Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-12-24
THE BLOODY SHIRT.
a Phrase That May Have Sprung from :.
Incident I'm scs.tti.a M.

ase That May Have sprunr fror, :.
incident I'm Scottish History.
a snort time since my attention was
attracted to an inquiry in the / am;s'
V,iie Courier-Journal as to the origin
q the popular phrase The Bloody
ohift. The answer given To H.
query ascribes it to the recent ,,er;oJ
=, reconstruction. Contrary to the
prevailing belief, this political weapon
was forged and effectively used LONG
before any differences had arisen he.
tween certain portions OF our Union
ana before, in fact, a union of states
existed. " e'a''s
The incident which gave the ex.
preston birth is to some extent lao.
eendary, and is related by Sir Walter
scott In the preface to his novel .sRoh
Roy, and briefly is as follows; The
clan MacGregor possessed lands and
y. aocks which excited the cupidity Of
s s less fortunate neighbors, who, by
force and other methods, gradually
9espoIied them OF their property and
drove them from their homes. The
can, thus impoverished resisted the
Entertainments upon their rights. and
In The frequent collisions that occurred
USED every temporary advantage
they, gained cruelty enough. Their
conduct, which was perhaps not I'M.
natural under the circumstances was
studiously represented at the capital
Us arising from an innate and untam
ape ierocity, for which the only rem
edy was determination.
These suggestions resulted in the
prescription Of the clan by act Of the
privy council at Sterling, and per
mission was given certain powerful
chieilains to pursue the MacGregors
with lire and sword, and all persons
were prohibited from affording them
meat, drink or shelter. AS might be
expected, civilization progressed very
slowly during this period. and The
MacGregors, feeling all the severity of
the law and none Of its protection, be-
came wilder and more lawless than
ever. AS the legend runs, two men
OF the clan MacGregor, overtaken by
night, asked shelter from a dependent
OF the Colquhouns, and, on being re-
FUSED, retired to an clubhouse. seized a
wedder from the fold. and supped fru-
gaily Oft the carcass. for which they
offered payment The laird of Luss.
hearing OF this enforced hospitality.
caused the offenders to be apprehended
and summarily executed.
10 avenge this act the MacGregors
assembled to the number of several
hundred, and marched toward Luss.
blr, Humphrey Colquhoun received
early notice of the raid, and as
sembled an army of superior numbers
to meet them. A battle took place in
the valley of Glenfruin (Glen of Sor-
row. where, encouraged by the proph-
ecy of seer, and aided by a superior
position and skillful generalship, the
MacGregors were victorious, pursuing
the enemy furiously, and mercilessly
slaughtering all who were unable TO
escape.
This battle and the fury of the pro-
scribed clan were reported to King
James vi in manner most unfavora-
BILE to that unfortunate clan, and. more
strongly to impress that IMPRESSIONS
bic monarch. the widows of the slain
to the number of eleven score, dressed
III mourning, riding on white pal
flTys, and each bearing her husbands
bloody shirt upon the point of a
spear, appeared before the king at
Sterling, and demanded vengeance
upon those who had made their homes
desolate. By act of privy council A.
d. 1913, the old acts against the clan
were revived, and others of the great
est severity enacted The bloody
shirt had unquestionably accom-
plished its purpose.-New York Tri-
3 bune