Originally published over one hundred years ago by young newspaper editor William Elbridge Cowles of Minnesota's Saint Peter Journal, THE STORY OF REDMANSHIP and the Sons of Liberty offers today's readers amazing glimpses into the Revolutionary history of America's British Colonies while describing "The Patriotic Origin and Beautiful Teachings of the Improved Order of Red Men."Who were these Sons (and Daughters) of Liberty who secretly met in Boston's Green Dragon tavern?"Bound together in defense of Equality before the law," they disguised themselves as Mohawks to carry out the destruction of tea at Boston Harbor, and to ultimately overthrow tyrannical British rule, singing: Rally Mohawks! Bring out your axes, And tell King George we'll pay no taxesOn his foreign tea;His threats are vain and vain to thinkTo force our girls and wives to drinkHis vile Bohea!Then rally boys and hasten onTo meet our chiefs at the Green Dragon.Our Warren's there, and bold Revere, With hands to do and words to cheer, For Liberty and Laws;Our country's "braves" and firm defendersShall ne'er be left by true North-EndersFighting Freedom's cause!Then rally boys and hasten onTo meet our chiefs at the Green DragonLavishly illustrated in color throughout, with historic images of people and events of the per
About the Author: When he became editor of THE SAINT PETER JOURNAL in 1897, departing editor Horace Greeley Perry wrote, "Mr. W.E. Cowles has been a newspaperman always and the people here will find him a worthy representative in every avenue of enterprise. He is young, ambitious and an excellent writer. He comes highly recommended from his home in Stillwater, and we have no hesitancy in saying that he will conduct the most fearless and readable paper in the city after he is thoroughly acquainted in his new field." [Will's initial editorial comments set the tone of his career at the weekly paper: ] "The JOURNAL will spare no legitimate expense in securing the best possible news service, both local and general. Every effort will be made to present the events of the week in readable, entertaining form and without bias and prejudice. "In its political policy, the JOURNAL will be Republican. The editor is a firm believer in those principles which have made this the greatest nation in the world, which have placed the American working man on a higher plane than the laborer of any other country, which have developed our manufacturing industries, which do protect the American citizen in every part of the world, and which give us our sound financial institutions. But while recognizing and endorsing these grand principles promulgated by the Republican party, the JOURNAL is not the subservient organ of any person or persons of that party; it reserves the right to discriminate in its advocacy of candidates for office, and especially for local office, in favor of those it may deem best fitted for such positions of trust." A later newspaper article reads: "Sov. Will E. Cowles was born in Michigan May 26, 1870, of Massachusetts Yankee parentage. The line of ancestry of his people runs back to the time when Noah landed at Cape Cod after a forty days' cruise. His life has been taken up, since 13 years old, in an unremittent and not altogether successful effort to earn bread and butter for Bill. His work has always been along newspaper lines, in which he is very industrious and ambitious, and of a very modest disposition. Ten years ago he persuaded a young lady to share his fortunes, and is now the indulgent father of a seven-year-old boy, who is looking forward anxiously to the time when he will emerge into the world of business as a "devil." Sov. Cowles is a member of the Elks and Knights of Pythias, but above all a red hot enthusiastic W.O.W. [member of the Woodmen of the World].