The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-25
Massachuset Before the Revolution.

MasSacnusetts before the hevoiutlon.
John Adams. Thomas Cushing, Samuel
Adams, and Robert Treat Paine were the
representatives OF assaobusetts. Ii was
their people who had most provoked
Parliament to be high and ag-
gressive. The struggle with the ministry
at home had taken shape in Boston. IL
had come TO actual riot there. All the
continent and all England had seen how
stubborn was the temper. how incorrigible
the spirit of resistance, in that old seat of
the Puritan power. always hard set an
proud in its self willed resolution TO be
independent; ana all eyes were turned
now upon Cushing and Paine and this
"brace of Adamses," I" who had come, il
was thought, to hurry the congress into
radical courses. Kindness, applause,
hospitality, ''studied and extensive re-
spect," F" had attended them at every stage
OF their long ride from Boston to Phila-
delphia. Men of every rank and degree
had crowded about them TO pay them
suit, as IL they had been great maynates,
governors of provinces. The country was
much stirred by the prospect OF q gem
eral congress OF committees" at Phila-
delphia; and the delegates from MassR-
cbusetts were greeted as they passed even
more generously than the rest, because
their people, every one knew, had been
the first 10 suffer in this bad business; !;
because their chief port at Boston was
closed anu relocated sentries were on
their streets. 1t bebooved the Massa-
chusetts men, however, not TO suffer
Themselves to be misled. Many looked
upon them sskanee; some distrusted them
heartily. Their own bot-headeu mob had
provoked the massacre OF which they
made SO much. They had wantonly ue-
stroyed private property when they thew
the tea into their hnrbor TO show the
government their spirit. There had been
than little turbulence, and vast deal
OF radical and revolutionary talk in at
tendance upon all that they bad uone;
and the colonies were full, vet of men
who had no tolerence for anything that
transgressed, were IL never so little, tho
moderate limits of constitutional agita-
tion.
"There is an opinion which does in
some degree obtain in the other colonies
that the Massachusetts, gentlemen, and
especially OF the town OF Boston, do
affect to dictate and take the lead in con-
tinental measures; that we are apt, from
an Inward vanity and self conceit to as
sumo biz and naughty airs, )" said Joseph
Hawley, who, for all he had grown old
as a quiet Massachusetts lawyer amongst
his neigh bors, had kept his shrewd eyes
abroad. at Is highly probable" j" he
told John Adams, with a wholesome
bluntness, "that you VIII meet gentle
men from several OF the other Coionies,
fully equal TO yourselves or any OF you
in their knowledge OF Great Britain. tho
colonies, law, history, government,
commerce. Bv what We from time
to time see in the public papers, and
what our Assembly and committees have
received from the assem- blice and commit
tees OF tho more southern colonies, we
must be satisfied that they have men OF
as much sense and literature as any we
can. or ever could, toast of. IL was
mere counsel OF prudence that they
should play their part IN the Congress
with mOTrsry Hu1 uT5UrUt1UTr. n rUru
"General Washington" by Woodrow VIII
son, In Harpcr's Magazine for July.