New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-30

and their instructive applicability TO
current affairs. The preceding volume
dealt with the War of 1912 and the
Treaty Of Client. and appeared almost
simultaneously with our celebration OF
the centenary of peace. The present
volume deals with no less important
matters and with those that are oven
more profitable for consideration and
for example.
Naturally we think of the Quadren-
MUM covered by this compilation AS
that which comprised the Florida ne
ROTATIONS. II did comprise them. and
in this correspondence of Adams there
is much relating thereto. Jackson's in
yasion of Florida and the responsible
ity therefor. the Arbuthnot-Ambrister
tragedy and the cabals and conspirs-
cies against both Jackson and Adams
are all discussed with the character
istic racy frankness Of the writer. illu-
mined here and there with mordant
humcr. There are also, OF course, his
letters 10 Don Luis de Onis, which are
10 be perpetually recommended as sug-
gestive models for dealing with a re-
sourceful. elusive and dilatorY diDlo-
matte antagonist. Onis was master
hand in diplomacy, OF the Spanish
school. He might have batiied almost
any Of his contemporaries on the Con-
tinent. But in rereading this :orre-
spondence we are impressed again, and
more than ever. with his helplessness
in the granite grip Of the MEMORABLE
New Englapder. Indeed, we are almost
moved to pity him in his weakness.
For Adams knew what he wanted.
lie knew how TO demonstrate the JUS
o L i l. I'D Ao N N
10 insist upon them under penalty
without waveIing and without retrsct-
ing one iOta II he said "str1ct ac-
countability," why, strict accountable
itv there was. Some have affected 20
regard hts coercion OF Onis as brutal
The answer to that unfounded charge
is In the words which Bulwcr put upon
the lips Of Richelieu: "Men have called
me cruel. ! am not. | am just" IL
was a splendid passage in American
| diplomacy, touching the high water
mark of consistency and resolution
and Il is profitable for Stray at time
when our course is too mucn marked
with 7igzags and curves instead Of
straight lines.
Florida IS not, however. the only
salient tonic, nor indeed the chief.
| That was the time of the Holy ALI
ance and its menace 10 America. Our
! open clash with it had not yet como,
! bot Il was inevitable. Adams discerncd
| 10 afar OF. OF all men of his day. he
| had. perhaps. the most reason for
/ Rindlv feelings toward Russia, because
/ oe the exceptional distinction with
which he had been treated at that
court. But, on the other hand, he.
| above all contemporaries, OWNED Rus
sia, saw through its devious schemes
and realized its menace TO Liberalism
| and to human progress. The Russian
Emperor unhesitatingly took the side
/ Of Spain against her revolted South
/ American colonies, assuming as mat
/ ter of necessity that the sovereign
must always be right and the rebel
/ l.ous subject must always be wrong
/ So Adams began TO prepare himself
/ and 20 prepare this nation for the
4 memorable utterance o. few years
/ later. when, beginning with a warning
] 90 Russia 10 quit California ana no
t.ce 10 her that we should contest hen
. tight 20 any territorial establishment
upon this continent, he proceeded 20
/ The full enurciation OF the doctrine
which bears the name OF Monroe.
or tina; doctrine there is distinct
| foItshadowng ia his writings OF five
years before. In the course OF long
/ letter OF instructions 10 George ".
/ Campbell. who was going 10 Russia as
our minister. he said:
OF the European alliance the En-
peTor Of Russia may now be con-