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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So Valiant-for-Truth passed over and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.
The blood of some ancestral Scotch covenanter or of some Dutch reformed preacher facing the tyranny of Philip of Spain was in his veins, and with his large opportunities and his vast audiences he was always ready to appeal for justice and…
His country asked the sacrifice and he gave it with solemn pride and uncomplaining lips.
He was also--and this is very revealing and explanatory, too, of his vast popularity--a man of ideals.