The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-06-28
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setting up aristocracies and monarchies had
our forefathers emigrated TO America, subdued
the wilderness and won independence. Born
free and equal" was a phrase that must have
concrete reality.
Against the aristocratic tendencies that he
saw about him Jefferson set himself 10 fight
with a quiet but grim earnestness For
time, however, the Administration party tri-
umphed. Adams was elected president TO sue
ceed Washington; Jefferson was forced 10 be
content with the vice-presdency. Then came
the quas-war with France and with IL de-
cided reaction against Jeffersonian republican
ism. But in the pride OF their might the Fed
eralists overreached themselves In the fatal
alien and sediton acts, while Adams bravely
refused TO be pushed into an unnecessary war
with France by the reckless Hamtonians. BY
so doing he wrecked his party, but rendered
his country the greatest service Of his career.
Years later he said: Tdesre no other inscrip-
ton over my gravestone than this: Here lies
John Adams, who took upon himself the re-
sponslbility OF the peace with France in the
year 1900"
During these years the friends frequently
reminded each other that there was nothing
personal in their political conflicts. But per.
sonal pique inevitably crept in, and neither
was always able to refrain from attacking the
other. His defeat in the election OF 1900 was
a great blow TO Adams. Deprived Of the Gov
eted second term. he behaved with a pettness
that out Of keeping with his real great
ness After putting Federalists in every va
cancy on which he could lay his hands he
shook the dust OF the capital off his feet, and
on the early morning OF March 4. 1901, before
his triumphant enemies were astir drove on
northward without waiting TO see his success
sor installed in office It was seemingly final
sad ending to a friendship between two men
who. each in his own way, were as sterling
patriots as ever lived.
But time works great changes, Jefferson's
administration especially during the first few
years. proved so successful that most Federal
lists turned Republicans. Though he had bit
ter enemies who even plotted the formation OF
a Northeastern Confederacy" they were not
numerous enough TO figure largely in the cleo
tion returns After all. Adams hated Hamilton
and his satellites far more than he hated JEFF
ferson. His son, John Quincy Adams, unable
TO swallow such British outrages as that com
mitted by the Leopard" on the Chesapeake"
severed his relations with the feeble remnant
OF the pro-Britsh Federaists and became a
Republican. When Timothy Pickering pub.
lished a pamphlet arragnng the administra-
tion. John Adams replied 20 II, thus appearing
as a supporter OF Jeferson's policy
In 1904 Jefferson lost HIS ever dear daugh-
ter" Mary. T OF my want" he wrote sadly.
have lost even the half OF all ! had. Ny
evening prospects now hang on the slender
thread OF a single life"
The news proved too much for great-hearted
Abigail Adams without her husbands knowl-
edge. she wrote Jefferson a letter of con-
doence. in which kind feeling. goodness ~
heart and a proud, unforgiving spirit were
curiously commnged
Jefersons reply was that OF a noble man
20 a noble woman After thanking her in
suitable language he made an earnest effort
20 revive the perishing friendship between
the two families Several letters we're
changed but the wounds the Adamses believed
they had received still smarted and cordia!
relations were not then restored.
In 1911 DR.. BENJAMIN Rush OF Philadelphia
expressed 20 Jefferson desire 70 bring about
a reconciliation, and Jefferson gladly en-.
braced II. In a letter 10 Rush he said many
complimentary things OF Adams. and added
that in the preceding summer two o' his vir-
ginia neighbors had visited Baintree and that
Adams had said 20 them. Il always loved
Jefferson and still love him" This" wrote
Jefferson is enough for me. ! only needed
this knowledge 20 revive toward him all the
affections Of the most cordial moments OF our