New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-17
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL

THE QUARREL BETWEEN, THE SONS
rooIlsHNEss or THE REFUSAL OF THE TWO
REVOLUTIONARY SOCIETIES TO UNITE.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. The recent rejection by the New-York So
cletv of the Sons of the Revolution OF the pro-
posed union with the Society of the Sons of the
American Revolution has unfortunately caused
several other State societies to take similar ac-
ton. and l would crave the indulgence OF The
Tribune to permit me to state some of the rea
sons why believe this action to be mistake.
The Society Of the Sons of the Revolution Is
not a social organization Any respectable man
whose ancestor did effective service on the
American side in the Revolutionary War may
toin t. II is a league Of American blood for
ratriotic purposes and It's true mission is an
exalted one 1t is therefore little less than
public misfortune that there should he two
Revolutionary societies in rivalry the one with
the other each cheapenng the others patriotic
efforts.
Against the new constitution which has been
offered with view to bringing the two So
cieties toge; her nothing worthy of consideration
has been said. The proposed name, Society of
the American Revolution. is short and compre-
bensive The use Of the word American is abso
lutely necessary. descendants OF the Revolu-
ton have already organized societies In several
foreign cities and ii is hoped that more OF these
chapters will be formed in the future. so that
wherever there is a colony Of Americans in
strange land there will be found a society OF
the American Revolution TO keep UP a living
memory Of the greatest page in history.
The objects Of the proposed new society are
Identical with those expressed in the constitu-
tlons Of the two existing societies. The men,
bership qualifications are stricter than our own
society now requires. No colaterals are 10 he
admitted and the descent and services of the
anrastor are 10 be clearly proved ny all candi-
dates for membership The existing member
shin Of both societies is to be accepted by the
new society only after there mas Deen ,iau nSh,
examination and revision Of the membership
rolls These are the main provisions OF the pro-
nosed new constitution. They must prove ac-
ceptable to all fair-Uinded men VINO nave taken
the trouble TO examine them -
Rut because the great societies in New-I ork
and PENNSYLVANIA have refused 10 rdtly this
constitution several smaller state societes nav
followed them, ostensby in the interests Oh
harmony | am at loss to understand now
real harmony can be brought ABOUT ny co''ilu,
ir,r ~ keen two societies in the field A ouai
nrgantzati6n for a single purpose cannot con-
tinra tremendously. There must ineVltapiy De
n clash Of interests and an unseemly struggie
Cor SUPREMACY The objects OF the societies VIII
he lost sight Of in the efforts each VIII MAKE 10
outyvit the other As the struggle continues inc
botter men will withdraw from II and the WhoIc
movement may fail Those societies Whlch COT,
- 70 onnose the formation Of one powerful
1rganlzation will find II hard 10 JUSTIFY them-
solves in the future. To hedge themselves pc
It'd the shallow sophistry that they stand upon
,ho5r rirhts under their charters is TO erect a
feebla barrier between themselves and the fatal
consequences of their actions Nobody con'e ..
that they can be cOerced into doing what 'hey
a. not choose 10 do, but they will never succeed
~ ~. u,,,cing tho world that they have acted
wisely. 1870 80 ,ha esone ~
the Revolution. 20 900,
Washington d. c.. Jan l., lS9o.