The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-17
OUTBREAK or THE REVOLUTION.
rnrcnpn Moee nrt1 1or6
By this rude bridge thar crosse. the fiood,
Their hag 10 Aprl's breeze unfuried,
Here once the embattled farmers stood


IL Is only natural, perhaps that hundred years
after the American Revolution Lexington and
Concord should DE ngnting the Grst battle OF the
war over again. Whatever pains we may take to
secure the truth OF history 1t Is never sure. IL
was great point with our ancestors that the war
for Independence should begin as o war OF resist
ance, and this being the case 1t becomes q grave
ana important question with VINO fired that
first snot, which Lord Chatham predicted would
separate the Two countries. On the part OF the
BRUSH many flows were struck before the
cruel massacre at Lexington aroused the
American people to action but the blows were
not returned TIL that April morning when "a
mock OF Yankees" met the flower OF the British
army at Concord Bridge. All this Is now mooted
point; but as to the TACT. think there Is the
amplest testimony. One day those "embattled
farmersu fought against the King. and they swore
10 the occurrences the next before the Kings JUS
tices OF the peace. At that time Lexington did
not claim to have returned Major PiLcalrn's fire.
while Conccfd boldly avowed the resistance which
gave the Old North Bridge the nrst place IN Amer
lean history. Mr. Edward Everett Hale tells Us
that when New England historian related to
Henry clay the story or the dispositions which
followed the battles or the 1eth Of April, 1775 the
great orator and statesman was much amused
and said, ''rell me that again. 1t somehow
seems necessary to tell II once more after the
lapse or LEO years, Ior communicating the pains
tnst were taken TO secure the truth OF history.
Lexington and Concord are far rom agreeing
about it to-day. Each is getting up o celebration
oils own, and there - almost a. much excitement
overIt "a when IL was learned from Paul Revere
and EOenezer Dorr and Or. Samuel Prescott that
Lieutenant Colonel Smiths column had been FER
Fed over from Boston 10 Pnipps iarm, 10 Cam
BRIDGE during rho night, and was on the why 70
destroy the provincial stores ct Concord IL 10 -
very pretty quarrel as 1t stands,n and has been
the source OF some bright wit as well as warm
controversy. MAJOR Pitcairn's unfortunate pistol
shot on Lexington Common led 10 the nrst loss OF
Lie In the American Revouion The voliey nred
By the British In that historic town killed eight or
the patriots and wounded many Others bat there
was no resistance, and the co umn pressed % 10
Concord. Rere Smiths force was met By the
"Minute Menu rom Acton and other nsighboring
towns, the determination OF Revere 10
spread the alarm
Through every Middesex village and farm
For the country folks 10 be up and arm
having been accomplished lar and vide, aud the
two men Killed on the spot where the new statue
has teen erected we're both Acton men. This led
TO the famous toast at the Union celebration q
quarter OF q century ago, proposed BY an Acton
man :-"Concord nght-Concord gave the ground
and Acton iurnlsned the men" But as between
Lexington and Concord IL mas come TO be no
be quarrelnng over the Glorles OF the
past IN their present determined way Is
in itself Joke. the whole point at being at
what point the war began. This Is poor pun
know, but do not believe The aiter-dinncr
speeches next Monday Will supply better one,
and at any rate Il IS not moro absurd than TO see
these people nGhtIrg the irst battle Of the Rsvo-
luton ali over again. TO my mind the quaint
phraseology o. a hundred years ago determines
tue whole matter in dispute, and forever settles
the question as to winch place Is entitled TO the
most credit Tor that day when
the embatued farmers stood
And fred the shoI heard rouno the worlu.
IL was the custom or our arandiathers TO speak
OF Lexington Alarm aud Concord agnt,r ana
''the snot heara round the worldn was not fred
til Grenadier and patriot met facs 10 lace at Con-
cord Bridge. There never was "eattle Of Lex.
lngtonu az all until after concord Hght,n o. the
bridge has boon telling the "monimentn now
these many years, and for one, while confess,ng
. proper American reverence for everybody's
grandfather, DO not hesitate 10 say that on toe
lOh or April, 1873. Ralph waldo Emersons had the
advantage " Theodore Parker's. lt may be true
enough that wnen old Joan Parker saw the Rren-
adlers comIng as ne waited .or tuem by the meet
Ing house in Lexington, his single drum beating
the first noe OF resistance all the wnlle he
uttered the WORDS attributed TO nlm ny tradition,
I'll theY mean 70 nave war; let ~ Degln here."
But IL ID more certain that the response to Pit.
CAIRNS even more famous uttorance, "Ys villains,
10 rsbsl', disrerssi Damn yei Way don's ye lay
down your arIns and dispersop was complete,
n noe instant Occurrence. william Emerson,
OF Concord, IN the other hand, iesdned N his
diary tnat he "was uneasy III tue are was re-
turned" and he saw 10 returned with interest "a
soon almost - IL was received. Captain Parker
himself declared thai he ordered nis company 70
dispcrse ana not 10 IRE, and " s only repeating
"a ola story 10 say that the Lexington patriots
ald not return the ace Of their enemies, Mr..
Edward Everett Hale 70 the contrary notvita.
aian0ing Il mast have been 80 or else the depo-
sGtions WHOM Mr. nsle tells as wore 10 'seours
tns afutn o. history" we're cowardy lie. THIS 10
csicsasiOn ], or one, would be slow TO accept,
ana u certainly TeEecs no disoredt upon the 40
mlIita " tie Lexington gompany .-oniy SIXTY OF
wnVm could We hastily cot together when the cry
vas raised. "rBs ReaulaEa are cominan-~tnat