The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-10-16

THE "reminiscences of an Ameri-
= can Loyalist" is the autobiog-
raphy Of a certain Reverend Jonathan
Boucher who was rector OF Annapolis
ON the eve of the first American reYo-
luton. The memoirs thus gathered
are edited by his grandson. Mr..
Boucher was a well-known preacher
in his day. He was pro-government to
the core. With the outbreak oil, armed
struggle in the colonies Boucher was
forced to go back to England where
he was subsequently entrusted with
the education OF the sons Of several
outstanding figures in British tory
politics at the close OF the 18Th CEN
tury.
The writer of these memoirs came
to Virginia in 1859 and soon became
an intimate friend of George Washing
ton. This friendship continued till
late In 1775 when the preacher, much
harassed by revolutionists, was COM
PEELED to fee the country.
Thru Tory. Eyes.
A good portion of these reminis-
cences Is of no interest at all to the
reader. The details of personal and
family life concern US only to the ex-
tent that they give us picture Of the
social conditions at hand. In this re-
spect, the Boucher memoirs have last
ing value to the student of American
history. OF course, no primary-school
historian will gather any inspiration
from this book. But for the historical
materialist, the MARKHAM student Of
the first American revolution, there
Is substantial instructive material
available in this writing.
Reverend Boucher looks at the first
american revolution solely thru the
eyes Of the hide-bound tory, pro-gov-
eminent man at any cost and at any
and all times. He tries hard to give
US the impression of fair-mindedness
and nonpartisanship. He succeeds
only In emphasizing his tory view
point. For instance, Boucher speaks
disdainfully of George Washington be-
cause his first education was received
at the hands Of a convict servant
whom his father bought for a school
master.
The Church and Our First Revolution.
BOUCHER wildly describes the
II weakening, the sharp shaking, of
the foundation of the established
church in the colonies in the immedi-
ate pre,reYOlutionary days and during
the revolution. He says boastfully:
ain my own parish remember
with pride and comfort ! had not a
single dissenter Of any denomina-
tion. Some of the thoughtful peo-
pie Of those less happy parishes APP
piled to me to 90 amongst them and
endeaVor TO check the deIusion.
Accordingly prepared some SER
mons which EdeIivered among them,
and by the blessing Of God with
such effect, that many who had been
deeoyed from the church returned
to II :"
In the eyes of Mr.. Boucher, who was
a typical tory preacher, the forces OPP
posed TO the government seemed to
aim at a total renversement, and to
stick at nothing TO attain their end"
This is the usual criticism of revo-
lutionists at all times by all shades
and sections of the defenders of the
status quo of class relationships. Tho
admitting that some individuals of his
order had been irregular, licentious
and profigate;" he bitterly cries out
against an act providing for the trial
Of his fellow bible-pounders by a
court composed equally of laymen and
clerks.
Then Boucher lifts the lid off the at
titude of his church TO the rexolu-
ton when he declares: "The church
and the churchman did stand much in