Norwich bulletin., 1921-03-04
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY
THE FIRST POLITICAL PARTY.

The Sons Of Liberty was the first real
national party in this country Its or
ganization was the outcome Of the OBJ
noxious Stamp Act which England placed
upcf the colonists in 1854. When this
act was proposed loose secret organiza-
tions, chiefly of workinsmen, were formed
in various colonies for united resistance
Col Isaac Barre, in a speech in parlia-
ment in 1865. used the phrase Sons Of
Liberty" which was at once adopted by
these societies.
The Sons Of Liberty sprung up almost
Immediately in all sections of the colo
MES, although no central organization
existed, but the Sons ct Liberty in the
New York colony developed the most
strength 1t was in that colony that the
first organization was Effected. Songs
helped materially"in the recruiting Of the
ranks, one Of the most popular having
been written by John Dickinson, which
started:
Come, join hand in hand, Americans all,
And rouse your bold heart at Liberty
call"
Branches of the Sons Of Liberty were
eventually in operation in all the colo
MES from New Hampshire to South
Carolina, and while they performed a
most important work in the early stages
Of the Revolution, their members, as a
general thing, were composed of men of
a lower social class than, the final leaders
in the conflict Barring Samuel Chase Of
Maryland, scarcely one of them made a
place for himself.
Samuel Adams seems to have been in
close touch with the organization in
Boston and Joined in the invitation OF
John Adams to attend their meetings
The latter drew up several papers fol
them and in his diary he left a descrip-
ton of d visit to their place of meeting
in Hanover square.
The Sons of liberty in different com
munities erected liberty poles" Al
Providence, r. L, they resolved: I'VE do
therefore, in the name and behalf of al
true Sons of Liberty in America, Great
Britain, Corsica. or wheresoeyer they are
dispersed throughout the world, dedicate
and solemnly devote this tree to be {
| Tree of Liberty" -
i Their pole in the square at New Yorl
was cut down four times by the king.
| troops, but they purchased a plot o.
ground and then triumphantly erected {
| fifth When a Maryland patriots hous,
was burned, the Sons of Libfrty rebuilt
J it.
As kindred association the Daughter
| Of Liberty came into existence. \The.
usually assembled to knit or sew during
the afternoons and to serve tea to tn
Sons of Liberty who came in the even
| ing. They invariably blended thei
voices in liberty songs, one of the mos
popular being one credited to Thoma
Paine, which began:
''Tn q chariot Of light from the region
Of day
The Goddess Of Liberty came;
Ten thousand Celestials directed the wa!
And hither conducted the dame.
A fair budding branch from the garden
above,
Where millions with millions agree,
She brought to her hand as a ple1ge (
her love,
| And the plant she named Libert
Tree"
The leaders Of the Sons OF Libert
were generally men of local prominenc
but naturally such an organization cou
not keep out of it's ranks some indiscre
. persons, and who were nothing mora
less than disorderly and lawless, wi
joined to carry out their own vicious d
signs The Influential classes refrain.
from active participation but they see