The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-04
IspEPESpEScE DAY.

and whose brother, Samuel Morris, was
Tory and became a general in the British
army, agrees with John Adams in saying
that probably a popular majority were
against the colonies and with the king.
Benjamin Franklin's illegitimate son was
e stiff Tory and governor OF New Jersey,
and in his will Benjamin Franklin de-
nounces the unpatriotic conduct of his son.
There is no doubt that few men. like
Washington, Franklin. Sam Adams,
John Adams. Richard Henry Lee.
Jefferson, the Clintons in New York,
the Rutledges in South Carolina.
were the successful leaders Of pop
ular minority Of the people during the
Revolution. The Scotch Presbyterian
coionists of New England Pennsylvania.
the Carolinas and Georgia were bitter
enemies of the king, dreading the creation
Of an established church in America more
than they did taxation without repre-
sentation." The strength of the Tory
party in the colonies is shown by the fact
that when Sir Henry Clinton evacuated
New York city after the peace OF 1888 no
less than 5000 Americans left this coun-
try and settled on the British Maritime
provinces and in Ontario. Had it not
been for the aid received from France in
the shape Of men, money. ships. arms and
munitions of war after the defeat of Bur-
goyne in October, 1777, the colonies would
surely have been subjugated by the king.
When the Declaration of Independence
was uttered by the Continental congress
July 4. 1776. there was small popular faith
In democratic government. Even after
independence had been won Hamilton
favored giving Washington a semblance
of royal prerogatiye, and property quail
ficatioh for voting was required in every
state. Our assertion of independence on
July 4. l776 was the outcome of opportu-
nifty: OF indirect incentive of long stand
ing. and finally of proximate and direct
cause. The peace of 1853 by which the
colonies were relieved from the fear of
French aggression on the north and of
Spanish aggression on the south, fur
nished the opportunity OF the American
revolution. The incentives to separation
were first, the attempts of the royal gov
ernors at arbitrary rule in An erica, and
the contest and irritation arising over the
question OF the royal prerogative; sec
ondly, the commercial restrictions i'm
posed by the English navigation acts and
laws of trade, and their obviously mis-
chievous effects upon colonial interests.
In 1855 Sir Edmund Andrus came TO
America with the intention of depriying
certain colonies of their charters. and the
colonists resisted on precisely the same
grounds which their descendants took
nearly a century later. claiming for them
selves the ancient rights of Englishmen,
guaranteed by their charters. and denying
the right of the mother country to inter
iere in their internal affairs.
Had there been 1000. 900 people in Amer
lea then instead of 10000 the Revolution
would probably have occurred hundred
years earlier. The signers of the great
declaration of i7T6 recited among their
Specifications the fact that the king had
refused his assent TO laws the most whole
some for the public good: he had forbidden
governors 10 pass laws of pressing import
accommodation of the people. unless the
people would relinqnish their right of
representation; he had repeatedly dis
solved representative houses for opposing
royal invaslons of popular rights, and be
had attempted TO make governors and
judges dependent upon his will alone for
their tennres and salaries.
Colonial taxation was announced by
Lord Grenville in l764: il was the stamp
act and the vindlcuve and offensive
measures which followed IL that irrepara-
bly, ahensted the eolonists. The English
historian Lecky pronounced the stamp
act. measured by its ultimate eonse-
qaenees. as one of the most momentous
pieces Of legislation ia the history of man
kind. Lecky SAYS this stamp act. though
Il was by no means as unjust or unreason-
able as has been alleged. did unquestion-
ably infringe upon principle which the
English race. both az home aud abroad.
/ have always regarded With peculiar
| jealousy" The doctrine that in free ma.
lions taxation aud representation are in
l separately connected. and that no people
Z can be legit,matelY taxed sxeept by them
I selves or their Representatives Law al the
very root OF the English conception Of
/ political liberty. Ii IS true that the starnp
| act Was presently repealed. with the result
/ that for the moment the clamor Of the
eolonis,s vas hushed. But when Town
| sAsnd came TO power in i707 tn. taxing
/ policy was resumed. and the breach was
/ reopened snd made irreparabls By the
nasise and unfortunate acts Of parliament
AIRY legislation.
Prom Cromwell In l65l 10 GFsnvills in
| lg62 English legislation vas carefully
devised 70 tFsnlusi the commercial and
industrial activities SO the colonies for the
benslt q the mother country. The colo
nlsis we're confined 30 the British domin-
ions Tor their market. They could carry
ne goods trom Europe 20 America which
had nos bern FIRST landed In EngiAad. All
forms Of colonial manufactures which
could possibly compete with those Of ing
land were crushed In she Interest Of
EnElish sugar planters the importation al
sugar aad uo.assss and ram from the
Preach West ladies vas forbidden. Then.
again. for she sake 81 few merchants
carrying on trade with Virginia, sAe colo
MES we're drained ef shsir gold and silver
coin BY the remassnee II Il to Ensland,
sua yes we're repeatedly Forbidden 10 issue
tas pApsF money rendered necessary 10.
81. So a~vsaf l~e.s-s 49,.