River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-07-09
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.


JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
How his Virtues and Defects arc Exposed
in his Famous Diary.
If fifty persons should be asked to
name the most prosaic and miuterest-
ing character in American history.
forty-ninc would probably select john
Quincy Adams. Webster CLAY, Cal
houn, General Jackson. hi, coutempo-
raries, one and all were picturesque,
were leaders OF men. and ardent follow
crs andvchemcnt opponents Euemies.
indeed, Adams had in abundance. and
savage ones. but friends and followers
he had none. Many generations. how
ever, passed away before there came
people who could see that the Cavalier
had not usurped all the picturesqueness
OF his age, but that the grim and aus
tere Puritaus. our forcfathcls, also had
their share of this quality A like JUS
tice will be done to Mr. Adams He
Will never become attractive hut pos
teriJy Will not hate him as So many of
his own generation did; while his rigid,
uncompromi>ing adherence to duty.
his courage, independence and conStan-
cy, his pure patriotism, hi, rare politi-
cal integrity. his industry and great ac-
quirement>, his common-SeuSc and keen
logic. will in time be generally appre-
ciated. n they were ON rare occasions
only during his life time. 1t is good
II list of qualitie, for q statesman, and
every one of them was highly developed
in Mr.. Adams. If he had added one
grain of warm human sympathy. how
different might have been his career in
life, his memory in DEATH Bun of this
he had not a particle: II was his melau-
choly fate to 20 through life always do
ingright in way so repellcut rs to
drive all waverers to the side of wrong.
and make political virtue 50 unenticing
that his fellow-politicians We're too fire.
Quently nothing loath to allow him to
mouopolize so unpleasing goddess.
In his famous diary, almcs, common
surate with his lifetime, and filling
twelve large octavos in print. he is
thoroughly exposed in his virtues and
his defects, his greatness and his
Mr. Adams was fine tvnicaI outcome
Of Puritanism in II. Nov FpoJapJ do
Vehement Apparepty he never
sowed 80 much al n siupie wild oat in
all his exemplary youth. although he
visited All those Furonean capifals in
which vast and aIluriuo o3rIen. are de-
voted ia the exclusive production of
these nauobty cereals Rnt in boybood
von+b and manhood lis an,inau4i, ~.
na,tabla traifs remain SIN in st,na
an honest reverence for tho rich, f.,
nsrsi.tent effort to do IL res,,ltinr in =
resnectabln measure Of snceess and AT
least proportiou9te consciousness of that
success. a GREAT REGARD for intellectual
cultivation and the acquisition Of
knowledge: a strong ana tver-pre,cnt
RELIGIOUS belief. and a decided distastc
for an amenities and decorations IF
life.
He was thorough1v devouf and his
diary is thicklv be.trewn with express
sionS of religious feeling. I'm no occur
renee of life did he fail toutter the ap-
propriate sentiment. whether in the
way Of praise. thankfulnes,. humility,
or PRAYER Nor doe- he appear ever il
have doubted that he al least felt AN
the sensation. which rrlipion made be-
Not that bc was Pbari,aicaI
for be was NOT. he was profoundly and
sincerely RELIGIOUS. lint TIM. worn. anrr,.-
eiafion which b. mt upon his honest
RELIGIONS sentiment; inevitably Ia ~ i
scnsa ~ satisfaction Win himself foI.
b3vipg felt them Indeed. he would
not have been himself Lad he not been