History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

tSUi] CALEB STRONG. 603
Character as a Pub- Of his public life, Hoii. Henry Cahot
lie Mau. Lodge says : —
" It is as a type of the New England Puritan and Massachusetts Federalist
that Caleb Strong is most interesting at the present day. A man
who could adhere strictly to the doctrines of the most rigid Federalism
and yet have such a hold iipon the people and pass through years of
difficult public service without a quarrel and without becoming the
subject of unmeasured invective is an interesting study. * * * The
fact is that the combination of firmness and moderation, of calm sense
and absolute devotion to conviction, so conspicuous in the character of
Caleb Strong, made him a thorough representative of the class which
formed the strength of the Puritans both in Old and New England. In
times of great excitement the extremists always come to the front, and
leave the deepest mark upon the events in which they take part. But
it falls to the lot of the quieter, more moderate, and more common-
place men to furnish the backbone and sinew of every great and successful
movement. The leaders in this class are of a vast importance,
and any man who represents them is well worth our consideration." ^
The centennial number of tlie Hampshire Gazette thus
sums up the character of this eminent son of Northampton
: —
"Gov. Strong lived in a remarkable time. It was a time of great
agitation, of governmental chaos, of revolution and war, of recon-
struction—a peculiarly formative period. It was a time of great oppor-
tunities. Gov. Strong was the man for the period. He combined con-
servatism with radicalism in proper measure, and met all the requirements
made of him successfully. He was eminentlj' a practical man
of affairs,—a statesman of the highest and best type. He is not, and
wnll not be in the years to come, so widely known as Jonathan Edwards,
the theologian and metaphysician, but the work that he did in
shaping public affairs at a time when to steer the ship of state aright
was to send it on its mission of usefulness for centuries, will live long
after his own name shall be forgotten, and be a blessing to mankind
forever."
A history fails to accomplish one of its highest ends, if
it does not fill its readers with a just pride in the character
and achievements of the heroes of the past, and foster in
their sons a determination to contribute each his share
toward the maintenance of those institutions to which we
owe, liberty, prosperity and happiness. Especially ought
the citizens of Northampton, and the descendants everywhere
of such men as Stoddard, Pomeroy, Hawley, Ed-
1 Studies in History, pp. 224-226.