The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-03-26
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE.

unanimously, without amendment" We
may imagine the::grim satisfaction with which
NC M, Saw Ihat dose quietly absorbed.
~ e was IN ifoO. In 17S5, Mr. Adams was
nis. 81 Atnerican Minister accredited to the
u uour. OF Heorge III. In his address when
tasn, ,,s,a,. 70 ,ne kiug, he said II shall es-
seeui myself the happiest of men n can no
instrumental in recommenJ;na -, ..u' n uu
more ana more to your Maie,tv's rovaI he
heVCience, and in rpstnriug eniira &c.,,
cohnoence and affection, or in better ,no.aa'
the oid good nature and the old gooJ hnn,nr
, between pecP'es' who though separated bv
an ocean, and under different goyernmant:s
have the same language, similar reliaion
and kindred bloods."
1t would appear then that these words
which Mr.. Adams had introduced into the
Constitution of Massachusetts,, and after
wards used to a monarch on one of the great
occasions of his life, were a pet phrase with
him, full OF significant sugge ton. II would
also appear that they were a quotation. 1t
may interest you as much as it did myself to
learn the original source the expression.
had the satisfaction OF recognizing it in an
extract from the speech made by Lord Clar-
endon to the British Parliament, on the occa-
sion, think, of introducing bill OF indeni-
nity alter the restoration of Charles H.
my Lords and Gentlemen" said the Lord
Chancellor, ''the king is a suitor to YOU,
makes MS suit very heartily, that you will join
WIN MN IN restoring the whole nation to its
PriHl.Ne temper and integrity, to its old good
manners, Its old good humor, and its old GOOD
nature. Good nature, a virtue so peculiar to
you, so appropriated by God Aimichty to
this nation, that 1t can be translated into no
other language, hardly practsed by any 9TH
| er people,"
Both these great men had known the bitter
experience OF civil strife; and both had per-
fhafa fraa n L
manent civilization unless its individuals had
something of generous faith in each other;
some quality Of forgiveness, some disposition
to expect what is better rather tIan what is
worse in human nature. 1t was IN this larg-
er and broader sense that they used the
words good humor," on the occasions to
which have referred.
The modes by which Mr.. Adams and his
associates educated the popular mind up to an
oreanlzed and triumphant resistance OF op
preston have ceased 10 be matters of famii-
lar knowledge, but are none the less worty of
careful study.
forty-two years ago, in western Massachu-
setts, young law student delivered an ad-
dress on the birthday OF Washington, In
that address he left the common region of
forid generalities, and dwelt on the mental
training by which the American people we're
gradually prepared Tor the revolutionary strug-
gle. He observed that that struggle COM
menced in the Court, in defence of the Body of
FL glish Liberties, and in opposition to W. its
Of assistance, attempts to subvert the inde-
enhance of the judiciary and all the expe-
dients by which unconscentious power strove
to triumph ever popular rights. That ad-
dress reads now more like judicial opinion
than popular Grafton, and il gave evidence
Of element of thought and character which
within quarter of = century produced from
the same the same author the far-famed dis
senting opinion in what is known as the
Dred Scott case. Mr.. Adams himself seems
to have found his own position towards the
adherents of the crown Swallowed forth in the
lines of Milton:
II did but prompt the age to quit thsir clogs
By the klccn rules of ancient HLerfy.
When strright a barbarous noise environs me
VI owls and cuckoos, asses, apes and dogs"
1t was a dreary apothegm of Colerdge
that experience was to a nation like tine stein
lights of ship, Illuminating only the track
which she had already traversed, Our ances-
tors would seem, on the contrary, TO have had
faith in the lessons of the past. TO have en-
deavored to reconcile stability with progress
and to have sought the maintenance OF insti-
tutions which in the great words cf Burke
should be defended by reverence as well as by
power.