"No one denies the right of Edward Channing, professor of history in Harvard University, to make the statement to his class that George Washington had an unsurpassed temper, and did not have large brain power or education; that Benjamin Franklin dressed freakishly to be a social lion; that Alexander Hamilton became second in command through intrigues involving Washington and Adams, and that Patrick Henry, Jeremy Belknap and Noah Webster speculated on inside tips received from Congressmen."
"Especially is patriotic training necessary in this instance, as we have the word of Professor Channing that Americans are the most unpatriotic people in the world. ... Shakespeare's advice was: 'Tell truth and shame the devil'; but ought we not to be a little careful that we do not be-devil the truth and tell only the shame? After all, you can't shame the devil, for he is shameless. Sometimes, if you tell too much truth, you shame the saints."
Frederick Boyd Stevenson defends Edward Channing's right to state controversial judgments about founding figures while criticizing Channing's suitability as a public tutor. Stevenson catalogs Channing's claims: Washington had unsurpassed temper but lacked large brain power or education; Benjamin Franklin dressed freakishly to be a social lion; Alexander Hamilton rose through intrigues; Patrick Henry, Jeremy Belknap and Noah Webster speculated on inside tips from Congressmen. Stevenson objects that such remarks instill distrust rather than patriotism and underscores the need for patriotic training, citing Channing's characterization of Americans as 'the most unpatriotic people.' Stevenson warns that excessive bluntness can shame the saints.
Read at Brooklyn Eagle
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