The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-06-12
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
The Society of the Cincinnati.

--N N-"rf"~ "|N~--1
fixed upon the great events Of the past, it
may not be inappropriate to make some
allusion to society which is intimately
connected with the memory and achieve
ments Of the great men to whose noble
sacrifices and exalted patriotism We owe
the liberties Of our countryside heroes Of
the Revolution.
The Society of the Cincinnati, founded
by the officers of the Revolution, at the
close of the war, is link which binds the
present to the past We hear but little
of it. Quietly and unobtrusiyely it pur-
sues its way, fulfilling the duties imposed
upon it by its illustrious founders-the
duties of assisting the unfortunate, Of
keeping alive the memory Of the past, of
preserving the spirit of fraternal regard,
of cultivating an ardent love Of country,
and that same spirit Of patriotism that ac-
tuated those great men to whom 1t owes
its origin.
At the eantonment Of the American
Army, ou the banks Of the Hudson, on the
18th day of May, 1888, this society was
formed. The time had arrived when the
officers of the Revolutionary Army were
about to separate. Grim visaged war had
smoothed his wrinkled front The duty of
emancipatiug people had been proclaimed
throughout the land and nation of free
men given tothe world. II was then when
those brave men, feeling that they were
about to separate, many of them to meet
no more on earth; when the recollection
of all the dangers and vicissitudes they
had encountered together came over them
with overwhelming force; when the sad
hour of parting had arrived, that this band
of brothers formed themselves into a soci-
ETY., the object of which was, to use the
words of the original institution: "To per-
petuate as well the remembrance Of this
vast event (the separation of the Colonies
of North America from the domination Of
Great Britain as the mutual friendships
which have been formed under the pres.
sure of common danger, and, in many in
stances, cemented by the blood Of the
parties, the officers of the American army
do hereby, in the most solemn manner,
associate, constitute and combine them.
selves into one Society Of Frieads.' We
use the words of the institution again to
explain the origin of the name of the So
ciety; The officers of tho American army
possessing high yeneration for the char
acter Of that illustrious Roman, LuciHs
Quiatius Ciacianatus, and being resolved
to follow his example by returning to their
citizenship, they think they may, with pro.
priety, denominate themselves the Society
ofthe Cincinnati"
With regard to the principles Of the
society The following principles shall
be immutable, and form the basis Of the
Society of the Cincinnati: An incessant
attention to preserve inviolate those exalt-
ed rights aud liberties Of human nature
for which they have fought and bled, and
without which the high rank of rational
being is curse instead of a blessing.
To render permanent the cordial af-
fection existing among the officers.
"This spirit will dictate brotherly kind
ness in all things, and particularly, extend
to the most substantial acts Of bene6cence,
according to the ability Of the Society,
towards those officers and their families,
who, unfortunately, may be under the ne
cessity of receiving it.
In order to carry out the bene6ceut de-
sign above mentioned, each officer deposit
ed months pay, as basis of fund for
the relief of the unfortunate, which sum /,
with careful management, has grown in
the hands of six remaining State Societies,
Gas we learn from report presented at a
recent meeting of the Society, held at New
York ).to the respectable amount Of about
sl50, 900, the interest of which is appro-
priated to the relief Of those descendants
of original members who are in want, they
being composed mostly Of old and infrn
persons Of both sexes.
Soon after the formation Of the Society,
great opposition was made to the heredita-
ry feature. 1t was asserted by many, that
the Society was aristoeratic, and subver-
sive Of the principles that should govern a
Republic. The use Of badge or order,
was greatly objected to, as being an imita-
ton of the customs Of monarchial countries.
Violent opposition to the Society was man
Tested in many quarters. Jefferson wrote
against it with great vigor. Maribeau also
brought his eloquent pen to bear in op-
posing ii, besides others Of less note. But
the experience of nearly century has
clearly demonstrated that all this opposi-
tion had no reasonable foundation, and that
the pure and noble men who founded this
Society had no ends in view but those ex-
pressed by them in the institution Of the
Society, as quoted above. Washington
was the first President of the Society. He
was succeeded by Alexander Hamilton,
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and other
men of note, and the chair Is now occupied
by the distinguished gentleman who holds
the Office Of Secretary of State, the Hon
Hamilton Fish.
Before our allies from France left our
shores for their native country, the sailors
of the French fleets presented to General
Washington the order Of the society, set in
diamonds, beautiful and costly y;ft