james otis the pre-revolutionist-第22章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
In 1769 he wrote： 〃The cause of America is； in my humble opinion； the cause of the whole British empire； an empire which； from my youth； I have been taught to love and revere； as founded in the principles of natural reason and justice； and upon the whole； best calculated for general happiness of any yet risen in the world。 In this view of the British empire； my Lord； I sincerely pray for its prosperity； and sincerely lament all adverse circumstances。 Situated as we are； my Lord； in the wilderness of America； a thousand leagues distant from the fountains of honor and justice； in all our distresses； we pride ourselves in loyalty to the King； and affection to the mother country。〃
OTIS AS A PROPHET。
Otis was not much given to general speculations upon the future； but there is something very striking in the following language； taken from his pamphlet 〃The Rights of the Colonies；〃 if we consider how soon after there occurred the two great crises in the world's affairs； the American and French revolutions。 〃I pretend neither to the spirit of prophecy； nor to any uncommon skill in predicting a crisis； much less to tell when it begins to be nascent； or is fairly midwived into the world。 But I should say the world was at the eve of the highest scene of earthly power and grandeur； that has ever yet been displayed to the view of mankind。 The cards are shuffling fast through all Europe。 Who will win the prize is with God。 This； however； I know； detur digniori。 The next universal monarchy will be favorable to the human race； for it must be founded on the principles of equity； moderation； and justice。〃
JAMES OTIS。 ＇1725 … 1783。＇ By G。 Mercer Adam＇3＇
The character and life…work of few men belonging to the pre…Revolutionary era are better worth studying than are those of James Otis； the patriot…orator of Massachusetts； who took so prominent a part in opposing England's obnoxious Stamp Act and in arousing the American Colonies to a sense of the outrage done them by the issue of the arbitrary Writs of Assistance。 Though the records of his personal life are somewhat meagre； sufficient is known of Otis's public career to interest students of his country's history and entitle him to the admiration of all； as one of the most earnest and eloquent advocates of Liberty in the Nation's youth…time； and a sturdy and noble defender of its cause at the critical era of England's injustice and oppression。 No man of the period； it may be hazarded； did more yeoman service than Otis did in the cause of American Freedom； or was more sensible of the rights of the Colonists and of the injustice done them by the Motherland in her assaults on their civil and political status in the years preceding the Revolution。 Not only was he one of the most fearless asserters of the great principles for which our forefathers fought and bled； but few men better than he saw more clearly the malign character of the arbitrary acts imposed upon the Colonies that brought about separation and laid the foundation of American independence。 In resisting the enforcement of these Acts； Otis was actuated not only by disinterested and patriotic motives； but by a statesmanlike discernment of their unconstitutional character and the wrong they would inflict； in being inconsistent with the foundation charter of the Massachusetts Colony。 Like many of the Revolutionary fathers； Otis was not at heart a rebel； or from the outset disloyal to the Crown in its administration of the affairs of the Colonies。 His occupancy of the Crown post of Advocate…General and his own well…known integrity and conscientiousness forbid that idea； not to speak of his pride in the fact that his ancestors were English and for generations had held high judicial offices and militia appointments in the gift of the King and the ministry of the period。 But though by tradition and training； at the outset of his career； a subject of monarchy and a true man in his official relations with England； Otis was at the same time ardent in his interests for the wellbeing of the Colonies and zealous for their rights and privileges。 When these came into conflict； the stand he took was staunchly patriotic； even to the sacrifice of his office and its emoluments； while in espousing the popular cause against the King and the ministry he stood forth； as John Adams expressed it； as 〃a flame of fire；〃 full of consuming zeal for his country and an ardent upholder of its rights and prerogatives。 In assuming this attitude； that Otis's zeal and energy were at times unrestrained and his language occasionally unguarded and overvehement； is doubtless true； but this was certainly excusable in a man of his ardent temperament and strength of character； while the situation of affairs was such as to call not only for patriotic enthusiasm； but for righteous indignation and heated denunciation； in a cause that stirred to the depths the heart and brain of an impetuous and commanding orator。 Nor do we well to forget what this consuming； patriotic passion and heated vindication of his country's rights cost Otis； in the responsibility he felt and the solicitation he manifested； especially in the middle and later stages of his strenuous career； for the cause he had so keenly at heart。 Pathetic is the story of the ailment that clouded his closing years； and only exculpatory can be the judgment now passed upon the man and his work when we consider what the strain was that he had long and anxiously borne and that revealed its effects in periods of sad mental alienation and incipient madness。 To speak and write strongly on taxation and its injustice； in the case of the Colonies； might well； however； disturb the mental equilibrium of even a strong man； and the more so when actively protesting； as Otis long continued to protest； against unlawful encroachments upon the liberties of the Colonies and the other arbitrary acts that then characterized the administration of the Crown。 Whatever it cost Otis personally to engage in this defence； the result； as we all now know and admit； was only and wholly beneficentin the defeat of an unrighteous autocracy； and the emancipation of a Continent from a fettering and baleful administration。
This herald of and actor in the great drama of his time was born at West Barnstable； formerly known as the Great Marshes； in Massachusetts； on the 5th of February； 1723。 He was one of thirteen children； his father being Colonel James Otis （born in 1702）； the son of Judge John Otis； whose immediate ancestor had emigrated from England in the preceding century and settled in New England at the town of Hingham； calling the region after the old home of the family in the Motherland。 This John Otis； who was born in A。D。 1657； became a prominent man in the Settlement； was a member of the Council of the Colony； and ultimately became Chief…Justice of the Common Pleas and Probate Court。 Otis's own father （Colonel James Otis） likewise became a lawyer and publicist； a colonel in the local militia； and rose to a high post in the judiciary and was a member of the Council of Massachusetts。 He married Mary Alleyne and transmitted to the future patriot； the subject of this sketch； the talents and many of the characteristics of his progenitors。 A brother of our hero； Samuel Alleyne Otis； rose to prominence in the politics of the State and as Secretary of the Senate administered to Washington the oath of office as President； holding the Bible on which he was sworn as honored chief of the future nation。 A sister； Mercy； an ardent and loyal patriot； married the notable republican； James Warren of Plymouth； and lived herself to write a compend of the 〃History of the American Revolution；〃 together with a collection of patriotic verse。
James Otis； whom we know as one of the most eloquent orators of the Revolutionary era and an ardent promoter of American independence； was educated for his career at Harvard； which institution he entered as a freshman in 1739； having previously been prepared for college by the Rev。 Jonathan Russell。 His university course； so far as can be gathered from any account of it that has come down to us； was not a notable one； though he had a fair scholastic career and graduated at the age of nineteen in 1
