The Portland daily press., 1892-02-23

WuIGu Uu6y WSIO JILL.
Our people are more migratory IN
their dispositions, and SO much interest
ing family history, that will also be of
great use for local and state records, will
be lost to the world unless we, in our
| efforts through the society, succeed in
perpetuating them.
Therefore, let me urge upon all the
! necessity of aiding in the up-building OF
our membership"
Mayor True
was next introduced and spoke of Port
land in the Revolution:
Mr.. President and gentlemen: 1t is
highly desirable from the PATRIOTS point
of view, that the spirit of '76 be trans
mitted to our children even to the latest
generation, and in no way can this end
be more surely attained, than by this So
ciety.
Our local association will be highly in
huential if it's history shall answer to the
place which belongs to, Portland in the
events of the Revolution. That war is
one of the few fully justified, equally by
it's occasion, and by the event. 1t raised
our fathers to the first rank of patriots,
and launched our country ON career
which will not end till it has surpassed
every other recorded in history. And of
all the towns in New England, Boston
alone rivals the just fame of Portland
for the spirit of heroic patriotism dis
played by her citizens. And New Eng
land was far in advance of the Central
and Southern Colonies in her readiness
to resist the oppressive laws of the Brit
ish Parliament.
The Stamp Act of 1865 was assailed in
both places, and in Portland copies of it
were no sooner received at the Custom
House, that they were seized and con-
sumed in a bonfire.
The closing of the Port of Boston was
as severely condemned here as there, and
practical aid was extended to the people
| of that town. The resolution to, drink
no tea was speedily passed, and the bold
act of the Boston tea-party heartily APP
plauded.
But the time to try mems souls did
not fully arrive till Mowatt appeared
with his war vessels. l will not detain
YOU to discuss the occasion Of his APP
pearing, the circumstances being familiar
to you all.
Doubtless the original apprehension of
Mowatt by Colonel Thompson, was
rash and impolitic act. 1t was promptly
disowned by the people of Portland
then old Falmouth. Mowatt's captors
were not Portland men, ana the town
could not be held responsible fol-. that
act by any candid construction of the
deed.
Suffice it to say that, at the last mo-
ment, the town would have been spared,
if the people of Portland had preferred
safety to honor, OF property to patriot
ism.
Winter was approaching, but they
chose to brave cold and exposure to
many privations, rather than, in a cow
ardly way consent to give up their arms
of every description. 1t was the decis
ion of brave men and true patriots, de-
cision of which their descendants are
justly proud.
From patriotic point of view, their
resolution cannot be too highly applaud
ed; for the bombardment of the town
aroused a spirit of resistance, which
spread rapidly over the whole country,
and was one Of the most potent inf1u-
ences that prepared the way for the
Declaration of independence which fol-
| lowed in few months.
Moreover, it changed the sentiment of
| the colonies and taught them to regard
| the English as no longer their country
men, but their enemies, from whose can
non no defenceless community was safe.
| This temper once aroused, it could be
and was appeased only by an acknowl-
edgement of our independence of Great
Britain, and that these then colonies
were, of right and in fact, independent
| States forever.
If then the people of Portland had done
no more, the brave stand they took at the
outset, before even Independence was de-
clared, would have secured us place
second to no other in the annals of the
| Revolution.
But this was not all. Far from it, 1t
was only the beginning firmly adhered
to. For instance, when an order came
from the General Court to enlist four
hundred men in Portland, the reply was,
Impossible, for nearly every able bodied
man has gone to join the army at Cam
bridge"
Later On, however, numerous compan-
les were raised, and neatly an entire reg
iment for the expedition to Bagaduce.
Fort Allen was erected on the hill, the
remains of which are visited by thous-
paired or completed at the foot of India
and of Free street. Fort Allen alone. not
to speak Of others erected at Portland
Head and beyond, secured the town from
further molestation.
1t is no part of my purpose to sift the
evidence relating to the order for Now
ats bombardment. This question be-
longs properly to the discussion of our
Historical Society, where it has been
thoroughly considered. But it does not
affect the patriotic action of our town,
and this is the lesson we are to keep in
our mind and teach our children'S chill
dren to the latest generation.
For as we began, so should we contin-
lie. 1t is not for us or those who shall
come after JUS to claim exemption from
efforts or sacrifices because of the deeds
of our ancestors. Nor can we justly
share in their fame unless we emulate
and even rival their devotion to the good
old town as well as to the country which
they did their part to constitute, and
which we must do ours to perpetuate at
any and all hazards.
Mr. President, 1 should be happy to
say more, but your time will not permit
Speaking for the city, 1 will add a senti-
ment for our society, -Esto perpetual.
Messrs Shaw and Thurston, who were
present with large, old-fashioned song
book, full of patriotic songs, were next
introduced, and gave the good old tea