Page:Henry Adams' History of the United States Vol. 4.djvu/384

374 to encourage warlike ideas much more recklessly than suited some of his party friends. He ventured to goad the majority toward a decision which of all possible results was most disliked by the Federalists of New England:—


 * "Take no counsel of fears. Your strength will increase with the trial, and prove greater than you are now aware.  But I shall be told this may lead to war.  I ask, Are we now at peace?  Certainly not, unless retiring from insult be peace, unless shrinking under the lash be peace.  The surest way to prevent war is not to fear it.  The idea that nothing on earth is so dreadful as war is inculcated too studiously among us.  Disgrace is worse.  Abandonment of essential rights is worse."

Whatever Quincy might have been willing to accept, the party to which he belonged wanted no war except with France, while the Republicans were opposed to war in any shape. John Randolph did indeed hint at the use of force, but Randolph's opinion was never for two days the same. Philip Barton Key of Maryland, as vehement a Federalist as Quincy, also advised a policy which could lead only to war:—
 * "I would let our vessels go out armed for resistance, and if they were interfered with I would make the dernier appeal. We are able and willing to resist; and when the moment arrives, there will be but one heart and one hand throughout the Union."

The sentiment was patriotic; but as though expressly to prove how little it could be trusted, Barent