Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-06-28

right to their grave faces for Lexington and &c
cord had just been fought, and all of them kne
the disgusting details of the old British law
treason.
that time forward were to be linked in stran
fashion. One of them rode down from the mort
the other up from the south. The northern
was somewhat sourvisaged man, nearing t
age of forty, whose big wig and the legalistic
turn of his talk betrayed the fact that he was
a disciple Of the then living Blackstone. Some
what inclined to be irascible, censorious and
vain, he was yet man Of high public charac
ter and pure private morals-a diluted Puritan
viewing the world through the Puritan's sus
picious and somewhat jaundiced vision 1t was
the second time that he had ridden down to
Philadelphia, for he had been a member of the
First Continental Congress-, in which his
knowledge of affairs, patriotic convictions,
high courage and keen legal mind had given
him an honorable place.
The man who rode up from the south was
younger by seven years, slender Of frame, with
freckled skin, curly red hair and hazel gray
eyes that betrayed kindly yet withal a de-
termned spirit. Though Virginia gentleman
of large means, he displayed disposition to-
ward what in later days was called demo
cratic simplicity" He brought with him a
reputation for science, literature and happy
talent for composition. 1t whispered that.
in addition to the classics, he understood
Spanish French, Italian, learning German
and contemplated studying Gaelic; that he
knew how to calculate an eclipse, plan build
ing set broken bone, try lawsuit, and
dance the minuet. Those Of his felow-mem-
bers who came to know him intimately dis
covered that he was in addition, most agree
able and considerable companion, that he was
passionatey fond Of playing the violin, and
that occasionally he wrote poetry.
These men were John Adams and Thomas
Jefferson They speedily became friends.
Adams wrote Of his fellow member: He was
so prompt, frank, explicit and decisive upon
committees and in conversation that he soon
my heart"
A year passed, and the revolt that was be-
gun to preserve our rights as Englishmen
ripened into revolution. The time came when
a separation that already existed in fact must
be formally recognized In name also ana
upon the roll of the committee of five named
to prepare the declaration of that fact to the
world stood the names of Thomas Jefferson
and John Adams
Jefferson wrote the immortal document, but
the task of defending 1t before the Congress
fell chiefly upon the doughty Adams. And well
did he perform it. "He was our Colossus on
thu floor" wrote Jefferson in grateful acknowl-
edgement.
Unlike as Jefferson and Adams were In tenn
permanent training, and political IDEAS those
anxious days or aSSOClatloH III q hoDA0 49,
created bond of sympathy that time nor all
the bitterness of party strife could not oe-
stroy
For some years, however their pains lay
in different places It was not until they rep
resented their infant country at two european
courts that they were again thrown into close
association When the Adamses visited fa,lS
in 1855 they we're frequently entertained Oy
Jefferson. and the relations between the TWO
families were so friendly that Abigah Adams
wrote. "I shall really regret TO leave ME-.
Jefferson. he is one Of the choice ones Oh
earth" Subsequently, in describing the oiIn'
cuIties Of her husbands position at an I'M
friendly court she said: I'm Mr. JEFFERSON ne
has firm and faithful friend with whom ne
non ooasI,1+ ond advise They have un
limited confidence in each other
Our twain were next brought INTO c!ose
association IN the administration or Washihs-
ton-Adams as vice-presdent and Jenerson a
secretary of state And then began al ui'o-
tunate rift within the lutte -, ;.
Adams though of rather plebeian ortiz IN
clined to aristocracy; he beneVea 'na.
erich the welI-born and the able oughl -
ruIA STABILITY as he had been treateu Wiiie
r,inistar at the court of st. James ne ss
tbtzod with rnonarchical Britain In her strus
Gle With renublican France. Jefferson, thousn
If oris+ocratic lineage, was not an arlstocit
D7onaI riqbts to all, special privileges aof
,ono"-a longer name for "the square oeal
vas his political creed. Not TOT Tue san