ALABA^[A CLAIMS. 9;j 



Arbltnator, we sluill have but too much necessity to 

 sjjeak iu describing the acts of the Tribunal. 



iAIU. CIIAHLES FUANXIS ADAMS. 



In the American Arbitrator, Mr. Charles Francis 

 Adams, the Tribunal had a memljer worthy of the 

 companionship of Count Frederic Sclopis. 



In the United States, persons have been found so 

 foolish as to reproach Mr. Adams ))ecause of the his- 

 torical eminence of his father and of his grandfather, 

 and even because of the intelligence and cultivation 

 of Ids sons: as if it were a crime in a Kepublic for a 

 f/ither to liave a L^ood son, or a son a good father, or 

 to live in the ludy atmosphere of u succession of wi.ie 

 and virtuous mothers. 



Besides, if it be meritorious to rise to distinction 

 from lowliness and poverty, it is not less so to resist 

 and overcome tlie obstacles to personal distinction 

 created l^y parental station or wealth. In this, which 

 is the only correct view of the subject, all men are 

 selfniade. The attributes of j\Ir. Charles Francis 

 Adams are his own : distinguished parliamentary ca- 

 reer in the Legislature of the State of ^Massachusetts 

 and in the Congress of the United States, — literary 

 merits of a high order as displayed in his "Life and 

 Writings of John Adams," — able diplomatic repre- 

 sentation of his Government in Great Britain durin^r 

 the whole dark period of our Civil AVar. lie pos- 

 sessed qualities, acquirements, and experience, general 

 and special, Avhich seemed to invite liis appointment 

 as American Arbitrator; and iu the discharge of the 



