james otis the pre-revolutionist-第24章
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d to their grave hurt and detriment。 In pleading the Colonial cause against the Writs； Otis struck a chord in the heart of the people which tingled and vibrated； while stirring up such opposition to them that the authorities were fain to hold their hand and await instructions from the English ministry as to their withdrawal or enforcement。 The response of the home government was that they should be enforced； but little advantage was taken of this mandate in the Colonies； since opposition to the Writs had； thanks to the patriot Otis's denunciation of them； became almost universal； while the people had been roused to a sharp sense of their situation； in view of the tyrannous attitude of England towards the Colonies； and the next step taken by the Crown； under Prime Minister Grenville； in threatening them with the no less hated Stamp Tax。 This new fiscal infatuation on the part…of the English ministry strained the relations of the Colonies toward the Crown to almost the point of rupture。 It was； moreover； an unwise exhibition of English stubbornness and impolicy； since it revealed the mistake which England fell into at the time of considering the Settlements of the New World as Colonial possessions to be held solely for the financial benefit of the mother country； rather than for their own advancement and material well…being。 It is true； that the Seven Years' War； which had been waged chiefly for the protection of the American dependencies of the Crown； had left a heavy burden of debt upon England which she naturally looked to the Colonies in some measure to repay。 But the Colonies had ready their argument they objected to being taxed without their consent； and without representation in the British Parliament； besides being； as they thought； sufficiently oppressed by the burden of customs' duties already imposed upon them。 The spirit of resistance therefore grew； and was ere long to take a more determined and； to England； fatal form； for the Stamp Act； though later on repealed； was passed； in spite of the protests of the Colonial Assemblies and the increasing soreness of feeling in America against the mother country。
The like service James Otis did for the community of the New World in opposing the Writs of Assistance he also did in opposing the enforcement of the Stamp Actremonstrances suggested by the patriot's love of independence； and which； besides numberless letters； speeches and addresses； drew from the pre…Revolutionist's trenchant pen several able pamphlets； one vindicating the action of the Massachusetts House of Representatives； of which Otis was now a member； in protesting against England's intolerance in laying grievous taxation on the Colonies； and the others upholding the rights of the Colonies in resisting the Crown's misgovernment； as well as its purpose to tax the Colonies to defray some of the cost England had incurred in prosecuting the French and Indian war。 In these patriotic services and labors； Otis； as a public man； took an active and zealous part； besides conducting a large correspondence as chairman of the House Committee of the Legislature on subjects relating to the weal of the whole country。 Nor were his duties confined to these matters alone； for we find him at this period engaged in controversies first with Governor Hutchinson； and then with his successor； Governor Bernard； both of whom deemed Otis an arch…rebel and incendiarya man not only without the pale of considerate treatment by lawfully constituted authority in the Colonies； but the object of contumely and loathing by the obsequious loyalists of the Motherland and all who desired her continued dominance and supremacy in the country。 History has happily long since done justice to James Otis and seen him in a fairer and far more worthy lightthe light not only of a patriot lover of liberty； but an ardent and invincible defender of his country against autocratic encroachment； and a fearless asserter of the principles which have become the foundation stone of the American nation。 In his masterful way； Otis was at times heedlessly bitter and inveterate in his prejudices against the mother country and the King's officers in the Colony； but we must remember the strength as well as the ardor of his affection for his native land and the righteousness of the cause he lovingly espoused and so nobly advocated。 We must remember also the antagonisms he naturally aroused； and the hatreds of which he was the object； on the part of loyal authority in the Colony which feared while it traduced him。 This is shown in the mishap that befell him in a British coffeehouse in Boston； where he was roughly assaulted by a man named Robinson； an ally of the revenue officers whom he had denounced in an article in the Boston Gazette； an attack that left its traces in the mental ailment which afterwards distressingly incapacitated him and shortened his bright public career。 He nevertheless lived to see the fruition of his hopes； in the throwing off by the Colonies of all allegiance to Britain and take part himself in the battle of Bunker Hill。 The harvest reaped by his country from the seeds of liberty he had planted in his day was such as might well cheer him in the period of mental darkness which fell upon him and regretfully clouded his closing years。 Nor was he； in his own era； without regard and honor among those who delighted in his splendid patriotism； in the days of his manly strength； mental as well as physical； and who held him in high esteem as a patriot orator and the staunchly loyal tribune of the New World peoples。 In these days of flaccid patriotism and moral declension in public life； his example may well stimulate and inspire。 In his wholehearted devotion to the hopes as well as to the interests of the Colonies most notable was the polemical fervor with which he espoused their cause and noble the stand he took for liberty and independence。
Like many men who have attained eminence in public life； James Otis was the victim in his day of detraction and envy。 A specially malignant slander was current with reference to him and his father at the period of the patriot's resigning his Crown post of Advocate…General。 The motive for throwing up his appointment and pleading the people's cause against the Writs of Assistance； it was at the time said； was the disappointment of the Otis family at the Chief…Justiceship； then vacant； going to Governor Hutchinson instead of to Colonel James Otis of Barnstable； father of our hero。 This aspersion of the fair name of the Otises as patriots and high…minded gentlemen； and the lying assertion that it was this disappointment that led the Otises； father and son； to abandon the Crown's side for that of the people； was cruelly false； and especially so as Hutchinson； who got the post； repeats the falsehood in his 〃History of Massachusetts〃 in explanation of the Otises turning their coats and becoming partisans of the popular cause。 Nothing could well be more unjust and untrue； for both men were of far too honorable a character and too ardently patriotic to justify the slander and give even the slightest color to the misrepresentation。 Were it necessary more emphatically to characterize the slander as false； one might confidently point to the happy relations of the Otises with the other patriots of the timeto men of the stamp of the two Adams statesmen； to Hancock； Randolph； Warren； and other leaders of the Revolutionary era； as well as to the contemporary repute and influence of both men in the heroic annals of the Colonial period。 The times were indeed trying and critical； and at the outset of the movement for independence and relief from the irritating aggressions of the Crown； the attitude； we may be sure； was closely watched and not over truthfully reported； of men of influence who took the patriot side and helped on the great cause which was afterwards to be gloriously and triumphantly crowned。
But we pass on to relate； in a few brief words； what remains yet to be told of James Otis's career； and of the pathetic declining days of the hero and his tragic end。 While mind and body were intact and working perfectly in unison； Otis continued to give himself heart and soul to the cause he had so patriotically a
