The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-22
New England History.

In speech in the Senate yesterday
Mr.. Tillman, of South Carolina, made
an observation which will give griev-
Gus odense to New England, and
doubtless provoke crushing rejoin-
der from the Senators from that sec
tion. Mr. Tillman, according to
Washington dispatch, "spoke of the
achievements of the South Carolina
troops in the Revolutionary war, and
said that the battles fought in his
State were more important than those
fought in Massachusetts,. "We don't
want Massachusetts to bag all OF the
glory he added, for, as our illus
trious Rear Admiral Schley has said
of a later triumph of our arms, there
is glory enough for all" 1t is re-
grettable that Mr.. Tillman has been
led into this indiscreet utterance.
Upon the best Massachusetts authori-
ty, it can be asserted that the Revolu-
tionary war was waged solely and ex-
clusively by the descendants of the
Pilgrim Fathers, despite all statements
TO the contrary. George Washington,
the great soldier of the Revolution,
was not, as some ill-informed persons
assert, Virginian of the cavalier
type, bat pure-blooded son of
4" Praise God -Barebones'' sire. Thom-
as Jefferson was of undiluted Puritan
ancestry, and the Declaration OF In
dependence was rehash of the ex-
pressions of Boston tea-party patriots.
Massachusetts, troops, alone and unas-
sisted, fought Burgoyne to standstill
and compelled him to surrender. The
captured of CORVALLIS at Yorktown,
Va. was triumph of New England
valor and genefalship, the French
allies of the Revolutionists being
merely spectators, who were permitted
to be present to see how Massachusetts
could humble perfdious Albion. -
The battles in the South were all
fought by New England warriors, the
natives coming upon the field after the
victories were won to congratulate the
legionS from Boston upon their lnTln-
chile courage. Some historians who
have not availed themselves Of the
oalv reliable source CT information
have rashiy asserted that John Paul
Jones, the dashing sea fighter, was
born in Scotland. Of course, this can
not be the fact. Jones ancestors
came over on the Mayfower, and the
naval hero was horn under the shadow
OF the sacred Goldfish. In the second
war With England Massachusetts,
maintained her supremacy. That cul-
Su7ed Bostonian, Andrew Jackson,
was in command Of the troops which
woa the famous battle at New Or
leans, while the glorious achievements
of our navy on the Great Lakes and
elsewhere must be fairly attributed to
New England. Mr.. Tillman's friends
will be surprised to find that be is not
coaversans with history as it is writ
ten in Boston. After the Senators
from that part of the country have
finished with him be will be a wiser
aadfa sadder man. Hezwill learn that
every great and COED man who has had
hand in making this republic was
New Englander. South Carolinians,
Virginians and Pennsylvanians may
have made feeble efforts to he useful.
bat their la5ors were, of course, IN
vain. When Mr.. Hoar turns his bat
teries upon Mr. Tillman the latter Will
discover just how insignificant and
trivial part everybody except the
Pilgrim Fathers played in the de
velopment of the United States: 1t is
impossible not TO feel sorry for the
South Carolina Senator for his mo-
tives we're good, even if his discretion
was below par and his knowledge Of
American history sadly inadequate. :
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