The San Francisco call., 1899-10-20

MES form one political body, of which
each is a member. The liberties of the
whole are invalid, therefore the interest
of the whole to support each individual
with all their weight and influence"
As the clouds thickened his mastery re-
sistance to the ill-judged British policy
was continued and the skill with which
he managed the colonial cause, keeping
within constitutional measures, was clear
ly shown. His newspaper articles, pub
lished as was the custom of the day under
some such nom de plume as "Candide,"
did much to crystalline the opposition. His
descendant and biographer, Wells, rightly
calls him 'the true father of democracy
in America, whose voice and pen were en-
ployed for the common people; and he
labored to build up American liberty, not
only by public measures, but by cultivat-
ing an individual independence of thought
among the working classes as the true
basis of national freedom" So successful
was he in his control of the people and so
well did he WELD his power, that in 177O
Hutchinson was obliged to withdraw from
town to the fort in the harbor the two
British regiments which had been en-
gagged in that unfortunate affray known
as the Boston massacre. In the same year,
through his influence, the Assembly ap-
pointed a committee of correspondence
Ito communicate such intelligence as may
be necessary to the agent and others in
Great Britain, and also TO the Speakers
of the several Assemblies through the
continent, or to such committee of cor
respondence as they have or may ap-
point" This idea was still further carried
out by the more famous resolution of the
town Of Boston in November, 1772, ap-
pointing a like committee to state the
rights of the colonists, and of this prov
ince in particular, as men and Christians
-
icly the same to the several towns and
to the world. as the sense of this town,
with the infringements and violations
thereof that have been or from time to
time may be made" So strong was his
longing for confederation of all America
that he always sought to include Canada
in the continental combination.
The destruction of the tea in Boston
harbor was managed by Adams, and when
the port bill closed that harbor Adams
acted as the chairman of the committee
to distribute the donations which came
so generously from the other States He
was a chosen member Of the first Con-
tinental Congress, and served in that body
for seven years, or nearly until the end of
the war. Earliest of all the colonists he
longed for independence, and at one time
discouraged by the slow progress of the
other colonies toward the acceptance of
that idea. he thought of a separate inde-
pendent confederation of the New Eng
land colonies. He won, however, and had
the joy of seeing the adoption of the reso-
luton for independence introduced by his
friend, R. H. Lee.
With the achievement Of independence
his chief work was done There were still
twenty years of useful service ahead of
him, however. He was one of those who
prepared the articles of confederation.
and, in his service on the Marine Board,
did much to build up the navy, for whose
needs as we'll as for his States interests,
he insisted on our preservation of our
rights to the Newfoundland fisheries. He
served at home, in his absence from Con-
gress, as Secretary of State, and when the
States constitution was prepared he sat
as a useful member of the convention.
After retiring from Congress we find him
in the Massachusetts Senate as strong an
opponent of Great Britain as ever and
bitter against allowing the Tories to re-
turn. He was classed as an anti-Federal-
ist, yet was convinced that the people
desired the adoption of the Federal con-
stitution, and voted therefor in the rati-
flying convention, while proposing amend
ments in the form of bill of rights. He
was stanch supporter Of law and order
in the turbulent times of Shay's rebellion.
The people of Massachusetts honored him
to the last. 4 long standing disagree
ment between himself and Hancock was
made UP in 1888, and, after serving as
Councillor and Lieutenant Governor, he
succeeded to the Governorship in 1893, ar
Hancocks death. By successive re-elec,
tions he held the post until 1871, when he
retired from public life. He died on Oc-
tober Q 1S03 having through long life
exhibited" as one of his friends said,
ION all occasions an example of patriot
ism, religion and virtue honorable to the
human character"
Note-A, study of Patrick Henry by DR..