The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-23

he called upon Trumbull, who would send troops needed at home to a neigh boring colony, leaving the coasts of his colony unguarded. Did British fleet threaten to invade New York; Wash ington would write Trumbull and troops were send to the danger point and the ships would spread their wings and fly away
 Most of the states of our great na- tion have had war governors who are held in grateful remembrance, but Jon athan Trumbull stands alone in history as the executive supporter, friend and advisor of Washington.
 Putnam was veteran of the French and Indian wars and an old man when the Revolution came, and might well have pleaded his former services and his age as a good reason for remaining | away from the field of strife to culti- vate in peace his farm. No such thought or wish came to him and from Bunker Hill onward he was every where at the front and dared to lead where any dared to follow until, at the close of the campaign of 1779, he ! was driven from the field by a paraly- ] tic stroke. He was illiterate and rough as an uncut diamond, but gem still | in bravery and loyalty to his coun- | try!
 OUR DEFENSELESS COAST. We did not want another war with old England, nor with France or Ger | many, and not even with old Spain; but does not wisdom tell us that before we talk or even think of war we should | reflect that the coast of Connecticut to-day is as defenseless almost as it was in the days of the Revolution? The same is true, substantially, of all our Atlantic and Gulf coast, excepting a few important points now fortified Works have been commenced on Fish | CTS Island and soon Long Island sound, from the east and from the west, will be safe. But from recent beginnings in the building of defenses against foreign ships of war we should hurry on until no port or city from | Maine to Galveston Is not fully forti- | fled and protected. Outside upon the | sea the American navy should be built until it is able to cope with the navy of any other nation under heaven!
 Behold the nations of Europe hover ing around poor defenseless China like so many turkey buzzards, taking a piece here and there, snarling and | growing at each other in the fear that one may get a bigger portion than the other. If America was as unable to protect herself as China the same cor morant nations would be ready to prey upon us. Our safety and our influences among the nations of the world in the coming struggle for the trade of the world must be based upon our readi- ness and ability to protect ourselves everywhere!"
 Rev. Dr. w. L. Phillips spoke on Some Obscure Patriots" He said in part:
 It is given to some to attain histori- cal immortality; it is given to all, by the brave and patient discharge of du- ty, to deserve it. Whether or not you accept that dogma to which your New England ancestors have given unques- tioning assent, "He lifteth up one and casteth down another" it is certain that some, through favoring circum- stances and their own aptness for lead ership, inevitably came to prominence while others just as devoted and sacri- ficing, one whose fidelity, indeed, the great ones build their thrones, never emerge from their native obscurity, Many Virginia planters, only one Washington; many western rail-split- ters, only one Lincoln; many quiet tan ners, only one Grant; but the unknown many were the mighty force which these giants hurled triumphantly against their country's foes.
 
 It does not belittle the great to sing the deeds of the obscure; we filch nc laurels from our heroes when we weave chaplet for their valiant followers; you cannot reduce the statue of Wash ington by putting Lee and Stark and Sumpter and Marion on pedestals. Flu ture historians will not be content with recording the movements of leaders We have come to the age of the com- mon people and are beginning to see that real history must take account oi the thinking, the character and deeds of the people, and that every man whc does his best in loyalty to the truths oi common life is deserving of recognition as helpful factor in humanity's strug- gles One of the richest benefits the various patriotic societies are confer. | IlUS upOll fAIuCliCu ID III ICoSulllE OD- scure names from oblivion, in preserv- ing local records and traditions anG supplementing general history with 6 vast amount of valuable detail regard. ing men and places which do not figure much in the books.
 It does not disparage the devotion ot the men who raised and equipped whole regiments to remember that when the British landed on the coas of Maine, the Rev. Samuel Eaton ot Brunswick preached a sermon from the text, Cursed be he that keepetf back his sword from blood" That sent forty men from his little congre gation to enlist to drive out the invad CTS. The picturesque figures of Israe Putnam and Ethan Allen are not ob scured by recalling that of Thomas Allen, the fighting preacher of Pitts field who went out twice as chaplain and at the battle of Bennington thrus his Bible in his pocket and seized z musket When asked if he had killed any one he answered, laconically, tha he hoped he had prevented some ont from being killed, "for," said he, ob serving a flash often repeated in { bush near by, which seemed to be sue ceeded by the fall of some one of oul men, q leveled my musket and, firing that direction, put out that fash"