Oldal 28 [28]
of public money could be made, which would
reflect greater credit upon our Legislature, than
for the erection of a monument to their memory.
What place more fitting than the old Johnstown
District, by the banks of the magnificent river,
which, once crossed, brought them to the Mecca
of their hopes—a land where they and their
children were destined to enjoy in the highest
degree the benefits of a government based upon
the fullest exercise of civil and religious liberty.
Actuated by a sublime patriotism and the noblest
feelings of manhood, they left behind the loaves
and fishes of democracy, preferring, in their stead,
the justice of a constitutional monarchy.
All the way from the New England States, their
trail was marked with blood, such as the heroes at
Marathon and Leuctra shed. Hunted by day, and
shot down at night, multitudes paid the forfeit with
their lives. To insult their
rob, plunder, and
defenceless wives and children, was to elicit marks
of approbation from the Continental authorities.
When they had concealed from the rapacious enemy
a few morsels of food, they were, time and again,
drawn up to the tops of trees (within sight of their
sorrowing families), by means of a rope around
their necks; remaining firm. their lives paid the
forfeit.
What was their crime? Simply because they
They believed that
the evils of which the colonists complained should
held that rebellion was wrong.
be righted by constitutional means. True to the
natural instincts of hearts beating with loyalty,
they refused to become aliens to the old flag, under
which they were born, had lived, and hoped to die.
Theirs was a lofty patriotism, worthy of emulation
by their sons, who should ever be ready to spurn
the charge of disloyalty that has, in some instances,
been flung at them by parties who have yet to
prove that they would sacrifice all for country’s
sake.
When the fortunes of war turned against Great
Britain, the Loyalists were made to feel that they
were outcasts. In intellectual supremacy and moral
worth, their claims more than weighed down the
rebels. Says Sabine: “From what has been said,
it is evident that a very considerable portion of the
professional and editorial intelligence and talents
of the thirteen colonies was arrayed against the
popular movement.” Again: "A large number of
the clergy were United Empire Loyalists; the
giants of the law were nearly all Loyalists; the
physicians were mostly Tories.”
For many years, our schools were filled with
American geographies and _ histories, written to
|
the Republic. Happily for Canada, such a curse
has "passed away. Yet it speaks volumes for our
country and its institutions, that, in the face of
teachings so pernicious, there has grown up and
developed in our young men a sturdy patriotism
never surpassed.
Could the trackless wastes, from the Valley of the
Mohawk to the Canadian frontier have spoken,
what tales of sorrow would they have uttered ?
Barefooted men, women, and children, pressing on¬
ward, hungry and footsore,often in the dead of winter
seeking protection within the British lines! Long¬
fellow, in the beautiful poem, “ Evangeline,” has
told the world of the expulsion of the - Acadians.
What they suffered was exceeded in severity by the
United Empire Loyalists, who founded the town of
St. John, on the St. John River, swelled the popu¬
lation of Halifax, and settled along the Bay of
Fundy; ten thousand, in the years 1784-5, facing
the wilderness of Ontario, and dotting with hamlets
the beautiful shores of the St. Lawrence and the
Bay of Quinte.
The first severe blow which befell the Loyalists
was the defeat of Burgoyne’s army at Saratoga,
N.Y.,in 1777. They had flocked to his standard in
great numbers, and when he surrendered, no ade¬
quate provision was made for their protection.
They were handed over to the tender mercies of a
villanous band, called the “Sons of Liberty,” who
carried out the most diabolical systems of persecu¬
tion. Many took refuge in the military forts
established on the frontier.
When Great Britain was compelled to acknow¬
ledge the independence of the United States, the
utmost consternation seized upon the Loyalists in
the British army ; many tore the lappels from their
coats, and declared that they were ruined. Upwards
of twelve thousand men, women, and children
embarked at the port of New York, seeking homes
in Nova Scotia, the Bahamas,and Canada. Prompt
measures were taken by the respective Legislatures
of the different States, "to attaint and confiscate,”’
also prohibiting the return of Loyalists, under the
penalty of imprisonment, and even death. Confis¬
cation did its work rapidly, and in a few months
thousands were turned into the trails leading to
Canada, to struggle forward, or to die. Well did
Mr. Sheridan denounce as a crime the policy which
delivered defenders of the flag “ over to confiscation,
tyranny, resentment, and oppression.”
the refugees assembling in large numbers at St.
John. From this point Jessup’s corps departed after
being disbanded, and many of its numbers. became
the pioneer settlers of Leeds and Grenville,
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