The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1897-07-02
PREDICTIONS OF JOHN ADAMS
Extract from Letter to his wife.
July .. iT7G.

July .. iTT0.
Philadelphia. July 2. 1870.
Had n declaration OF independence
been made seven months ago, II would
have been att ndod with many great
and glorious effects. We might. before
this hour. have formed alliance with
foreign states. We should have mas
tered Quebec. and been In possession
Of Canada.
You will. perhaps. wonder how such
a declaration would have Influenced
our affairs in Canada: but. II could
write with freedom. could easily
convince you that II would, and
explain to you the manner how. Many
gentlemen In high stations. and OF
great influence have boon dupod. by
the ministerial bubble Of commission
ers. 70 treat; and In real. sincere ex-
pectatlon Of this event. which they so
fondly wished. they have been slow
and languld In promoting measures for
the reduction OF that province. Others
there are In the colonies who really
wished that our enterprise IN Canada
would be defeated: that the colonies
might be brought into danger and dis
tress between two fires, and be thus
Induced to submit. Others really
wished TO defeat tho expedition to
Canada. lest the conquest OF It should
elevate the minds OF the people too
much to hearken to those terms OF rec
oncillation which they believed would
be offered Us. These Earring views.
wishes and designs occisloned an OPP
position to many salutary measures
which were proposed for the support
OF that expedition. and caused OBJ
structlons. embarrassment. and stud
led delays which have finally lost us
the province.
All these causes. however, In con-
Junction, would not have disappointed
Ms n II had not been for misfortune
which could not have been foreseen.
and perhaps could not have been pre-
yented-I mean the prevalence o, the
smallpox among our troops. This ia
tai pestllence completed our destruc-
ton. II Is frown OF Providence upon
us. which we ought TO lay TO heart
hut. on the other hand, the delay OF
this declaration TO this time has many
great advantages attending II. The
hopes OF reconciliation which were
fondly entertained by multltudes OF
honest and well-meanlng. though
shortslghted and mistaken people.
have been gradually, and at last totally
extlngulshed, Time has been given
for the whole people maturely to con-
slider the great question OF lndepend-
ence. and 10 rlpen their judgment. dis
slpate their fears. and allure their
hopes, by discussing II in newspapers
and pamphlets-by debating Il in as
semblles. conventions. committees OF
safety and inspoctlon-in town and
county meetings. as well as In private
conversations! so that the whole peo-
pie, In every colony have now adopted
II as their own act. This viii cement
the union, and avoid those heats. and
perhaps commissions, which might
have been occasioned by such dec
laration six months ago.
But the day is past The second day
OF July, i776. will be memorable
epOoha In the history OF America l
am apt to believe that It win be cele.
mated by succeeding generations. as
the great Anniversary Festival. 1t
ought TO be commemorated. sc tho day
OF dellyerance, by solemn acts OF de-
votlon 10 God Almighty. II ought 10
be solemnlzed with pomp. shows.
games, sports, guns. bells, bonhros and
lllumlnations from one end OF the CON
tinent to the other. from this time
forward forever.
You may think me transported with
enthusiasm but | am nor am well
aware OF the toll and blood and treas
ure that II viii cost us to maintain this
declaration, and support aud defend
these states, Yet. through all the
gloom. | can see the rays OF light and
glory; can see that the end Is more
than worth all tho means, and that
posterity viii triumph. although you
and may rue. which l hope we shall
not ,Y ...l..s.