Morning journal and courier., 1888-06-15

 But it is not altogether military greatness that we honor to-day; it is loyalty to manhood and to truth and to country. He spoke then of and compared two Connecticut military heroes, Putnam and Arnold, and the vast difference ultimately in their careers. He then spoke of the America of to-day where are gathered men of so many nationalities and races. The history of countries was largely made up of the work of its great men. This was then illustrated by the speaker by historic parallels-by reference to Marcus Aurelius, Columbus, Gladstone and Peel; and in our own land, Winthrop and Hooker, Washington, Adams, Hamilton. Putnam, Ethan Allen. Referring to Yale he said: Our ancient seat of learning at New Haven was very furnace of patriotism. In 1774, Dr. President) Stiles wrote "there is to be another Runnymede in New England" In 1779, President Nathali Daggett, with his fowling piece blazing away at British regu- lars, made the most picturesque single DOT through the war 8 tutor, but afterwards president, one of Ameriea's chief educators, Timothy Dwight, whose distinguished grandson and successor to-day leads our worship of Almighty God, was firing the young men of Yale with that burning patriotism which prepared them so well for the prominent part which they were SOSAA tAeJ Of the small number of alumni upon Yals's catalogue in the days of the revolution 2S4 rendered conspicuous personal service upon the battlefield. The universities have been the friends of freedom. Bigotry and tyranny are exercised from the human mind, as evil spirits, by the influence of intelligence and education and culture. an influence covering and ble ssing both the learned and the un- learned.
 You will not expect an extended sketch of our hero toaday-enly now and then leaf from his life. Salem had the honor of his birth in 171S, and well did he repay the obli- gations of his Massachusetts, nativity by the defense and deliveranee which he brought to her territory. He was of sturdy English blood, and, curiously enough, the family crest was wolf's head.
 hs was conspicuous leader in athletic sports. When he visited Boston for the first time, and his rural appearance excited uncomplime comment from 8 city youth of twice his size, who chaffed him in a way to which thess country boy was not accus- toned, young Israel proceeded to amuse the Boston people, who even st that early day the champions belt. by thorough, if not scientific pounding of his antagonist. He was first married at 21 years ot age, and at once moved to Pomfret. He settled at Mortlske, and became large pro- prietor of land. Here, in industry and do- mestie virtue, he persued the hardy life of a Connecticut farmer. He was fond of horses and was interested in stock breeding. Here occurred the wolf's den incident, story which will be told to reverent and admiring boys as classic so long as boys admire pluck and bravery-which may it be as long as grass growsi In the French and Indian war, beginning as captain under Sir William Johnson in 1753, he continued in service until his final return from Canada, in 1762.
 In speaking of the life of Putnam the ora tor said: In looking at the great deliveran ce from the expressions of England in our war for independence we are sometimes tempted to forget the importance of the earlier strug- gles in which our fathers fought, as British eoloniste, against the aggressions of France upon the north. The career of Putnam in these earliest wars was as romantic as the journeys and battles of &neas and as real as martyrdom- In the forests and swamps and fields, in rapids and creeks and on the lakes, by night and by day, in reeonnoitre or bush fight or battle line, as scout or as company leader, in charge of battalion or in single combat he was tireless in action, fertile in expedients, absolutely insonsible to fear and almost invariably @ victor
 For the next twelve or more years after the French and Indian war Putnam remain ed at home an object of admiration and love by his neighbors and many friends. He was honored by civil office and enjoyed the hearty esteem of the colonists.
 We claim for Putnam an intuition of the coming independence, which few, even of the most radical of the fathers, dared to hope for. A complete successful separation and 8 new republic were things which great and wise leaders regarded as hardly to be de- sired, still less to be expected.
 When the stamp act was passed, Putnam inspired the measures more forcible than po- lite, and when the port bill oppressed Bos- ton Putnam sent on supplies, openly declar- ing that their blood was but type of the sacrifice they were willing to make in the common defense. And when the tidings of Lexington came, the old prophet saw the morning in whose twilight he had been watching. Putnam was thoroughly of the people. His call to the major generalship was by vox pepuli, which stood not upon proprieties of order in promotion.
 The call came soon. It found him in the field. Leaving his oxen unloosed and mount ing his horse he rode to Boston to the fight which he saw had come, and had come to stay until it should be forever settled upon principles of freedom and right. He forsook his home and the joys of domestic life to serve the people without Q hesitating look or word. He returned from Massachusetts for troops, and was appointed a general by Con- necticut.
 It was but few weeks from Lexington to Bunker Hill.
 Three weeks after the battle Samuel B. Webb wrote from the seat of war at Cam bridge:
 ''You will find that Generals Washington aud Lee are vastly prouder and think higher of Putnam than of any man in the army, and he, truly, is the hero of the day."
 The story of Putnams career from Bunker Hill until his paralysis in the winter of 1779-80 is deeply interesting. He had his share, and no more, of the i'll fortunes of the and he had his full share of suc- cess. He fought .he so-called battle of Long Island under circumstances for which he was not responsible, but which made success inn possible; he conducted the retreat through the present limits of the city of New York before the superior forces of Lord Howe with characteristic fearlessness and courage. His discriminating eye selected the heights of West Point As basis of operations he captured hundreds, probably thousands, of prisoners in the Jerseys; he beat the bullets of the British dragons as he rode down to follow him, and SO aroused the admira- ticn and wonder of Governor Tryon, of odi- ous memory. that he sent him new cap for the one which had been ventilated by Brit ish musket ball. He replied to the naughty demand of British officers for the return of Cne spy EQmund Ealmer h Sucn accurate and concise terms that the letter has passed into classic literature.
 It was not to be that Putnam's voice should thunder commands and his sword flash in the final victories. The horrible shock of his captivity in the earlier war, the reaction from his wearied life of exposure, the strain of his ong ride to Concord and Boston, as glorious and heroic as Paul Revere's, had searched through the joints of eTen his matchless har- ness. As he was on his way to headquar- sers, at sixty-one years of age, the wild throbs of his noble heart pressed too sorely upon ais aching brain, and the strong man fell, those muscles which never before had refused ,o obey the commands of his sovereign will gave no response. It was sad ride back to his loved Mortlake, and the fields which le had made green, and the focks which he had guarded, and the friends or whom he had long hazarded his life. But { wes to be. He must wait, with moist eyes md lifted prayer, for the good end of whose coming he made no doubt For eleven years, with uncleuded miRd, until the surrender of Corvallis, and the final peace, and the rec ignition of the Union by the European na- ions, and the adoption of the constitution nd the oath of the first president, watched y admiring friends, telling over and over gain the adventures and victories of the ,ast, he lived close to the spot where he now leeps, until the 29th of May, 1700, when he vent on to join the patriot Governor, Jona- han Trumbull, and the patriot martyr, Na- han Hale, and to wait awhile to welcome Washington and Lafayette.
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