Opinion: Words bear remembering 200 years later

At our church last Sunday, during that portion of the service where we offer public prayers, we prayed for all those who lost their lives in service to our country during war.

I was once again reminded of the often-quoted remark by John Quincy Adams: “We go not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.”

The speech was delivered to the U.S. House of Representatives on July 4, 1821, while he was secretary of state. Adams’ speech should be read in full. It’s short and insightful.

I have exerted his prologue and the full context of the aforementioned quote.

“AND NOW, FRIENDS AND COUNTRYMEN, if the wise and learned philosophers of the elder world, the first observers of nutation and aberration, the discoverers of maddening ether and invisible planets, the inventors of Congreve rockets and Shrapnel shells, should find their hearts disposed to enquire what has America done for the benefit of mankind?

“Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be.

“But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example. She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom.”

Read this last paragraph carefully and then ask yourself how is it possible that we have allowed our country to become embroiled in a war in Ukraine, where our military leaders are telling us that it is not only possible but inevitable that we will face armed conflict at some point.

And for some saber-rattlers in Congress, Ukraine is not enough. We must prepare for war with China in the immediate future.

Although John Quincy Adams’ speech was delivered more than 200 years ago on Independence Day, his discourse should be widely publicized from pulpits and in publications everywhere at Memorial Day services to remind us of what it costs to go abroad in search of monsters to destroy.

Rube Render is a former Clovis city commissioner and former chair of the Curry County Republican Party. Contact him:

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