. Maine in history and romance. nor; while the following incident which really illustrated the kind-ness of his nature, excited their distrust to a violent outbreak. It appears that Thompson had given employment to two desertersfrom the British troops, then occupying Boston; but on learning of theirdesire to return to their regiment, had successfully interceded with for them. His enemies made capital of this; and it was not longbefore Major Thompson was called before a committee of the people ofConcord to answer to the suspicion of being unfriendly to the cause ofliberty. He positivel
. Maine in history and romance. nor; while the following incident which really illustrated the kind-ness of his nature, excited their distrust to a violent outbreak. It appears that Thompson had given employment to two desertersfrom the British troops, then occupying Boston; but on learning of theirdesire to return to their regiment, had successfully interceded with for them. His enemies made capital of this; and it was not longbefore Major Thompson was called before a committee of the people ofConcord to answer to the suspicion of being unfriendly to the cause ofliberty. He positively denied the charge and boldly asked for evidence, if any such was given, was not of a sort to warrant anyproceedings against him and he was acquitted. We must remember that, at the outset, the Revolution was a rebel-lion, and to many at that time, the Kings Cause might be honestly andhonorably called the cause of patriotism. There were reasons in thoseearly days which might lead wise and right-hearted men, lovers and. statue to Count Rumford Erected to his Memory at Munich (A replica of this statue lias In-t-n erected at Wobiirn, his birthplace! Count Rumford 81 friends of their birthland, to oppose this rising spirit of the utterance of such views, if only as misgivings, might be impoHticand even dangerous. While Thompson was not, indeed, an ardent patriot, he was by nomeans unfriendly or even indifferent to the interests of the colonies, andwhile what he did or said, or failed of doing or saying, must be left toconjecture, he was still a suspected person in Concord even after hisacquittal. It is very difficult to combat public opinion, which is very intolerantof hesitation or neutrality in great dilemmas, it must be yea or nay; andas an example is often more desired than justice at such times, it wasagreed that Thompsons home should be mobbed, and he, tarred andfeathered and ridden on a rail, as an example to others, who might notbe wholly l
Size: 1315px × 1901px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidmaineinhisto, bookyear1915
