New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-19

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue OF to-day is letter
from one VI. Foley, who has an impression
apparently, that the American colonsts who
fought on the side Of England in the War Of
the Revolution were the enemies Of liberty
As n matter Of fact. the Americans after they
had obtained their independence had no
rights or privileges that they did not possess
before In the various petitions and COM
plants TO the English Parliament before re-
sorting 70 arms there is no question Of new
privileges or rights, but simply an appeal TO
the we'll known rights already in existence
and which they deemed endangered by the
action Of the King. In the Declaration OF
independence it is quite clear that the Ameri-
can people were defending rights which they
already possessed against the arbitrary &C
ton of the King. That class whom he des-
ignates as Tories, but whose purpose is seen
in the name by which they distinguished
themselves, viz. Omitted Empire Loyalists,'
were just as devoted to the cause OF liberty
as those who afterward became known as
American patriots. The United Empire 10y
alists did not approve Of the Kings action,
but did not feel that the grievance merted an
appeal to arms and the secession of the col
onies from the British race They felt sure
that a persistent appeal to the English Par
lament would result in the obnoxious laws
being annullcd In this idea they found en-
couragement n the fact that the great popu-
lar leaders Of the English people, Pitt, Fox
and Burke all were favorable to the conten-
ton of the colonists When they fought
under the British colors they did not fight
against liberty Of the people in any sense;
they simply fought against the secession OF
the thirteen colonies, just as the men Of the
North afterward fought against the secession
Of the South. That the secession Of The
South was a dastardly action and the seces-
sion of the thirteen colonies glorious
achievement is piece Of logic which my
Canadian mind cannot grasp.
That the United Empire Loyalists were de-
voted TO the cause Of popular liberty is shown
I'm the fact that as soon as they were com
fortably settled in their new homes they be
gan 20 agitate for the establishment Of re-
sponsible government there. and as result
to-day. while retaining their unity with the
British isles. the people Of Canada. i'm com
mon with all the self-governing nations OF
the British Empire. have more control over
their government than the people cf the
United States have over theirs. While the
descendants Of the American patriots have a
representative republic. the descendants OF
the United Empire Loyalsts have practically
pure democracy.
So far as the results count it would appear
that the United Empire Loyalsts were. 10
say the least. as devoted 70 the cause OF
popular liberty as the American patriots, but
the Ioyalists were convinced that the inter
ests Of British liberty could best be con-
served by maintaining the union and making
use Of constitutional means for the redress
Of their grievances, rather than by seeding
from the organic political union OF the Brit
sh people through a resort TO armed force.
JOHNNY CANUCK.
New York. Oct II. 1915