John Adams on “Decency and Respect” in Government

While rereading David McCollough’s “John Adams”, this quote from one of Adams’s letters practically leapt off of the page (p. 106 to be precise). It’s from April 1776, as Adams and other delegates assembled in Philadelphia to consider declaring independence from Great Britain.

“We may please ourselves with the prospect of free and popular governments. But there is great danger that those governments will not make us happy. God grant that they may. But I fear that in every assembly, members will obtain an influence by noise not sense. By meanness, not greatness. By ignorance, not learning. By contracted hearts, not large souls….

There is one thing, my dear sir, that must be attempted and most sacredly observed or we are all undone. There must be decency and respect, and veneration introduced for persons of authority of every rank, or we are undone. In popular government, this is our only way.”