New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-19
BOSTON IN THE REVOLUTION.
ADDRESS OF GEORGE B. LORING.

FELLOW CITIZENS: 10 seems to have fallen
10 my lot ON this centennial year Of the earliest steps OF
the great American Revolution t0 discuss those sgn'
and heroic events which attended the opening OF be
conflict, and which first gave evidence OF the dehaht
spirit OF freedom which characterized the fathers OIL VI"
Republic. 10 but few weeks since was cacu on
10 present the picture Of Revolutionary saem and TO
pay tribute to her magnanmity and her honor, when
her one hundred and twenty-five patriots declared ID
written address that they had common canse with the
oppressed town OF Boston, and wOud in no way take al
vantage Of the prohibition Of her trade and to Summon
the attention OF grateful people 10 the brave stand
taken by Pickering and bis men at the North bridge, NJ
hour when British power was yet considered supreme
and American valor yet unried And in this service
do indeed rejoice. IL the dawnng hour OF great
heroic chapter in history which is marked by the most
brilliant and fascinating sreaks OF light, and which
charms tho with the freshness and yg0r OF up
rising day The heroes who set the first WatFhnres arc
the heroes whom we love- We indeed admire the majestic
march OF great armies and are impressed with the tnuh
ders Of the captains and the shouting hut now our very
hearts move within contemplate the midnight
march OF the little band, which unaded by civil power
without inspiring past or supporting present or even
an openng future saes FORTH strong In itself alone 10
strike the first blow and to set the first inspiring exam
pie. IL great and noble 10 lead the way that We
worship him who does It. He who starts i0rth I'D hoy
without fear OF consequences or hope oil reward II
tyr And the simple vaOr Of the opening conflict as far
ousnes the imposing tunut OF great battles and the
gterng pageantry OF victory the glory Of the morn
ing rises superior the blaze OF MONDAY or the mia
light OF the setting We do indeed rejoice over inc
day at Yorktown; but we hDger around Pickering at
North Bridge and Parker at Lexington and DAVIS at
Concord and Prescott at Bunker Hill, and we listen and
listen and listen the words Of Quincy and Otis ana
Adams and wander along the dark OF the town.
with Dorr and Revere, and climb the mysterious stair
ways with the 10 hang ont the signal lantern rom
the North Church scoplc and muse with ever new de
light upon the thoughts and emotions which inspired the
heroic actors in these fascinating scenes
And SO it comes to pass that the event which we have
met TO commemorate s full OF charm aud meaning and
arrests our attention with force wbichanot be resist
ed The part performed by the community, which %
hundred years ago occupied the spot where We have now
assembled, has deep and profound interest, eqhale
only by the deeds which rendered Marathon and Their
mopyla and Client and Bruges, and Plymouth, the i'm
mortal names for herOsn and self-sacrcc. The feeble
ray shed from this church spre on the night OF April IS
l77 shone not simply to the messengers of their
duty toward the sumberng patriots along the road to
Lexington and Concord but IL streamed across the land
as a signal from revolutionary Boston TO people deter
mined 10 be free Already was the town liked ms thr
North OF freedom in the ornament Of the heavens
Not pOpuOus, she already great and powerful Her
churches and her schOolhouses even then her pride
!
character, and had been guided by that integrity and
honesty which have always marked her career Her pros
perity was universal. Her popular leaders were men OF
great power OTIS with his flaming tongue Samuel
Adams with his deep and untrine cour-
age and sagacity, john Adams with his I'M
petuOus impulse, Hancock with his dignity and def
ance Joseph Warren with his fresh and vigorous enhu
siasm aud his manly determination Josiah Quincy, ir
the sivertougued of freedom, and Pam Revere,
the great leader the mechanics and the yigan and
sleepcss defender of popular right Her dvineS, Chauny
and Cooper and Eliot aud LathrOp Numbered from their
pulpis in the Of freedom, that the enemy said
of them: Some Of the ministers are continually in their
stirring up the people to resistance an instance
of which lately happened in this shborhood whore the
minister, get his hearers to sign mhammatory
papers advanced that the signing Of them was material
circumstance to their salvation, on which they flew TO
the pen with an eagerness that sufficiently testified their
belief in their pastor" OF her mechanics nottingham
eloQueuty says The Boston mechanics general
thing the early and steady supporters Of the patriot
cause No temptation could allure them no threats could
terrify them no Tory argument could reach them In
vain did the oyaliss cndeayOr 10 tamper with them
They certainly carry all before Them letter says As
the troops hckened in Boston living in town and
from the country without much thought, accepted
the chance to work barracks for their accommodation
IL did not, however last long. This morning Newell
writes September 20, IVA all The carpenters Of the
town and country that employed in building bar
racks for the sodiery left off work at the barracks
British gold could not buy Boston labor. New England
! holds out wonderfully letter in September says,
! Notwithstanding hundreds already ruined and
thousands half starved" Loyalists from abroad were
astonished such obstinacy. Gage was disappointed
and perplcxed by the refusal IL was one q the dsap-
pointments that met him at every turn. was pema-
ture he writes Lord Dartmouth, Oct B. IVA, in tell
ing your orship that the Boston artihcers would work
for U.S. This refusal has thrown us into difficulties He
sent to NewYOr for wOrkmen The Boston mechanics,
through their Committee sent letter, expressing their
confidence that the tradesmen OF NewlOrk would treat
the application it deserved The Governor was at
length successful in getting mechanics from New-YOrk
and other places work for him. The patriotic mechan
les Boston doomed TO long season OF trial and
suffering" The officials of the town were ms energetic
as the people Clubs abOunded throughout the place.
Caucses in frequent session, and were attended by
all the powerful and leading of the time We were
SO careful" Paul Revere writes, that our meetings
should be kept secret that every time we met every
person swole upon the Bible that he would pot dis
cover Of transactions but to Messrs Hancock,
Adams. Drs. Warren, Church, and one or two more"
The Boston press expressed in every variety OF way
the popular sentiment which was thus cultivated
by pulpit and rostrIm and cherished in the club
and caucus The town was for years the theater Of
intense popular feeling and untiring popular action
Singled out special object Of royal wrath, its business
was withdrawn its port closed, its numerous shpyards
were silent its people rapidly reduced TO poverty
and want And yet while bowed down with all this suf
ferng and sorrow her people kept watch on the dan
gers which surrounded the country and forgot not the
exposure OF those who removed from the immediate
scene Of conflict The spre OF Christ Church. where
we are now assembled famed forth in the beginning, and
the woIshipers of Chriss Church. inspired with spirit
OF patriotism time went erected within these walls
the first monument dedicated TO him whose faith and
courage delivered his country from the Ogpressor and
whose wisdom guided her in her infancy.
DEVELOPMENT OF A NATION.
While contemplating with admiration this proud and
/ IL Do htirI rnl wa