Can you imagine following George Washington as
president of the United States? The responsibility of the office is awesome
enough to contemplate, and memories were still fresh of those who had paid
so heavily to win our freedom. In addition, the next man in line would
be succeeding one of the greatest heroes our country has ever produced.
John Adams was that next man.
Adams had served two terms as vice president under
Washington, and found "his opinions and sentiments are more exactly
like mine than I ever knew before," as he wrote in a letter to his
wife, Abigail. He was a delegate to the First Continental Congress, and
had been chosen to help write the Declaration of Independence.
General Washington was still immensely popular,
but he was tired, and longing for the seclusion of Mount Vernon. He refused
a third term.
It was now up to John Adams. What kind of leader
would the new president be? And, what kind of nation was he about to inherit?
Prescription for the Future
"I must study politics and war that my
sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy...in order
to give their children a right to study painting, poetry and music." John Adams
This statement suggests a man of order. First
comes the duty, the must, to commit oneself to the grinding business of
facing conflicting wills and even military force to win the liberty to
build a free society where future generations will have the security, the
right, to create beauty and preserve the virtues that will guarantee peace
and prosperity.
Do you agree with John Adams? The war was over
and wise men, using historical philosophy and Biblical wisdom, formed the
most free and orderly society in the world. The Industrial Revolution was
under way. Next, according to Adams, was to come the creation of food for
the soul.
Diagnosis of a Society
Does prosperity and talent in the arts indicate
a healthy society? The nineteenth century critic and author, John Ruskin
thought so. He said:
"Great nations write their biographies
in the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book of their
art. None of these books can be understood unless we read the other two,
but of the three the only trustworthy one is the last." What do our arts tell us? The great art teacher, Frank
Vincent DuMond, commenting on a student's attempt at an abstract painting,
said, "I know that's popular today, but so is ignorance."
In painting or music where no one can tell if
the "artist" made a mistake, or if he even has any talent, what
does that say about a society? What happens when there are no more guidelines,
not just in art, but for those virtues which are vital to our survival?
Consider "situation ethics."
"When a citizen gives his vote to a man
of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own
interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country." Noah Webster
"Our mission, as citizens, is to rediscover
exactly how it is we came to be Americans so that we will understand exactly
what is required to remain Americans."
Thomas Jefferson
Save the Best for Last...the Good News!
I believe there is good news. A ground swell is
rising, demanding responsibility and real talent from the arts community.
The cheap, the foolish, and the corrupt are beginning to lose out in the
marketplace to those artists who have committed their lives to "feeding
our souls" wholesome provisions.
So, feed the artists.
Copyright 1996, Spirit of '76