applause; no poetic images ; nothing
of what half-educated ministers, sophomores
and editors call ''fine writing" what school
girls name, '.pertectly Splendid daughter }
But he had strong sense, philosophical .opin-
ions, consideration and readiness:of thought;
the form is often defective ,misshapen, the sub
stance is always strong anti good. 81 Demos
sthenes said t'the first thing, 1.-THE next thing,
and the third thing iB eloauenSe is, .e,aergy,"
and John Adams had it to the fun extent that
Demosthenes wanted Yet scarcely any of
his speeches are left. Their fame survives
{ only in tradition 81, .rG, rp, II %
He was an intense patriot, and never hesi-
tated to sacrifice his own dearest wishes and
fondest hopes for his couatry's good. In his
later days, some distinguished foreigners came
to visit him at Quincyy He met them by ar
rangement at special hour, and sat in great
chair in front of the house under the shade
of tree "At the bel ginning of the fight, -
asked one of these men, ''did you think you
should succeed? "Yes' said the old man !;
81 knew the country would 80 through, but
expected nothing but ruin and death for my
family and myself" 1t was very true, and
characteristic of the man. ~.
The hatred against. him has not yet died
away from old Federal families and old Demo-
cratic. Detraction is still busy at it's work.
But after all just deductions are made from
his conduct, it must be confessed that no man
had so high, so deep an influence in the great
constructive work of founding the best insti-
tutions in America, and the judgment of
posterity on him will be-A brave man, deed
thoughted, conscientious, patriotic, and pos
sessed of an integrity which never shook, but
stood as firm as the granite of the Quincy
Hills.
While American institutions continue, the
people will honor brave, honest old John
Adams, who never failed his country in her
hour of need, and who in his life of more than
four score and ten years, though both passion
ate and ambitious, corrupted no, woman and
no man. loud and prolonged cheering)