[radar101]

The loyalists also feared the “madness of the multitude,” the violence and anarchy of rebellion and the possible despotism of an American Caesar........They still do, although now, the Conservatives are feared

[cripplecreek]

People who refused to take the Patriots' oath often lost their homes and were prohibited from working.

Our founding fathers had the right idea.

[calex59]

Yet, in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, as many as a fifth of those living in America wanted to remain British subjects.

Gee, that means only 4/5 ths of the people wanted to break away from Britain! What idiots. They are trying to imply that we shouldn't have broken off becasue 100 percent of the people didn't want to.

Something else I didn't see here, when the revolution was over we shipped a lot of the loyalist out of the country. I think that would be precedent for shipping people like Cindy S. out of the country!

[John Valentine]

The loyalists also feared the “madness of the multitude,” the violence and anarchy of rebellion and the possible despotism of an American Caesar........They still do, although now, the Conservatives are feared

Say what?

Conservatives feared by Loyalists? The Loyalists ARE the Conservatives.

What Loyalists i.e. Conservatives fear and have always feared is The Mob.

In other words, Democrats.

[rvoitier]

The Communists are emboldened and have come out of the closet. Another consequence of Clintonism.

[AmericaUnite]

Interesting. On the History Channel 2 nights ago they had a series called Revolution.
One hour was on Washington during the war. Seems another general, Lee, was a more experienced warrior and lobbied to become the leader of the Continental Army. Washington's military defeats had many people doubting the Revolution and Washington.
A parable for today. As was the many bad generals Lincoln went through.

[Waco]

It would be intersting if one of the rich dudes would charter some cruise boats and offer to take those disaffected libs for a free 1 way ride to anywhere they want to go to PERMANTLY. Nah, couldn't be enough of em leave, I guess.

[metesky]

Far from being passive participents in their own demise, American Tories raised native troops and fought on the side of England. Most deserved their fate.

Google Search: Tory Troops in the American Revolution

[Caipirabob]

Colonists who opposed American Revolution all but forgotten...

We didn't forget them, it was just hard to take them seriously all covered in feathers.

That is their place in history, as it will be for the NYT soon enough.

[Jeff Gordon]

The tally: 30 for independence, 35 against and 65 abstentions

The Loyalists did not disappear. They live on today as American liberal anti-Patriots.

[libertylover]

“When government is destroyed, whether by men who love liberty or by men who do not, there are then no laws to protect the weak against the powerful or the good against the wicked.”

Yes, which is why it's so important not to cut and run from Iraq. If we do, I'll predict a blood-bath of at least 1,000,000 dead. Reminder: when we cut and ran from Southeast Asia there were about 2,500,000 dead.

[FReepaholic]

...Almost all of the loyalists were, in one way or another, more afraid of America...

Just like today's anti-American liberals.

[Neoliberalnot]

The political spectrum has shifted, or rather, reversed polarity. Conservatives, rather than maintaining what is now the status quo, continue to place value on the individual, individual freedom, local government and the rights that go with it. Conservatives place great value on the original intent of the constitution, the declaration of independence, free enterprise, and values of religious expression that propelled this nation to world power; and yes, these were Christian ideals that shaped this nation. Washington was a Christian, not a deist as revisionists have claimed. Washington, Adams, and Jefferson were actually raving liberals but are now classed as conservatives as are the people today who see value in all the good they stood for. Today’s liberals do not share these values. Liberals are loyalists to big government (also, the UN, not unlike loyalists were to the British Crown), group rights, individuals subservient to manipulation by the powerful in government, the entertainment industry, the superrich Soros’ of the world, and liberals support the tentacles of an all-controlling secular nanny-state--think British Empire.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Others believed only oligarchies of well-bred intellectuals were competent to govern a country.

Mexico in a nutshell.

[muawiyah]

Today I don't particularly care about the so-called "Loyalists" so I've spent my time reading about the Maryland 400, and their only modern counterparts, the 100th/442nd, and Flight 93.

[silverleaf]

"Clearly, some loyalists were motivated by self-interest or greed; Britain was paying their salaries or buying their goods. Others believed only oligarchies of well-bred intellectuals were competent to govern a country. They looked down on revolutionary leaders as “men whom nobody knows.” And some were convinced that Great Britain, then the world's most powerful nation, would make short work of America's shabby rebels.

Still others, lovers of order and tradition, felt emotionally attached to Britain's flag and what it stood for – a constitutional monarchy with proven mechanisms for resolving disputes and maintaining social stability. “They pointed to the amazing growth and prosperity of the Colonies and to the great freedom they enjoyed – how much more could a reasonable man want?” wrote Wallace Brown in his 1965 book, “The King's Friends.”


The loyalists also feared the “madness of the multitude,” the violence and anarchy of rebellion and the possible despotism of an American Caesar.

“Almost all of the loyalists were, in one way or another, more afraid of America than they were of Britain,” said William H. Nelson in the 1961 “The American Tory.”

Poorly organized and without unifying leaders, the loyalists never stood a chance against the zealous Patriots...."

BARFFF! The NYT chooses the 4th of July to lionize the losers who wanted to remain subjects of a crazy King who gave a rats ass only for how much tax revenue he could extract from the colonies. The writer displays the same horrid admiration for order and law over the chaos of democracy .... as did the Germans who embraced Naziism. What next, a NYT attack on Ghandi and a sympathetic piece on the Indians who would have preferred to remain house servants to colonial officials who were determined to tidy up India?

[Dick Vomer]

I liked the fact that a lot of the loyalists were hanged, houses burned and others killed....

I say let history repeat itself...

of course that is meant in a sarcastic, poorly humorous way and in no way reflects my opinion of what could happen to treasonous quislings if this country descended into prolonged guerrilla warfare within its borders.

[silverleaf]

Counter the madness;

The British prison ships in New York, where more Americans died than in all the battles of the Revolution.

Never forget. The final resting place of the bleached remains of thousands of patriots probably lies within regular sight of the writer and many readers of this article.

http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs425a,0,6698945.story

[AnalogReigns]

"the white men of Barnstable, Mass..."

Yeah, I'm sure this little village in colonial Massachusetts was just full of disinfranchised people of color unable to vote... (or is there any record of just ONE???)

Why write stories in language so disrespectful of our forefathers?

[KosmicKitty]

But the Civil War helped change Americans' notions of loyalty and rebellion, and some historians began crediting loyalists with the courage to maintain a deeply unpopular minority view.

So, I guess this means that we should "feel good" about all the anti-american moonbats running around today. They aren't traitors who spill national defense secrets to the enemy. They are the truly courageous ones among the rest of us patriotic slobbering idiots. They, too, may have an important place in the history of our country someday.

Now please excuse me while I go up-chuck.

Happy 4th to all Freepers and real Americans!!!!!!!!!

[PzLdr]

I bet those folks all worked for , or read, the NEW YORK TIMES.