Don’t Despair, Even When Things Look Darkest

Reader Bob Crum sent this comment in:

Words do mean something.

At the beginning of the American Revolution, after the King’s military took over New York, and had beaten down George Wahington in Delaware, Americans were beyond hope. The future president, John Adams wrote, “the prospect is chilling, on very side, gloomy, melancholy and dispiriting.” His cousin, Samuel Adams, had endured terrible losses, his wife and four of their children had died. Even this did not stop the tea party leader who, a few years earlier had thrown the King’s tea, along with the help of others, off of three British vessels. In essence, saying by those actions, we the people do not want your tea, your presence, or anything about you. We will, and can run things ourselves.

“If we despond,” he wrote, “public confidence is destroyed, the people will no longer yield their support to a hopeless contest, and American liberty is no more.” “Through the darkness which shrouds our prospects, the ark of safety is visible. Despondency becomes not the dignity of our cause, nor the character of those who are its supporters.” He went on to say that Americans are guided by a ‘pillar of cloud by day,’ and a ‘pillar of fire by night.’ He addressed the delegates: “Let us awaken
then, and evince a different spirit-a spirit that shall inspire the people with confidence in themselves and in us-a spirit that will encourage them to perservere in this struggle, until their rights and liberties shall be established on a rock. We have proclaimed to the world our determination to die [ as free people,] rather than live as slaves. We have been reduced to distress, and the arm of Omnipotence has raised us up. Let us still rely in humble confidence on Him who is mighty to save.”

Shortly after that speech the battle of Saratoga was won in New York. 6,000 British soldiers surrendered to the American generals and the Continental Army. This turned the entire war around, giving Americans the victory.

We must rely on a power greater than ourselves, if we are ever to get out of economic and moral lethargy, and bankruptcy.

Tags: American, Americans, Bob Crum, British, confidence, George Wahington, John Adams, New York, Samuel Adams