The Patriotism of Samuel Adams

Most everyone today must admit that there is a dearth of true patriot leaders in our country today.  Few are mindful of their constitutional obligations and fewer still are mindful of their obligations to God Who placed them into the positions that they hold.  With that in mind, I find it helpful to gain insight and courage from the example of those great men of the past.  One such man, who feared God and loved his country, was Samuel Adams.  Here are just a couple of episodes from his life where he exhibits the qualities that I fear are so conspicuous today by their complete absence.

More insidious assaults were made [against Adams], however, without success.  [Gov. Thomas] Hutchinson in his day had known Adams too well to try such means. "Why hath not Mr. Adams been taken off from his opposition by an office?" inquired members of the ministry. "Such is the obstinacy and inflexible disposition of the man," was the reply, "that he never would be conciliated by any office of gift whatever." Gage was less wise, and made a trial which had an ignominious failure. In 1818 Mr. Adams's daughter related: The governor sent, by Colonel Fenton, who commanded one of the newly arrived regiments, a confidential and verbal message, promising Adams great gifts and advancement if he would recede, and saying it was the advice of Governor Gage to him not to incur the further displeasure of his majesty. Adams listened with apparent interest to this recital, until the messenger had concluded. Then rising, he replied, glowing with indignation: "Sir, I trust I have long since made my peace with the King of kings. No personal consideration shall induce me to abandon the righteous cause of my country. Tell Governor Gage it is the advice of Samuel Adams to him no longer to insult the feelings of an exasperated people." There is some reason also for supposing that he was offered afterward a pension of two thousand guineas, and a patent of nobility in the American peerage which was projected. ¹

Here Adams writes to his wife from Philadelphia on November 29, 1776, relishing his role as a thorn in the side of the British.

-I am told that Lord [Richard] Howe has lately issued a Proclamation offering a general Pardon with the Exception of only four Persons viz Dr [Benjamin] Franklin Coll [Col] Richard Henry Lee Mr John Adams & my self. I am not certain of the Truth of this Report. If it be a Fact I am greatly obligd to his Lordship for the flattering opinion he has given me of my self as being a Person obnoxious to those who are desolating a once happy Country for the sake of extinguishing the remaining Lamp of Liberty, and for the singular Honor he does me in ranking me with Men so eminently patriotick. ²

Would that we all, those who love Christ and the liberty He provides, be so obnoxious to tyrants that we would be excluded from their offensive “pardons!”

Christ, not man, is King!

Dale

1)      James K. Hosmer, Samuel Adams (Boston, MA: The Riverside Press, 1886), p. 301-2.

2)      Harry A. Cushing, ed., The Writings of Samuel Adams, Vol. 3 (New York, NY: The Knickerbocker Press, 1907), p. 321.