He believed in the rule of character, as indicated by intellect and property.  He had no great sympathy with the people in their aspirations, although springing from the people himself,—­the son of a moderate farmer, no more distinguished than ordinary farmers.  He was the first one of his family to reach eminence or wealth.  The accusation against him of wishing to introduce a king, lords, and commons was most unjust; but he was at heart an aristocrat, as much as were Hamilton and Gouverneur Morris.  And the more his character was scrutinized after he had won distinction, the less popular he was.  His brightest days were when he was inspiring his countrymen by his eloquence to achieve their independence.

In office Adams did not pre-eminently shine, notwithstanding his executive ability and business habits.  It is true, the equal division of the Senate on some very important measures, such as the power of the President to remove from office without the consent of the Senate, the monetary policy proposed by Hamilton, and some others, gave him the opportunity by his casting vote to sustain the administration, and thus decide great principles with advantage to the country.  And his eight years of comparative quiet in that position were happy and restful ones.  But Adams loved praise, flattery, and social position.  He was easily piqued, and quickly showed it.  He did not pass for what he was worth, since he was apt to show his worst side first, without tact and without policy.  But no one ever doubted his devotion to the country any more than his abilities.  Moreover, he was too fond of titles, and the trappings of office and the insignia of rank, to be a favorite with plain people,—­not from personal vanity, great as that was in him, but from his notions of the dignities of high office, such as he had seen abroad.  Hence he recommended to Washington the etiquette of a court, and kept it up himself when he became president.  Against this must be placed his fondness for leaving the capital and running off to make little visits to his farm at Quincy, Massachusetts, where he was always happiest.

I dwell briefly on his career as Vice-President because he had in it so little to do.  Nor was his presidency marked by great events, when, upon the completion of Washington’s second term, and the refusal of that great man to enter upon a third, Adams was elevated in 1797 to the highest position.  The country had settled down to its normal pursuits.  There were few movements to arrest the attention of historians.

The most important event of the time was, doubtless, the formation of the two great political parties which divided the nation, one led by Hamilton and the other by Jefferson.  They were the natural development of the discussion on adopting the Federal Constitution.  The Federalists, composed chiefly of the professional classes, the men of wealth and of social position, and the old officers of the army, wanted a strong