John Adams in 1797

Electoral Brawlage, #2

“Electoral Brawlage” examines the first inaugural address of each president in U.S. history, with some commentary and analysis. This is the second installment. Check back on Mondays for more.

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Uncle John’s Words

Here is a link to Adams’ address in its entirety, courtesy of Founders Archives.

Compared to Washington, Adams has a very halting-yet-longwinded style of writing. That alone can make his address a little bit…thick, I guess. Hard to get through. Numbing to the modern mind. Yet the effort will be rewarded, as the 21st Century man will understand Adams’ warnings against factionalism (parties), getting involved in foreign affairs, and allowing foreign meddling in domestic elections.

Like many men of the Founding era, he was very aware of the cost of liberty and the hazards that waylaid it throughout history. The only sure thing that could secure it is a good and moral people who took an active interest in civics, participated in government, and deliberately pursued virtue in their personal lives.

He made these subjects a central focus of his first inaugural address. Take some time to read it (in chunks, most likely) and digest his words. It’s worth the effort.

My Thoughts:

Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying “A Republic, if you can keep it.” He wasn’t the only Founder to warn us that the Constitution was meant for a moral people, and couldn’t be maintained by any other kind. John Adams spent a great deal of time during the Revolution joined at the hip with Franklin, and I can’t say for certain who fed the idea to the other first, but it’s clear they both shared the sentiment.

Liberty is not merely the ability to do whatever you want. You have to have the moral core to use that liberty to choose righteousness over sin. The power to choose is not the power to negate consequence, especially not divine consequence, and the men who built this nation understood that the boon of Providence was only promised to the righteous. The pursuit of vice could only erode the foundations of liberty, alongside the sin of apathy in the administration of government.

Think about that the next time you get to attend a city council meeting, or when you get a jury summons in the mail. Our government is only as good as the men who administer it. If you want it to get better…you might have to get in there. Just make sure you’ve got your own spiritual house in order along the way. John Adams understood this and it was on his mind when he first assumed office, after decades of work in the Revolution.

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