New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-17
4 GREAT STATESMAN.

y " Al4AA - a - 49,
WRITINGS or JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. Fat'd ny by
Worthinrou Ford Vol VI l'lo tNi'' '''' -
xvii. So The Macmillan Company.
The lates. volume Of this monu-
mental compilation is from the public
and political point Of view the most
interesting and instructive that has yet
appeared. 1t also vies with its lmme-
date predecessor in timeliness. That
former volume dealt-among innumer-
able other topics with the making OF
peace at the end of our second war
with Great Britain. the centenary OF
which was being celebrated at the mo-
ment OF its publication. Now comes a
volume covering the period OF Adams $
accession 70 the Secretaryshlp OF state
and Of some Of his most memorable ana
important achievements in that once
beginning just a century ago; ana II
comes at a time when, immeasurabiy
more than at any other within the
memory Of living men, the nation re-
CARDS with anxiety, if not with appre-
hension, the conduct Of It's foreign re-
lations. and feels the need Of master
mind in its Chancellerie-a mind Ike
that which more than matched Castle
reagh's and Cannings. dictated terms
10 De Onis and compelled Nesselrode
and Poletica 90 eat humble pie.
Far more than any Of its predeces-
sors. FOR obvious reasons, this volume
deals with public affairs and with the
foreign affairs OF the nation. The great
majority Of the letters which 1t con-
tains were written TO the President, 20
foreign ministers, 20 our diplomats and
20 men active in the conduct of public
business. The names Of Madison, Mon
roe. Erving, jefferson, Everett, Gallatin'
De Grand. Castlereagh. De Onis and De
Melville are eloquent Of the purport
Of this correspondence and OF the mo-
mentous influence which 10 eXerted IN
The affairs Of America and Of the world
II from the names we turn TO the sub
iect matter we have a verltablc con-
spectus Of American diplomacy at one
Of its most important epochs The loose
ends of the peace-making at Client
were TO be gathered up. There were
the North Atlantic fisheries TO be dls-
cussed. There was the menace OF the
transfer Of Florida TO Great Britain
and Adams's resOlute opposition TO any
such transaction. There was the rising
independence Of South America 10 be
encouraged and protected. There was
the trade of the West Indies 20 be Sc
cured for America. There were dlplo-
matte relations with Russia 20 be re-
established. There were Aury and other
rirates 10 be suppressed. There was
Inc HOLY Alliance 10 be challenged,
watched and thwarted. There was the
1fississippi question 20 be finally DIS
rosed of. and there was Florida TO be
taken from Spain, 70 remove the laSt
thorn from our rationale side ana 70
complete our domain east Of the Rocky
Mountains. 4
There was no bumptiousness about
Adams. but there was resolution. lie
did not think himself infall5le, put ne
did know his own mind, ana nad the
courage and the clarity TO make 0lheIs
know it. lie entered upon the oecre,,
tarvship of State with modesty ana
some degree Of deprecauon; but ne
understood his business suihclentIy 70
form and 20 establish a coherent ana
consistent policy. and he had Ipe Ieso-
lutior 10 maintain IL ineXorabiy 10 Il
,~i,,ronbant conclusion. lie could Walcn
and he could wait; but his "watcnluss
waiting" had in it no suggestion OF
Niicawberism. Rather was II tnat OF
80 assured seer. simply awaiting that
which he knew TO be inevitable ana LOT
which he made the period OF waiting
also a period Of preparation. -.
These public letters disclose me
formidable traits Of his disposition
He dictated. At times he domineeT ,Eo
lie used the abrupt imperative to me ne
nroudest crandees Of Spain: and MADE MACS
hem obey. The big stick was mucn
IN evidence. and is, in these letters
Vet naturally enough, though II may
seem pa1adoxical to the purbilnd pacl.
fst there is equally In svidience,
detestation Of war and OF mlIltarlsn
and an incessant making Tor peace
peace which Adams Kept unDro on.,.,
through many years Of peculiar tria
I'D menace. Before he came home &c