it was delivered in a theater by theodore parker, theodore parker was a radical theologian, transcendentalist, friend of emerson's, strange, difficult, he allowed himself to be very critical of his subject. shall we tell lies about him because he is dead, parker asked his audience, he would not. parker noted that secretary of state and president adams remained mute on slavery. he was what is called a good hater, parker said, he used his wit tear earnestly, poor poet, greatest intellectual factory was memory and he showed foresight. in what the john quincy adams greatness lie? through all his words and acts ran a golden thread, and intense love of freedom for all men. and parker summoned up that moment in 1842 when adams stood in the well of the house on the issue of slavery petitions and this is what he said. he said i know of few things in modern times so grand as that old man standing there in the house of representatives, a man who bore himself proudly at kings courts doing service in high places where honor may be won, a man who filled the highest office in any nation, the president, hims