Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-09-18
PROUD OF lTORY|SM
Descendants of Traitors to Form
a Society.
PrcmIneat PhiiadeIphlans Profess 20
see Act of Honor In Their Fore
fathers Opposition to Wash
Inpton and Independence.

The only known society in the world
Of descendants OF traitors is In proc
ess Of formation In Philadelphia, the
cradle OF liberty. Prominent people
OF Colonial lineage. whose ancestors
were tories or sympathizers with
King George during the revolutionary
war. are being urged to join an or
ganization. as yet unnamed, which viii
have for its object the Qualification OF
guilty OF high treason against the In
FAINT American republic. The fact that
their ancestors mixed ground glass In
-four sold to 'Washington's army at
Germantown or refused to send pro-
visions to his starving and freezing
army 1T Valley Forge does not de-
tract from the enthusiasm evinced BY
the organixers
The idea OF the formation OF the so
ciety originated with the recent dis
covery of an ancient document known
as the tory blacklist published by the
attorney general Of Pennsylvania after
the war. This list contains the names
OF many prominent men In the AFFAIRS
Of Pennsylvania In those days-men
who frowned upon the continental
congress, who entertained the British
during their occupation of Philadel-
phia. and who openly scoffed at the
Declaration OF Independence. A move
ment was started after the war to
prosecute them for treason. but IL new
er resulted In action.
Although the seat Of the patriot gov
eminent and tho cradle OF liberty.
PhIladeIphis In revolutionary times
was still the hotbed OF loyaiism. The
Quaker element. opposed TO war and
violence. passively supported the Brit
ish crown and refused aid 10 the strug-
element OF what was then the leading
city OF the colonies. likewise was tory.
No season was ever so brilliant as
that OF the winter OF i777-7s. when
the British army occupied the city.
while Washlngtons tattered forces
sroze and starved at Valley Forge. a
few miles away The families whose
descendanta are still among the lead
ers OF fashion IN the city royalty en-
tertaIned thu redcoat invaders.
I, Is among these social leaders that
the society II being formed. They are
taking II seriously. too. They see no
joke IN the fact that their organlza-
ton viii be based On list OF men
who were once threatened with prose
cufion for grave crime. Eligibility
20 membership IN the society. In fact.
Will be determined By the blacklist is-
sued BY the attorney general.
A selfappointed COMMITTEES OF these
descendants Is now engaged In n can
vass for other members. and In the
near future a meeting viii be held for
the purpose OF effecting a permanent
organization. This win doubtless be
accomplished In ono OF the Quaker
houses. the congregations OF which
contain many descendants OF men who
are admitted 10 have hindered the
cause OF independence BY their loyalty
20 the English king.
Their object. they declare, In TO pre-
serve records OF these men. their an
cesfors. who were maligned by the
contineniais. and whom many persons
desplss TO this day. and TO perpetuate
the interests In common formed by
their ancestors under trying condi-
tons when they believed they were
doing their duty BY God and man In
supporting their sovereign. King
George OF England. and opposing war
and bloodshed with all its horrors.
The present generation OF Americans
In this age OF progressiveness. they
declare, are more apt to recognize the
Justice OF this.