The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-04-21

him. Il was not only the tavern orators and
the political pamphleteers that pitched into II,
not merely the rabid republican followers OF
Jefferson who viewed it a dangerous menace
TO the Republics new institutions-some of the
most conservative statesmen and publicists Of
the time raised their voices and employed their
pens against IL.
Jefferson was publicly hostile to 1t. Benjamin
Franklin, then representing the republic at the
court of France wrote home ridiculing the pur-
poses Of the society as an attempt to form an
order OF hereditary knighthood." He expressed
the wonder that any set OF American gentlemen
should. in the face Of the provisions of the
Articles Of Confederation against ranks Of no.
bility," set themselves and their posterity apart
from their fellow citizens of the Republic in an
exclusive order invested with all the privileges
and insignia of aristocracy.
Probably the most influential enemy Of the
new order was Samuel Adams, the father Of
the Revolution" While his views were states
manlike they were severe. No man, he said,
more ready to remember gratefully and re-
ward the services of the army In the great strug-
gle, but it was astounding that any set Of men
should imagine that a people who had freely
spent blood and treasure in support Of equal
rights should, the moment the struggle was over,
be "reconciled to the odious hereditary distinc-
ton of families" He looked upon the Society
of the Cincinnati "as stride toward heredi-
tary military nobility as rapid as ever was made
in so short time, and he could not but lament,
as grievous misfortune to the states that so
nlustrious man as Washington sanctioned It"
John Adams added his voice to the general
clamor against the Cincinnati. The legislators Of
Massachusetts, inspired by resolutions from Cam
bridge, the university center, denounced the so
ciety as dangerous TO the peace liberty and
safety of the Union" food of pamphleteers
ioinad thp chornS of condemnation
One of these, Aedanus Burke, Revolutionary
veteran and a judge of the Supreme Court of
South Carolina, wrote bitter pamphlet over
the signature of "Cassius" denouncing the aris-
tocratic tendencies of the society which put the
capsheaf on the condemnatory movement The
pamphlet was reprinted in every state and found
its way across the Atlantic copy fell into the
hands of Mirabeau who translated It into French
and published ii In England
Washington tried to stem the tide of opposi-
ton to the child of his sponsorship by advocat-
ing the repeal Of the provision making the menu
berships hereditary But it was too late Pub
lie suspicion had been aroused and the patriots
of the frank and file" had placed their taboo
on the order.
One of the most interesting results of the
feeling against the Cincinnati was the founding
of Tammany Hall. counter movement In New
York, indicating in a society organized on the
alleged OASIS or pure democracy. SO unpopu-
lar did the Cincinnati become that candidates
for public Office curried favor by denouncing
1.-THE aristocrats" from the stump and instances
are related where men publicly Invested them
selves of the eagle and the ribbon at the polls
vowing that they had severed their connection
with the society. Rhode Island went tie the length
of disfranchising all members of the hated or.
ganization and one by one the state societies
in Georgia. North Carolina, Virginia. Delaware,
Connecticut and New Hampshire abandoned
their charters and the once propitious Society
Of the Cincinnati was in fair way to oblivion.
The visit of Lafayette, in 1924, revived a
temporary interest in it, but IL was many years
before popular apprehension had become so ap-
peased that it was safe for man who asked
preferment at the hands Of the American pub
lie to profess that he was member of the hon
orable Society Of the Cincinnati Americas frs
association of war veterans
&C By Western Nswspaper Union,