If they had had the wisdom of their better days they would then have made themselves the champions of the American idea, and would have led the country in the determined effort to free itself once for all from colonial politics, even if they were obliged to fight somebody to accomplish it.
Lodge reflects on the missed opportunity for the Federalists to champion American independence from colonial politics.
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The other idea which had grown in his mind during the weary siege was that the Tories were thoroughly dangerous and deserved scant mercy.
This was not a safe man for the gentlemen of Pennsylvania to cross too far, nor could they swerve him, with all his sense of public opinion, one jot from what he meant to do.
I can answer those gentlemen, that it is a much easier and less distressing thing to draw remonstrances in a comfortable room, by a good fireside, than to occupy a cold, bleak hill, and sleep under frost and snow, without clothes or…
All that can be said is, that without the influence and the labors of Washington the convention of 1787, in all probability, would have failed of success.