Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-14
coNsrIrUrIoNAL LIBERTY.
Senator Hawley Tells of Connecticut's Share
in Promoting IL.

IN khUanOtAuB H
The third Of the series of lectures given to
the Daughters Of the American Revolution by
representative men Of the thirteen original
colonies was delivered last evening in the red
parlor OF the Riggs House, which. through the
courtesy Of Col. Staples, has been put at the
disposal Of the ladies Of the national society
for the season. Mrs. Walworth presided in the
absence of Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Cabell The lee
turer Of the evening was Senator Hawley, and
the subject was brilliant sketch of Connecti-
cuts share in promoting constitutional liberty
and revolutionary success.
He spoke enthusiastically Of the wonderful
nation that has sprung from tho humble
colonial beginnings and said we now have a
historical consciousness, and might spend n
lifetime in studying American history and in
being prond Of 1t; that when he thought Of it
he found himself going off in a Fourth Of July
GRAFTON. Our inventions and material progress
were admirable, but what thrilled him to
remember was our perfection Of government
on the letter Of the book. We have accepted
logically the teachings Of our fathers that all
men are equal; civilly and politically the
statute protects all; women occupy q better
position here than in any land; the moral,
physical and mental life of the country is
superior, and while the moral life might be
improved, as it always can in the way Of per-
lection, still. by the letter of the book, We are
An ideal people.
THE MINISTER'S POSITION.
The chief man in each colony was the minis
ter. who not only preached twice on Sunday
and several times during the week, but led his
people in learning and patriotism. The second
IN authority was the senior selectman, the
father q the town. whose duty it was to adj
minister all civic affairs and look out for the
poor. The third was the captain Of the militia.
who commanded the forces Of his own town.
ship, II numerous, and those of the ncighbor-
ing town Gas we'll as his OWN, il both were
small. Tho fourth was the. dominic, and this
energetic quartet gave the people fOur-fold
education, while the system Of electing and
governing gave them training in politics and
made them think and reflect ON their duties to
the general government.
The state was federalist in its politics, follow
ing Washington, and was one of the first to
urge closer bond at the end Of the struggle,
for 1t saw the impossibility OF maintaining
armies, navies and general government when
congress could only request the states to pay
taxes. 1t saw clearly that the colonies as q
whole we're incompetent by reason Of their in
dividuality
The wise men in the united colonies counsels
urged strong central union, and they seemed
almost to have a clairvoyant vision Of what
such union would make of the young nation =
the home OF liberty, the watch tower of free
dom, the path of safe government-and on the
stage OF Independence Hall they made speeches
that wore prophecies.
THEY BUILT WISELY.
They built-no people ever built 30 wisely,
and the American Constitution is the most
wonderful work Of human hands.
Books were few in number in those days. and
there was not much time for amusements. but
there were ''raisings," cuttings. corn huskiugs
and country dances. No art, and but little
bric-a-brac, until the sailor boys began to bring
home the porcelains and earrings of China and
India. No luxuries until the same lads brought
crepes and silks, tea. spices and perfumes
Rag carpets were tokens OF such taste and skill
and industry that venerable minister on
being shown q very pretty one in the west end
OF Long Island looked long at its pattern"
then, turning to the maker, said: "What, all
this and heaven tool"
But this life gave a splendid moral muscu-
larity to the people. They believed in some
thing. The land was pervaded by belief in
God and duty, and that makes land and o
people amount to something.
At the conclusion of Senator Hawley's ad-
dress Miss Hallowell played delightfully."- and
Mrs. Ellen Harden Walworth arose and ex-
planned the absence of Miss Jayne. who was to
have read paper on Bennington. In her place
Mrs. Walworth read an extract from her own
book. 'The Battles of Saratoga and the North
ern Campaign" relating to the same, and illus
trated it by the extraordinary and interesting
relics lent by Miss Robinson for the occasion.