The Washington times., 1901-10-20
VANITY OF A PRESIDENT.
John Adams Refused TO Attend
His Successors Inauguration.
Suffered Fro IL ChaErin Throughout
His Life-Wns Not Alone Jealous of
Jeffcrson-A Career Dotted With
Disappointments and RebuIses.

One cannot imagine President OF
our day leaving Washington in the
dark hours of the 4th of March angry
envious. vindictive, unable to endure
the sight of the Inauguration OF his
successor. Yet this is what the second
President of the United States did,
and it is worth while to ask why he
made so painful display of his worst
passions TIE common saying that he
was jealous of Jenerson's popularity
does not cover all the ground. Other
causes had their share, and we ought
to be just to as brave a man, as sincere
a patriot, as the lire of Executives can
show.
An admiring descendant and biog-
rapher has tried to excuse Mr.. Adams
hasty exit, but it does not admit of eX-
cuse. 1t was not dignified, and no eulo-
gist can make it so. However, it would
be unjust to call John Adams petty
man simply because his rage and van
ity sometimes led him to do petty
things. John Adams was a student and
a thinker; man capable of self-sacri-
ce; an honest, eloquent, conscientious
man. who might have been great had
it not been for his vanity. In his case
vanity was not dead fly in the oint-
ment; it was a living fly, always buzz
ing, frequently stinEing, and occasion
ally driving him into a frenzy. His
temper, fiery as it was, was no worse
than that of Alexander Hamilton or
Andrew Jackson, yet Jackson and
Hamilton escaped the cruel SCOTS that
tortured Adams. Self-confdence mark
ed every act Of Hamilton and Jackson;
but their self-con6dence did not degen-
crate into personal vanity, while Adams
laid himself open to endless ridicule.
In the days when John Adams was
young, Harvard students were grad
uated- not according TO their scholar
ship. but according to the social stand
ing of their families. This was a fool
ish bit of caste, and has died out so
completely that it surprises US even to
read of il. The Adams family, while
respectable, was not distinguished, and
John Adams had to yield precedence to
lads inferior to himself in brains and
industry. No one can blame a young
fellow for resenting such class distiHc-
tions, but the cords that bite into ordi-
nary flesh are broken by a Samson.
Colonial life was marked by many
social lines, and people below the salt
were reminded OF their station. 1t was
not pleasant to Hamilton to feel that
he was an unknown youth, suspected
of illegitimacy; but the exploits of the
son forced even the gossips to cease
their guesses about VINO was the father.
Social lines were drawn closely in Vir-
gina, ernA the Washingtons and Jeffer-
sons ola not beiong TO the inner circle
chafing over the conventionaIities,
rose above them by his
greatness, and Jefferson evaded them
by his tact. To John Adams il was a
constant irritation to feel that he was
not one Of the grandees of Colonial
Massac chusetts. After he had become a
goed lawyer and 4 jealous patriot. some
one mentioned to Governor Shirley the
names OF Mr.. Cushing. Mr. Hancock,
hir. Samuel Adams and Mr.. John
Adams The Governors reply was not
courteous. MIR. Gushing / knew and
Air. Hancock 1 knew. but where tie
devil this brace of Adamses came from
know not" John Adams considered
this piece OF snobbery worthy of a place
in his diary.
People who have never read John
Adams diary know not what they have
missed. His experience as a school +.
master and lawyer, his regret when he /
neglected his studies to firt with the |
girls. his occasional posings as a youth
full sage, and the ridicule that followed .
them, his comments on local politics .
ana religious controversy, his Iamenta- +
ions over his troubles, make a delight
.ul book. An American may be par
loned for thinking it even better read |
ng than Pepys. Young Adams was for (
iome time i'll at east Relatives urged I
lim to enter the ministry, he was in
lined to study medicine, and finally ne /
decided upon the law The diary, in /
more than one remorseful passage,
shows that Adams was aware Of his |
vanity, and looked on it as a besetting
sin. In his latter days he seems TO have |
looked on it as a virtue.
Adams at his best admired the elo- !
luence of Otis, but Adams at his worst |
was fun of spleen. Sights and rebuffs. /
such as no active man can avoid, 1
wounded Adams deeply. By the time /
If the Continental Congress John /
Adams was known as a patriot who
had refused d bribe from the Crown. /
IN the Congress, by his own admission,
le was very unpopular. He raved over
he influence Of John Dickinson, and
made himself powerful enemies by an
ndiscreet letter, in which 4e used
,oarse expression Dickinsons friends
we're not likely to forgive. Mr.. Adams
lad an unfortunate habit of writing
etters on important topics when he was
n a towering rage. He would send or
ntrust the letter to foolish persons,
Ind the contents would leak, greatly
o his disadvantage This habit was
lot cured by experience.
John Adams went abroad. knowing
hat if he fell into the hands of the
lis life as a Foreign Minister was tor
nented by the popularity of Franklin.
Everywhere Franklin won favorable
iotice. Adams ragged, fretted, and
made matters wcrse. In England. after
he peace, Adams once more proved
imself a stanch public servant, bat his
oul was tried by his poverty. The no
lies Of rich monarchy looked down
n the Minister OF poor Republic. and
pon the Republic itself. Personal and
atriotic resentment were both kindled.
nd John Adams was a wretched man.
U last he returned 70 his own country !