The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-14
SONS OF THE REVOLUTION
TIE CAUSES WaIr H LED TO THEIR
ORGANIZATION.

]
The Society's Objects-The Perpetual
ton Of the Memory OF the Heroes of
the Revolution Its Chief Purpose.
The Men Whose Memory the Geor-
gia Society Has to Honor.
The response Of Col. John screven 20 the
''SOciety Of the Sons Of the Revolution at
the society's first annual dinner last Monday
night at the De Soto was Of an historical
character, showing the causei which led to
the formation Of the society and its great
advantage over the Socisty OF the Cincln,
natl, whose membership. so far as Ameri-
cans were concerned, was wholly coafned
70 commissioned and brovet officers Of the
army and navy Of the United States, bar
ring all the ether patriots of the revolution
whose services were rs essential to the
cause as those Of the officers.
Col. Soreven's speech was delivered in bis
usually eloquent style, and was Of a highly
entertaining nature.
He said:
This society having adopted the constitution
OF the general society Of the Sons Of the ReVO-
luton, their objects are identical. namely: ITO
perpetuate the memory Of the men. who in the
military, naval and civil service of the colonies
and Of the continental congress- by their acts or
counsel achieved American independence and
TO turther the commemoration OF the anniyer-
sarles anu the prominent events connected with
the war OF the revolution; to collect and secure
for preservation the traditions. rolls, records,
and other documents, public or private,
relating TO that period 10 inspire the members
OF the society with the patriotic spirit Of their
1oretathers, aud to promote the feeling OF
friendship among themselves. To become
member OF the association taking suoh high
IN IFS
that any male person above she age of ~
years, OF good character. and a descendants OF
one who, as military, marine, or naval officer,
sailor. or marine, in actual service under the
authority OF any Of the thlIteen colonies or
states. or OF the continental congress, and re-
naming always loyal to such authority, or
descendant OF one who signed the declaration
OF independence, or of one. who, as a member Of
the continental congress, or of the congress of
any of the colonies or states, an officer ap-
pointed By or under the authority Of such legis
lative bodies, actually assisted 10 the establish
meat OF American independence by services
rendered during the war OF the revolution, be-
came thereby liable to conviction OF treason
against tne government OF Great Britain, but
remaining always loyal to the authorities of the
colonies OF states, shall be eligible to member
ship in the society"
WIDER ORGANIZATION
have thus taken the liberty Of presenting
these clauses OF our constitution In order that
such gentlemen as have not had access to tue
purposes OK the society aud tire necessary
qualifications Of its members Hitherto the
oniy association in this country intended TO pro
mote the same objects is the Society OF the
Cincinnati whose membership, so far as Ameri-
cans we're concerned, was wholly confined to
commissioned and brevet officers OF the army
and navy OF the United States This limitation
Of Nom bership to O Circumscribed class of tho
patriots of the revolution may have bsen Justly
adapted to the conditions of the times in which
1t was established; but il barred from admission
to the order all oJ5ers of the patriots of the
revolution, whose services we're as essential to
the cause OF American liberty as those OF the
commissioned officers OF the continental or
United states army. Civil officers of the state
or colonial governments of the most emf
nent character, distinguished for great abilities
Tor severe personal sacrifices, and unstlnted de
votion, without whom any form of govern
mental or political organization and the con-
duct Of the cause itself were impossible were ex-
Guided So, too, the non comm issioned OiiicsrB of
the continental army and OF the state militia
were Ineligible for membership. Sir William
Narler, the distinguished author Of the history
OF the peninsular war, wrote that the humber
classes Of a nation are always the most patriotic
Ia time OF war. In no Instance was this more
slgnally true than in the American revolution,
when tre farmer, who shouldered his musket
and went to the front, left his nome to be
plundered, his family to almost certain suffering
and want. Throwing out Of view the great fact
tnat armies and navies are OF the people, and
without the people are impossible, who ,will
venture to deny the Individual valor OF the
soldiers and seamen OF the revolution the SEQ
men OF Paul Jones, Barney, and Nicholson--tne
soldiers of ashngton, Gates, Greene, Lincoln,
wayne, and Marion, and if we turn to own
beloved state, whose ravaged soil WAS red with
elood from Augusta to Sunbury, the impet-
uous soldiers OF James jackson, who won the
Keys OF Savannah.
THE VALIANT JASPER.
In this same city, within short bowshot OF the
spot, wlere Col Walton with his 100 Georgia
militia held the rear Of the American liue until
the forces OF Gen. Howe had passed in disorder
and panic-Witnin short bOwShot of that sDOt ia
erected monument OF bronze to the heroic
memory o Sergt. William Jasper, simple ser
geant in the Second South Carolina regiment a
soldier without commission; but the fame of
whose career has passed to all the borders of
this vast country: whose name identifies public
places, towns and counties, and has q page in
universal biography yet the descendants of this
INDUSTRIOUS eXempar or American valor and
patriotism, nor yet Sergt Jasper himself, had
h lived, could tnd place in the oa3y asSocia
ton hitherto dedicated 20 the sacred memories
of the revolution! So, too, the heroes OF the
transcendent victory OF Kings mountain, where
900 of the sturdy yeomanry of the lexhanies,
htching their horses at the foot of the mount
ain, and advancing every man for himself, slew
and captured ! 100 British regulars and tories
On this occasion Col. Cleveland. when about to
lead his division to the attack, told his men that
every man must consider himself an officer
and act from his own judgment a
II any of you are afraid, such have leave TO
retire, and they are requested immediately to
take themselves of" And yet neither Camp
bell nor Cleveland Shelby, Scott nor Williams,
all OF whom were colonies, but of militia. not
the brave yeomen who were to consider Them.
selves officers, these noble citzen-sodiers who
had brought hops and fresh courage to the
American cause. then sinking to despair in
South Carolina, nor any of their descendants
could be enrolled in the olympan sanctuary of
the Cincinnati
It is very far from my purpose or desire to
depreciate the high merits Of the Society OF tho
Cincinnati Organized In 1888, by officers Of the
revolutionary army of the United States to
perperuate their friendship and to raise fund
for the relief Of the widows aud orphans Of
comrades who had lost their lives in the war
its objects we're OF the most exalted character,
and should have forbidden such Americans as
Benjamin Franklin To fear, that it was the in
ulation of a future arisu0cracy. But what was
Achilles without his Myrmidons, Alexander
without his Macedonian phalanx, Caesar with
out the Tenth Legion, Napoleon without the
Imperial Guard, or Washington without the
ragged but indomitable militia who spranc up
from the PiscataQua to the Aliamaha and
with their bloody bayonets laid the foundation
OF this transcendent republic?
NOBLE PURPOSE.
And SO The Society of the Sons OF the Revo-
luton" las been orEanized to supply a def
ciency akin to national IN its demands, TO fulfil
duty which in times past was either neglected
or impossible aad before it became too late 20
re-establish and effectually perpctuate the
memory OF the services of all classes OF patri-
OTIS, who Loyalty served ia any capacity whether
civil or military. the cause of American liberty.
Nor is this an expression OF mere sentiment in
its common 0cceptat ion although il mas been said
that sentiment moves the world The whole
American people, but p6cuh- ~ the pOsLerity