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Letter to Editor
November 12, 1798
The Gazette
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
John Adams acknowledges a patriotic address from North Yarmouth inhabitants and emphasizes loving one's country above others, warning against national pride leading to unjust demands on weaker nations, cured only by resistance.
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PUBLIC SPIRIT.
[The Address to which the following is an answer, was published in the Gazette some week ago.]
To the Inhabitants of the town of North Yarmouth, in the District of Maine.
GENTLEMEN,
THE unanimous address, adopted by you, in a legal town-meeting, on the 9th of July, was in due season, transmitted by your committee, to Philadelphia, as you directed, and from thence, by the Secretary of the Treasury, to me. The manly and patriotic sentiments, as well as the affectionate respect to me, so handsomely expressed in it, merited an earlier acknowledgement.
We must all learn the important and indispensable lesson, to love our own country in preference to all others.—Nations, as well as individuals, are all liable to self love, pride and vanity, prompting them to exact from other nations, whom they often erroneously think weaker than themselves, and in their power, submissions and acknowledgements, sometimes of gratitude, and sometimes of tribute, to which they have no claim, founded in truth or justice. Nations, which think themselves great, are apt to indulge in such pretensions towards such as they think small, to a degree of madness. This distemper is cured only by resistance and defence.
JOHN ADAMS.
Quincy, Oct. 30th, 1798.
[The Address to which the following is an answer, was published in the Gazette some week ago.]
To the Inhabitants of the town of North Yarmouth, in the District of Maine.
GENTLEMEN,
THE unanimous address, adopted by you, in a legal town-meeting, on the 9th of July, was in due season, transmitted by your committee, to Philadelphia, as you directed, and from thence, by the Secretary of the Treasury, to me. The manly and patriotic sentiments, as well as the affectionate respect to me, so handsomely expressed in it, merited an earlier acknowledgement.
We must all learn the important and indispensable lesson, to love our own country in preference to all others.—Nations, as well as individuals, are all liable to self love, pride and vanity, prompting them to exact from other nations, whom they often erroneously think weaker than themselves, and in their power, submissions and acknowledgements, sometimes of gratitude, and sometimes of tribute, to which they have no claim, founded in truth or justice. Nations, which think themselves great, are apt to indulge in such pretensions towards such as they think small, to a degree of madness. This distemper is cured only by resistance and defence.
JOHN ADAMS.
Quincy, Oct. 30th, 1798.
What sub-type of article is it?
Philosophical
Reflective
Political
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Constitutional Rights
What keywords are associated?
John Adams
North Yarmouth
Patriotism
National Pride
Resistance
Foreign Pretensions
Self Love
Pride And Vanity
What entities or persons were involved?
John Adams
To The Inhabitants Of The Town Of North Yarmouth, In The District Of Maine
Letter to Editor Details
Author
John Adams
Recipient
To The Inhabitants Of The Town Of North Yarmouth, In The District Of Maine
Main Argument
acknowledge the patriotic address from north yarmouth and stress the essential lesson of loving one's own country above all others, as nations often succumb to pride and demand unjust submissions from weaker ones, which can only be remedied through resistance and defense.
Notable Details
Address Adopted July 9th In Town Meeting
Transmitted Via Committee To Philadelphia And Secretary Of The Treasury
Written From Quincy, Oct. 30th, 1798