james otis the pre-revolutionist-第12节
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ich under the nurture of other able hands and in the providence of the God of Nations budded at last into 〃The Great Republic。〃 Thus it becomes the purpose of this article to recall briefly the most striking characteristics of him whose name must always be intimately associated with the ardent debates and the troublesome events which foreshadowed the great struggle between the greatest of colonizing nations and her greatest Colonies。
The exigency of these times was great； and men of courage and capacity； wise in council and prompt in action rose to meet it。 They were not men ennobled merely by their appearance on the stage at the time when great scenes were passing。 They took a part in those scenes with a degree of aptness and energy proportional to the magnitude of the occasion and throughout displayed high qualities of character。
Otis's part was played not so much in the revolution itself； as in the agitations and controversies by which it was heralded and its way prepared。 〃Admirably fitted by his popular talents； legal acquirements； and ardent temperament； to take an active share in the discussion respecting the comparative rights of the Colonies and the British Parliament； and in preparing the minds of his countrymen for the great step of a final separation from England； and having exhausted； as it were； his mental powers in this preparatory effort； his mind was darkened when the contest really came； and he remained an impotent spectator of the struggle； by which the liberties of his native land were at last permanently established。〃
The Life of James Otis as narrated by William Tudor is one of the most pleasant and instructive in the whole range of American biographies； and leaves few particulars in the personal life of Otis to be gathered by the subsequent investigator。 The sketch by Francis Bowen in Jared Sparks' Library of American Biography furnishes additional and valuable illustrations of the character and services of Otis； which were secured from the third volume of Thomas Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts； （first published after Tudor's Life of Otis appeared）； from the copies of papers in the office of the English Board of Trade relating to the colonial history of Massachusetts； and from the private correspondence of Governors Bernard and Hutchinson with the English Ministry； during the time of Otis's public career。 These sources throw much light on the conduct of Otis as the chief political opponent of the these two colonial executives。
It is the purpose of the present article merely to emphasize the three striking traits of his character；his impetuosity and earnestness； his high integrity and devotion to truth and justice； and his marked ability as an advocate before the bar。
In reading the memoirs of James Otis one is struck from first to last with the impetuosity； the earnestness； the ardent temper of his nature。 This was at once the secret of a great measure of his power and also the partial source of his mental undoing。 As a student at Harvard； the last two years of his college life were marked with great assiduity in study； and while at home during the vacations in this period； he devoted himself so closely to his books； that he was seldom seen by his friends； and often it was not known that he had returned； till he had been in his father's house for some days。 Such severe application doubtless served to sow the first seeds of mental derangement； which falling on the fertile soil of his feverish disposition and nutured by the constant and intense argumentative strife of his later political career； finally found their fruition in the mental collapse which so distressingly darkened his latter days。 When participating in the common amusements of youth he exhibited all the vivacity of an excitable temperament。
The earnestness of his nature led him to resign a lucrative office； renounce the favor of government； abandon the fairest prospects of professional emolument and distinction； and to devote himself to the service of his country with unflinching courage； quenchless zeal； and untiring energy。
As an orator the impetuosity of his speech and the earnestness of his voice and manner were so impressive； that they forced conviction upon his hearers even when his arguments did not reach their judgment。 Such was the fluency and animation of his language； whether written or spoken； that though it was sometimes coarse and defective in taste； it was always； as will be seen from the examples quoted in this paper； extremely effective。
In political controversy the impetuosity of his nature led him to be irascible and harsh towards his opponents and sometimes hasty in judgment。 But towards those whom he liked he was equally effusive in expressions of regard； and was generous； high…spirited and placable。
The fiery and impetuous temper of Otis is well illustrated by the following anecdote given by Tudor； who； however； does not vouch for its authenticity。 Upon first taking his seat in the house； a friend sitting near； said： 〃Mr。 Otis； you have great abilities； but are too warm； too impetuous； your opponents； though they cannot meet you in argument； will get the advantage by interrupting you； and putting you in a passion。〃 〃Well；〃 said Otis； 〃if you see me growing warm； give me a hint； and I'll command myself。〃 Later on when a question of some importance arose； Otis and this friend were on the Boston seat together。 Otis said he was going to speak； and his companion again warned him against being irritated by interruptions from the opposition。
He soon rose； and was speaking with great fluency and powerful logic； when Timothy Ruggles interrupted him； he grew warm in reply； and his friend pulled his coat slightly。 Otis scowled as he turned round； but taking the hint moderated his tone。 Soon afterwards； Mr。 Choate； of Ipswich； broke in on him again。 This aroused his temper； and his coat was pulled a second time； turning round quickly he said in an undertone to his monitor； 〃Let me alone； do you take me for a schoolboy？〃 and continuing his address with great impetuosity he overwhelmed his opponent with sarcasm and invective。
Without doubt James Otis was a strong man；a man of strong and positive character； whose friends and enemies were equally strong in their feelings of like and dislike。 The men who were ranged as his enemies have for the most part been relegated to a second place on the page of history （this does not apply to Thomas Hutchinson； who in his official capacity was Otis's chief political opponent； but who did not exhibit the personal enemity of Bernard and others）； while those who were his friends stand out boldly among the notable characters of the past。 As Otis himself remarked concerning Charles Lee； we are not at a loss to know which is the highest evidence of his virtuesthe greatness and number of his friends； or the malice and envy of his foes。 But friends and foes alike agree in ascribing to him a very ardent temperament； though with the latter it is unjustly regarded as violent。 There is a great contrast between the estimate of Otis given by Hutchinson （quoted below） and that exhibited in the following extract from a long letter written by Governor Bernard to Lord Shelburne； near the end of the year 1766； which is entirely filled with a review of Otis's career and character； and is a curious specimen of studied calumniation。 The introductory remarks show sufficiently well the spirit of the whole。 〃I would avoid personalities； but in the present case it is impossible。 The troubles in this country take their rise from； and owe their continuance to； one man； so much； that this history alone would contain a full account of them。 This man； James Otis； Esq。； was a lawyer at Boston when I first came to the government。 He is by nature a passionate； violent； and desperate man； which qualities sometimes work him up to an absolute frenzy。I say nothing of him； which is not known to be his certain character； confirmed by frequent experience。〃
While sympathy for Otis made the public commonly ascribe the alienation of his reason chiefly to the injuries received during his encounter with Robinson in the British Coffee House； it is fairly certain that the commencement of the disease dates further back； and that the blows on the head hastened and aggravated an already incipient malady superinduced by very different causes。
In the ardor and assiduity of his devotion to the colonial cause Otis had overtaxed his mental powers。 His fine faculties that had been exerted so strenuously； and with such striking effect； in the service of his country； were sinking under the excitement and the effort which had sustained them in the heat of action。 For ten years he had abandoned the ordinary practice of his profession and renouncing all recreation had given his entire time and thought； himself； verily； to the 〃great argument〃 which involved the welfare of the Colonies； and as we now see it； of the world。 To allow one idea exclusive occupancy of the mind and constantly to ponder a single topic； is a very frequent and almost sure cause of mental distress。 It was his highest merit and at the same time his greatest misfortune； that Otis permitted this political controversy to have s
