Peaceful Alternative

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19,20.  In light of peace agreements and the power of reconciliation, there are few stories in American history that spotlight a leader who chose to heed the method of peace rather than war.  Revisionist historian, James Juhnke recounts such a story. He writes: In 1799, John Adams was the second president of the United States at a time when the U.S. almost went to war against France. George Washington had come out of retirement to organize the Army in a war against France.

France and England, already at war with each other, were interfering with our ships. We sent over some diplomats to claim our rights, and the French asked for a bribe before even talking with the U.S. diplomats. This was a great insult to American pride...

Adams' entire cabinet was unanimous in wanting war. He could have gotten a war declaration overwhelmingly from Congress. At the last minute, Adams decided to send another peace delegation to Paris. He had gotten word from some people returning from France that the French foreign minister was willing to listen. Maybe another peace delegation would do some good, Adams thought. A Quaker physician by the name of Logan from Pennsylvania was a member of the delegation. The peace delegation's work was immensely unpopular, but the members of the delegation worked with the French to come to an agreement, and there was no war with France.

In 1803, we acquired the Louisiana Territory from France. This purchase would not have been possible had we gone to war in 1800. President Adams' decision for peace was a momentous peace event, but because it didn't produce any dead people, any war heroes, we don't know about it. Before John Adams died, he said he didn't want anything else on his gravestone, but "Here lies John Adams, who took upon himself the responsibility of the peace with France in the year 1800."

-James Juhnke