The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-06-04
Americas First Rebellion

Some time in 1893, . certain man had
made himself obnoxious by entering
his still ct the excise Office. His build.
ing was thereupon cut to pieces, which
process was humorously called mend
ing IL, the ~mendersi" were, By
further stretch Of fancy, called stink-
ers." Each member was tinker. and
then and there the opposition to the
excise laws labeled itself "rom the
Tinker" On the forest trees commence
ed to appear threatening letters,
signed by "Tom the Tinker" .Tom
the Tinker's' awful chirography stared
scores of unoflending distillers excise
men, and Government informers from
the sides Of barns and houses, order.
ing them to enroll themselves under
his banner, surrender their commits
sions or puhlis1 card admitting their
submission to his authority in the Pitts
burgh Gazette. The mob element had
surely assumed party name which
had the ring Of Democracy to it, and IL
is actually fact that "Tom, the Tink-
or" come to be applied, with due seri.
BUSINESS and respect, to anyone who was
known to be opposed to the laws-to
even such orderly gentlemen as Albert
Gallatin, Edward Cook. Fl. II. Brack-
enridge, and William Findley. (The
two latter were members of the Assem-
bly, from Allegheny and Westmoreland
Counties.) Liberty poles were also
raised In the disaffected region BY this
mischievous "Will-o'- the Wisp." from
which faunted such inscriptions g sAn
equal tax and no excise" and "United
we stand. divided we fall" But very
soon the popular frenzy, marshaled IN
der the shadow Of the impersonsl
"Tom," commenced to bo directed by
individuals. During the winter Of
1884. whan the laws appeared to be
gaining ground, and many Of the dis
tillers had signified their intention to
abide BY them, an association was
formed in the vicinity Of Inspector Ne
ville's home, which. BY the most violent.
WAS considered as friendly to "Tem the
Tinker. but. BY the caut,sus, it Is said
to have had for its object tho checking
Of the popular fury and the confinin0
Of i 20 petitions and legitimate meas
ures Of opposition. II was called the
Mingo Greek Society and consisted Of
battalion Of the Washington County
militia, to be governed BY President
and council. the latter TO be chosen
every six months by the people Of the
several Captains districts. No person
holding either State or o United
States Office could be elected President
but the society had the power Of 'sre-
commanding capable persons to the
legislative bodies. II its members had
any grievances which they wished re-
dressed they were to apply to the 90
ciety for relief, rather than TO any court
Of justice. This was certainly IN or.
ganization which was alarmingly alike
smilitary tribunal, and strange in
stitution 10 b established In free rep-
resentative country, whose very bulk.
ward Of safety was supposed to Be- her
civil courts. But its career was too
short to be very mischievous, though
there Is no doubt that eventually this
society hooame the machine through
which the designing David Bradford
hoped to organize an irresistible insur-
rection against the United States Gov
eInment go Magazine Of Americas
AietOru.