The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-05-23

from the north as a bit
rough in his free southern speech and
manner; and Mr.. Bland seemed to
them "a plain. sensible man." such as
would be more given to study than to
agitation.
II such men, artless and steady as
any downright country gentleman of
old England, held so high fancy for
the business of the congress. 1t was
easy to conclude what the hastier,
younger men would be likely to plan
and do; and the Massachusetts, dele
gates found themselves greatly heart 1
ened.
John Adams, Thomas Cushing. Sam I
uel Adams and Robert Treat Paine |
were the representatives of Massa-
chusetts. It was their people who |
had most provoked Parliament to be
high-handed and aggressive.
The struggle with The ministry at !
home had taken shape in Boston. 1t |
continent and all England had seen
how stubborn was the temper, how in
corrigible the spirit Of resistance, in
that old seat of the Puritan power, al
ways hard set and proud in its self
willed resolution to be independent;
and all eyes were turned now upon
Cushing and Paine and this brace OF
Adamses," who had come, it was
thought, to hurry the congress into
radical courses. Kindness, applause,
hospitality, studied and expensive
respect" had attended them at every
stage Of their long ride from Boston
to Philadelphia.
Great Excitement Over Congress
The country was much stirred by
the prospect OF a general congress of
committees" at Philadelphia: and the
delegates from Massachusetts were
greeted as they passed even more gen.
erously than the rest because their
people had been the first to suffer in
this bad business; because their
chief port at Boston was closed. and
/ relocated sentries were on their
streets.
1t behooved the MASSACHUSETTS men,
however. not to suffer themselves to
be misled Many looked upon them
askance; some disturbed them htarti-
| ly. Their own hot-headed mob had
provoked the massacre" Of which
they made so much. They had wan
tonly destroyed private property when
| they threw the tea into their harbor
to show the government their spirit.
| Suspicious of New EngIanders.
| There had been more than a touch
4 of violence, more than little turbu-
| Ience. and vast deal of radical and
revolutionary talk in all that they had
done; and the colonies were full yet
| of men who had no tolerance for any
thing that transgressed, were It never
/ SO little. the moderate limits of con-
stitutional agitation
There is an opinion which does in
/ some degree obtain in the other colo
MES that the Massachusetts gentle
1 men. and especially of the town of
Boston, do affect to dictate and take
the lead in continental measures, that
we are apt, from an inward vanity and
self-eonceit, to assume big and
/ naughty airs" said Joseph Hawiey
who, for all he had grown old as a
quiet Massachusetts, lawyer among his
neighbors. had kept his shrewd eyes
abroad 1T is highly probable he
told John Adams. with a wholesome
bluntness, that you will meet gentle
men from several of the other colo
MES fully equal TO yourselves or any
of you in their knowledge of Great
Britain, the colonies. law, history, gov
eminent, commerce. BY what We
from time to time see in the public
papers. and what our assembly and
committees have received from the
assemblies and committees of the
more southern colonies. we must be
satisfied that they have men OF as
much sense and literature as any we
can, or ever could. boast Of"
Advised to Be Prudent
It was. mere counsel OF prudence
that they should play their part in the
congress with modesty and discretion,
Not Gushing and Paine, but the
Adamses. carried the strength OF the
Massachusetts, delegation; and it was
Samuel Adams. rather than John. who
was just now the effective master in
the great Bay Colony" master OF
puppets" his enemies called him.
Hale. bluff. adroit. plain, q man OF
the people, he had grown old in the
business of agitation. Fifty-two years
he had lived. planning always for
others, never Tor himself, He had
never looked forward in his life he
frankly said never planned. laid a
scheme, or framed design of laying
UP anything for himself or others aft
! er him." had let all his private bust
ness go neglected. and lived upon the
petty salary of small public office
the indulgence OF fortune. and the
, good offices OF the friends and neigh
bors who loved him.
The master of Puppets"
, He was in Philadelphia now wear
ing the plain suit and spending this
! modest purse with which his friend:
. and partisans had fitted him out-xtht
4 -1sxefs-