The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-10-29
SENATOR PLATTS PAPER
TOUCHING THE MOST VIRULENT
PERIOD OF AIfERICAN Politics.

4
III Was During the Administration of Presi-
dent John Adams When Political Ami
mostly Pervaded Every Department of
Life-An Exciting scone-The First Per-
sonal Encounter in Congress Graphically
Observation-Disclosures Special Interest
in the Atfair-A Paper Read by Senator o.
II. Plat Last Night Before the New Ha-
ven Colony Historical Society.
At highly interesting meeting of the
New Haven Colony Historical society
held last evening large representation
of New Haven's leading literary and So
clety people being present, United
States Senator Orville H. Plat read a
most interesting paper entitled 1.-THE
Encounter Between Roger Griswold and
Mathew Lyon"
During the meeting the following re-
cent gifts to the society were announc-
ed: Part of the pulpit of the First
church erected in East Haven in 1913
and afterwards used in the present Old
Stone church until the close of the Rev
dictionary war, presented by Leverett
S. Bagley, Esq; a small mahogany ta-
BILE over one hundred years old, former
ly the property of Mrs. Julia Wooster
DeForest. presented by her grand
daughter, Miss Ellen r. Griffin; fifty
pamphlets and magazines, presented by
Or. Street.
The names of Rev. DIR. j. e. Twitchell
and Alderman Walter J. Conner were
proposed for membership and will be
acted upon at the next meeting.
Professor Dexter of Yale will read a
paper on 1.-THE First Public Library in
New Haven" at the next meeting of the
society, to be held the last Monday in
November. This meeting will be the
regular annual meeting and besides the
regular election of officers the amend
ment to increase the number of vice
presidents of the society from one 10
two will be acted upon.
SENATOR PLATT'S PAPER.
Senator Platt's paper is given in full
as follows:
The most virulent period of American
politics was reached during the admin
istration of President John Adams,
Political opponents were avowed per-
sonal enemies. Political rancor and
animosity pervaded every department
of life. In social as we'll asbusiness af-
fairs, in religious and educational mat
tiers, the line was drawn between Fede-
ralists and anti-Federalists, indiscrimi-
nateIy called Democrats or Republicans
Neighbors met and passed each other
without speaking, and were ready to
fly into passionate quarrels at the
slightest provocation. SANDER and vi
tuperation filled the press. The pri-
waite life of officials and politicians was
paraded to view. The meanest of mo-
tives were attributed to public men,
and no SANDER or vulgarity was too
1oathsome to find a place in party jour-
mails. 1t is difficult at this day to con-
ceive of the intensity of vilification
then too common. 1t has been equaled
in no other period of our history, let Us
fondly hope that it may never be re-
peated.
This sad condition of public affairs
began during the last two years of
General Washingtons administration,
and the man to whom the present gen
GRAFTON looks only with veneration was
most bitterly and vilely assailed by the
party then organized against those
who were known as Federalists. The
conservative men of the day were ac-
cueed of aristocracy, of a desire to re-
store the influence of England in this
country; and the prejudice and hatred
ing from long years of oppression and
conflict, was brought to bear upon sll
those who did not look with favor 1pon
the democracy which resulted in he
French Revolution with it's attendant
horrors The people naturally We're
friends of France and grateful for the
assistance which had been rendered by
her in the struggle Of the colonies
against Great Britain. So when the
new era of democracy began in France,
it was easy for the masses to sympa-
thize with and attempt to initiate it in
this country.
Naturally enough the spirit of license
prevailed here as in France. The liber-
ty pole surmounted by the cap was the
expression in this country of an admi-
ration for French democracy; and that
it did not result here in the establish
ment of the guillotine and overthrow of
the government is probably due to the
fact that Jefferson who had sympa-
tllized with it, and as was asserted en-
couraged the French Revolution be-
came alarmed at it's excuses, and drew
back frightened at the spirit thus
evoked.
AS mild specimen Of the newspaper
comments of those days, the following
extract from the Mirror of February 5,
1900, may be of local interest:
1.-THE illuminate of New England are
composed Of certain ecclesiastics, who
wish for political sway; and of laymen
in Office who wish for clerical influence
TO retain them in place; by the means
of the pulpit and sword; or church and
state"
ROuNeIH1.ss4t PATS
~ MARX ~
KY DON'T