The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
OUR PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.
SPREAD oFTBE sPIRIT FOR WBIcH
THEY STAND.

which the Founders OF the Republic Co.'S
tended Formed within . Half Dozen
Tenrs-Others Dot che Years f-or. che
CIucinnati and Tn-many in 17ss to the
order OF the Colonial Founders in 1899
pinn 90 Buiid 81 Great Patriotic Tempie.
The spread Of the American ides, the patri-
otlc spirit, and the desire of descendants of rev.
olutionary families to take an active part In
perpetuRting the memory OF the early days OF
the Republic, of the revolutionary ancestors OF
the children OF these United States, and OF the
high aspirations that animated the colonists,
lind fresh expression year by year nowadays In
the organization OF societies commemorative OF
the deeds and people OF those times. Hereditary
societies their founders commonly call them.
Revolutionary" societies they are often
termed, and in n general way they are all his
torlcal societies. for they study and collect
records and relics, and mark with tablets sites
OF historic interest. besides dining on %anniver-
saries to the glory of their forebenrs aud extol-
ling the devotion of the fighting patriots of 20.
with the names of some OF the organizations
people generally are familiar, "Sons Of the
Revolution" '" Colonial DANES" Anew England
Society" run through the newspapers and the
conversation of men at the season of good cheer
when the annual dinners are given and upon &C.
casions Of patriotic celebrations. Persons who
are not f~orgetful Of their books, their sires, and
their native or adopted country have In mind,
when such societies are spoken of, the fore
runner of them all, the Cincinnati. formed by
the officers of the Colonial army Just above
New York, on the banks OF the Hudson.
But there are more than u score of the
societies, and the number is being added to
all the time. A new one has been organized
this present month here in New York, and an
other, which New Workers have been invited to
Join, is in process OF formation in the Blue Grass
State. State societies., as soon as they get strong
enough, form national organizations, and IL
there are not in n State eligibles enough to es-
tablish a society. the ardent few there group
themselves into a chapter Of a society.
From men the desire to band together In a
common purpose of patriotic demonstrations
spread to women. and now. as might have been
expected. the women are establishing societies
of children, in whom are to be inculcated the
principles for which their parents societies
stand.
That the successful issue Of q struggle Of years
should have resulted In banding together of the
officers of the victorious Continental army is
not to be wondered at. although at that day
many saw danger to the institutions of the
country from the incorporation OF the principle
OF heredity in the constitution of the Cincinnati.
But not only has the organization Of a similar
society followed the termination of each of the
country's wars, but in intermediate years Others
have grown up. some of them founded upon the
fighting done for the colonies and some of them
built upon mere residence in the colonies
during or prior to the days of stress. The
Centennial year gave an imptetus to the
formative spirit. and since then the
greater number Of the societies have come into
being. The great years were 1890, 1891. 1892,
1894, and last year. during which fifteen 80
.~cieties were organized here. The membership
rups iptn fba thonaapda And that tho eptluai-
asm is not lessening is shown in the unsatisfed
desire OF go many women TO become Colonial
Danes. the fact that the children OF the Amerl-
can Revolution. although instituted only last
year. number 300-75 OF them in New York
-apd the prosperous condition of the sons
of the Revolution and Of tho American
Revolution, for instance. who have $500
members in New York city and half a
dozen times as many in the United States.
There are branches of these patriotic societies
even In foreign countries. 1t IL a matter OF
qualification to robust Americans. and might
furnish a subject for reflection to inane brood
ers who deplore jingoism. that this great ex-
pansion OF the patriotic impulse is concommit-
ant with the coming to the United States of the
great numbers of immigrants who some fearful
persons have thought were u menace to the
country.
While working for similar objects. the organ
~izations have heretofore remained INDEPENDENT
each Of the other. but there Is u project now on
foot for a union for the purpose OF putting
up q building that shall have accommodations
for them all. Invitations to Join In 1t were
sent to about thirty organizations, all of recog-
nized standing in tho community and some Of
them of proud place. and 1t is not certain that
some may not have been overlooked. Repre-
sentative men and women of the city and of the
nation arc not only on their rolls. but work
theoretically in furtherance OF their objects,
and the membership stands for great wealth.
Four periodicals. at least are devoted 10 the
dissemination of information OF interest to the
societies and to their admirers or collaborators
the Spirit OF 70, published here; the American
Historical Register. often referred to as the An
cestral Register" published In Philadelphia;
n Magazine ot the Daughters of the Revolution,
also published in New York. and the Colonial
Magazine.
At the head of the list of all the patriotic So
cietles OF the country Is, OF course, the Society
OF the Cincinnati, the oldest of all, which was
organized by the officers OF the American kevo-
lutionary army In 1888. after peace was estab-
lished. 1t was founded to commemorate tho
success OF the Revolution and to perpetuate pa
triotism, benevolence. and brotherly love. and
the memory OF common hardslips endured.
The constitution was drafted by Gen. Knox,
Baron Steuben's quarters. the Verplanck house.
near Fishkiil-o n-the- Hudson. The badge de-
signed included the eagle. the colors blue and
white, AS a compliment to the two armies whose
cooperation had won victory for the great cause,
and the motto: "Omnia %rellnquit servare rem
publican" Some French officers were honored
with life memberships. The officers of the
American army, according to the constitution.
associated themselves lin a society OF friends,
TO endure as long rs they shall endure. or any OF
their eldest male posterity, and In failure there
of the collateral branches who may be judged
worthy of becoming its supporters and mem
bers." Even the eldest sons, however, were not
to succeed by absolute right, but only II Judged
worthy. There was in the early years consider
able antagonism to the society because of the
apparent principle OF primogeniture or heradity
incorporated In its constitution, and up TO the
end OF the century the membership declined.
Some States refused charters because of this.
In some States the organization was given up,
hut some of these chapters have been reastab-
lished. Washington was, President Of the So
clety from 1887 until his death. The society
was fourishing when Lafayette jOurneyed In
this country in ls24-5. lie was then the only
surviving Major-General. Ia New York the So
clety has always been y strong one. There were
more than. 200 members, and there are now
about fifty here.
During the first three;quarters of the present