The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-11

gotten that tho functions OF q Judge do not
BY any means exhaust thu duties OF biogra-
phsr. who. II he be himself a patriot. will ind
room upon his page for q sincere sympathy
and a grateful recognition. In that part OF this
memoir which deals with the majestic and. so
to speak, heroic period Of the subjects life.
with those years OF discord elf-distrust. hesi-
taton. and misgiving when Adams stood forth
In the colonial Congress the undsmayed pro-
tagonist OF American liberty. we meet with
the fullest and warmest acknowledgment
Of the part he took In firing the cour-
age and inspiring tho action OF his coun-
trymen. It Is frankly admitted that while
tho separation Of tho colonies from tho
mother country was an event ultimately GER
tain. yet the rupture might have been deferred
for a considerable period but for the presence
OF one man in the body which put forth. with
show Of unanimity, but really with a vast
amount Of apprehension and reluctance. tho
flrm-sounding Declaration Of Independence.
Not only must II be said that to him more than
any other man tho decisive step was due. but
We must go further and concede that
but for the presence Of John Adams
then and there. the particular Congress
which was sitting at Philadelphia would
never have agreed to 1t. They who
have been at pains to study for themselves the
intentions and proceedings Of that half heart
tional indebtedness to Adams, and 1t 10 not
surprising that he. looking back upon that
hour OF storm and stress. and best knowing the
magnitude OF tine obstacles surmounted. should
have felt conscious OF desert transcending any
fionors that his countrynen could render him
and Ill repaid by the abuse and neglect that for
time followed his dismissal from the public
stage.
There was a second and an eminently useful
section Of the subjects life which has seldom
commanded its just need OF attention. but on
which this bioRrapher has laid due emphasis
We refer. OF course. to the interchangeable aud
precious service which no performed In France.
Holland. and England during the arduous
and intricate negotiations which preceded
tho adjustment OF treaty OF peace with
Great Britain, Here again 1t will be owned by
those who carefully review the facts. not
merely that for the favorable side OF that treaty
we ARE under weightier obligations to John
Adams than to any OF his colleagues. but that
without his personal inteTpositon the terms
must have been very different. and far less ac-
ccptable Yet from his contemporarios Adams
never got the praise he earned by the work he
did in Europe. For this, as for an equitable
apportionmcnt OF blame In the unluckv quarrel
between himself and Hamilton. he has had TO
await the searching. unbiased inquiry Of pos
terity.
The relatively familiar story Of Adamss con-
nection with the executive department. of his
compartment In the office OF Vice. President,
and aiterward his promotion to the Chief Ma
gistracy. is rctold BY Mr.. Morse with c!earness.
completeness. and impar,iality. Perhaps he is
inclined 10 veil his subjects late acquired pro-
clivities for empty disnitles. sonorous titles.
and n cumbrous official etiquette. and from
tho nbsehce Of illusions to Macay's curious
notes % AlUms's demeanor during the first
sessions of the Senate (which. we need not
recall, were all secrotl we infer that
lie has overlooked that indication OF the
shock given to many sturdy Democrats by
the ind screet disclosure Of Adams's aristo-
cratic leanings. Eut 1t soon became manifest
this Was going 10 b" a democratic Government
TN ugh IN substance. OF course, the attributes
oi tho Executive were 10 be sufficiently mo-
narcuicaU and no had too much good sense to
cling - iastus and notions which were quite.
foreign to his own sarly associations and
Tor Which his countrymon. who ncked
tho advantage OF having been snubbed
AZ several courts OF Europe. had not acquired
his relish. For the di>=anSiOns with Ham lton
and with Munitions creatures in his Cabinet
winch kept ADAMS in u i.rmcnt Throughout his
IRE s'd"nlnl term. deprived him al u reelection
md caused the disruption and collapse II the
Federal I uarty. III" biosrapher holds linmi-
ton mainly accountable, and We have no doubt
thai all competent students of that exciting
efa in our political history will concur in the
OuinlOn. NJ w II.