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Story
August 28, 1928
The Bismarck Tribune
Bismarck, Mandan, Burleigh County, Morton County, North Dakota
What is this article about?
In a National Review article, Rev. Alexander Macrae irreverently critiques America's founding, labeling leaders like Adams and Hancock as criminals, the Revolution a calamity, and the Declaration false, while praising British defense and loyalists. (192 chars)
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ENGLISH PREACHER CHARGES FIRST
FAMILIES OF U. S. WERE RIFFRAFF
London, Aug. 28.—(AP)—America's first families were dealt with irreverently by the Rev. Alexander Macrae in an article written for the latest National Review declaring that the revolt of the American colonies might some day be regarded as "one of the great calamities in the history of the human race."
The Boston Tea Party and other incidents leading to the Revolutionary war aroused the writer to indignant criticism.
"The leaders of this outrage," he wrote; "were Samuel Adams, a defaulting tax collector and son of a defaulting banker, and John Hancock, whose family had made a large fortune by smuggling from the West Indies."
He denounced the Declaration of Independence as containing "grossly false charges against King George and his government, set forth in the inflated and defamatory language still so characteristic of the political writing and oratory of America."
He gave credit for winning the war to Generals Lafayette and Steuben, with only the faintest of praise for Washington. He said that England had fought for seven years to defend the colonists against the French and Indians and had suppressed Indian uprisings in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
In general, the viewpoint expressed in the article demonstrates that there are still those in England who see the American revolution through the same spectacles their ancestors wore 150 years ago.
The writer finds some consolation in the thought that the colonists who remained loyal to the crown "formed a numerous class and invariably represented what was best in the life of the colonies."
He speculated ruefully on what the British empire might have been with the United States as an integral part of it.
FAMILIES OF U. S. WERE RIFFRAFF
London, Aug. 28.—(AP)—America's first families were dealt with irreverently by the Rev. Alexander Macrae in an article written for the latest National Review declaring that the revolt of the American colonies might some day be regarded as "one of the great calamities in the history of the human race."
The Boston Tea Party and other incidents leading to the Revolutionary war aroused the writer to indignant criticism.
"The leaders of this outrage," he wrote; "were Samuel Adams, a defaulting tax collector and son of a defaulting banker, and John Hancock, whose family had made a large fortune by smuggling from the West Indies."
He denounced the Declaration of Independence as containing "grossly false charges against King George and his government, set forth in the inflated and defamatory language still so characteristic of the political writing and oratory of America."
He gave credit for winning the war to Generals Lafayette and Steuben, with only the faintest of praise for Washington. He said that England had fought for seven years to defend the colonists against the French and Indians and had suppressed Indian uprisings in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
In general, the viewpoint expressed in the article demonstrates that there are still those in England who see the American revolution through the same spectacles their ancestors wore 150 years ago.
The writer finds some consolation in the thought that the colonists who remained loyal to the crown "formed a numerous class and invariably represented what was best in the life of the colonies."
He speculated ruefully on what the British empire might have been with the United States as an integral part of it.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Justice
What keywords are associated?
American Revolution
British Critique
First Families
Boston Tea Party
Declaration Of Independence
What entities or persons were involved?
Rev. Alexander Macrae
Samuel Adams
John Hancock
King George
Lafayette
Steuben
Washington
Where did it happen?
London
Story Details
Key Persons
Rev. Alexander Macrae
Samuel Adams
John Hancock
King George
Lafayette
Steuben
Washington
Location
London
Event Date
Aug. 28
Story Details
Rev. Alexander Macrae criticizes America's first families as riffraff, calls the Revolution a calamity, denounces leaders like Adams and Hancock, faults the Declaration, credits French and German generals over Washington, praises loyalists, and laments the lost empire.