The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-04
SOME NEW BOOKG
A Tow u,..-y Of .As Revss-t,su.

marknbe book now published by the New York |
Historical Society. Again and again the story |
OF the Revolutionary war has been recited In |
works more or less elaborate and authorita- |
tive. from the American and from the English
points Of view. But here 10 an account OF the
causes and Incidents Of the contest set down by
an eye witness. who was neither an alien nor a
patriot but belonged to that large and influen-
tial class OF colonists stigmatlzed ne Tories but
known among themselves by tho honorable
name OF loyalists. Their version OF the tale
had not been told. and. for that reason. peculiar
interest attaches to n man uscrpt beuueathed to
his descendants by a distinguished colonial
magistrate, associated by marriage with the
great De Laneey injection. which upheld with
real and fortitude the cause OF the mother coun-
Try In the province OF New York. This manu-
script edited and supplemented with numerous
notes by EDWARD FLOYD DE LANcEY, is Issued
under the title OF History Of Ne,c York During
a. Revolutionary War. By THOMAS JONES. JUS
tica OF the Supreme Court OF the province ZAP
plstonsl.
II is we'll that the publication ofthis outspoken
hook was deferred to the present time. Twenty
year, aRo II would doubtless have produced a
sensation. but it's utility to the candid student
vOuld have been much eurtailed by preiudees
- yet mistaken. 1t required the frightfu
calamity Of a civil war 10 dscredit the doctrine
81 fidelity to an established Government The
editor OF this striking narrative dwells on the
shock to those ideas OF loyalty" and loyal
rDen" OF rebellion and rebels, current among US
ND 10 1850 which was oceasioned by the out
hreak and the crushing OF the secession move
menl Americans then learned by experience.
and IN way not TO be- forgotten. that loyalty
may be virtue. that the supporters OF the
-povors that be- may not be unworthy OF
nd NJ ha rtuhf I'M 70
put down rebels and rebellion with a strong
hand. A precisely similar view Is shown by
Mr.. Jones's history to have been taken by very
hrEO masses OF the people In the British colo
abs when the Revolutionary war broke out and
not till very lato period Of that contest were
nj led 10 change II. And when the change did
coma II would seem 10 have been produced
azsfe as much by the weak. bad. and tmid pol
seq OF tho British Government. and the in
famous and corrupt conduct Of it's commanders
In chief. as by the craftsmanship OF the CONT
nental Congress and the military achievements
Of IN armies. And just as many Of tho Union
men at the South were Shareholders. and de-
nonncod the anti-slavory agitation. so there
enn be no greater error than to suppose that tn g
loynsts OF a century ago were willing rs a body
% submit TO extreme exactions on the part Of
this mother country. and TO tue worst encroach-
ments OF the Crown on their rights and liberties
grievances. but they wished to conquer their
redress with the powerful Weapons which the
Constitution OF England gave to them as
20 other Englishmen. Those weapons. freedom
Of speech and freedom OF the press. they shared
with the English people tho bulk OF which at
TINT date and for half century afterward
1abored under the same grievance OF disfran-
shisement The Wing politicians who clamored
for representation in Parliament seem to have
81 .hnte 81 l.aG. 81.
tation ffty years before the first reform bill
In 1859 Lord Chatham had been forced into
power and he was to be forced there again. not
because he reflected the ideas OF a small cleo
torai body but because he incarnated the will
81 a vast non-voting population. BY such =
tcrior political pressure the colonial loyalists
hoped to constrain the home Government TO a
change OF policy. or TO hurl It from Office.
Their enemy was the Ministry OF Lord North.
no, the Crown OF England to which they had
sworn allegiance. and whose outlay on their
behalf no trivial but exasperating taxes levied
or proposed were likely TO reimburse In d
word. there was no argument employed by the
Colonial Wings In 1776 10 vindicate secession
which would not have justified the masses Of
the people In the parent State in tumultuoui
uprising and subversion Of the social fabric
As II was. ministerial folly in England cooper
Atsd with what tho author OF this history es
frastrate a constitutional aud pacific settlement
Of the questions in dispute.
That the SUCCESS OF the American Revolution
turned on the attitude OF New York will hardl
be questioned by those who consider the ante
eedsnts and vicisstudes Of the struggle. Tn,
materials collected In these volumes throw
much light upon the state OF things in that cen
trail colony during the first three quarters Of thu
siahteenth century. and It is clear that the
As-sas ~ antuv ra1 and
waited. II 1t was not positively ENGINEERED by
the rivalry OF two great families. tho Living
stons and the De Lanceys. II Is probable tn n
the germs OF rebellion might have been sti1oC
after the repeal Of the Stamp act had the Living
stons who represented the popular side gained
control Of the assembly and OF the colonial ad
niRistration. Constrained. however. by defea
at the polls. 10 continue and emphasize the
posture OF opposition. they were gradually i'm
PEELED by the logic OF events toward the sanction
Of overt rebellion. Their influence was felt be
yond the bounds OF their own province. for thei
adhesion gave n weight and dignity 10 the Wits
party In New York. which 1t cannot be said L
have possessed in other colonies. Neither IL
Massachusetts Pen nsy lvania. nor In VirRinii
Werethe great territorial magnAtes. or the name
associated with high colonial office found amonl
che advocates Of Independence. Mr.. George
Washington was a gentleman. but before hi
mNrrlhRe inc great lophccO lpfub OF inc hdpDh
hammock and the James would have counted
him o very small one. while the distinguish,
families OF Philadelphia and Boston could no
forget that Mr.. benjamin Franklin was
printers boy. and Mr.. John Adams the son Of
shoemaker. In New York, on the other hand
the endorsement Of the most radical demand
by the Livingston connection actually arrayet
upon that side u prepondsranee OF the landed
interest 1t is worth while. therefore. to glance
at the relative position and resources OF tw'
families. whose contention had such large Do
iitiea results. Such a review is now invested
with peculiar interest. because the monopoly o
exposition heretofore enjoyed by the successful
party IL now boldly Neutrality-suspicious. after
the silence OF a century the De Lanceys have a
last found a champion. and secured rehear
inR OF the cause which seemed 10 be foreVe
settled when the New York act Of attainder VIA
carried out in 1888.
The first Livingston. and the first De Lancoy
reached America at nearly the same epoch anC
II