THE MENTOR 1918.07.01, No. 158, The Cradle of Liberty LEARN ONE THING EVERY DAY JULY 1 1918 SERIAL NO. 158 THE MENTOR THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY By ALBERT BUSHNELL HART Professor of Government Harvard University DEPARTMENT OF VOLUME 6 HISTORY NUMBER 10 TWENTY CENTS A COPY LIBERTY Liberty is older than Law, older than Government, older than the State. Liberty goes back to the Garden of Eden, where first was taught the bitter lesson that where Liberty is uncontrolled, society breaks down. The word is a splendid one, coined by the Romans, “With a great price obtained I this freedom,” said the Roman centurion; “But I was free born,” replied St. Paul. Liberty was in the hearts of the English colonists; Liberty rang out from the Bell of Independence Hall; Liberty is stamped upon our state and federal constitutions. For Liberty millions of men have struggled and died. Toward Liberty oppressed myriads are stretching out their hands today. Liberty is the pole-star of peoples, the hope of mankind. [Illustration: FANEUIL HALL, BOSTON, MASS.--“THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY”] _THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY_ _Faneuil Hall_ ONE “In old Faneuil, that guild temple of traders and aldermen, butchers and clerks, hucksters and civic magistrates, the spirit of the people conceived an embryonic nation.” Among early Bostonians who owned argosies and had a prosperous trade with France and England was a young bachelor named Peter Faneuil, who, like Paul Revere, was descended from Huguenot refugees. He was the heir of his uncle, Andrew Faneuil, who died in 1738 and left a large fortune. Fond of good living and hospitable, “Here’s to Peter Faneuil!” was the toast often proposed above brimming bumpers. From Madeira he ordered amber wine, from London, chariots and sets of crested harness, and fine stuffs, buttons and laces. His ships carried cargoes of tobacco, black walnut, fish, stoves and general merchandise. At forty years of age he was a prince among Colonial merchants. He had, moreover, pride in Boston’s advancement, and offered “at his own cost and charge” to build a market for “the use, benefit and advantage of the town.” Later, the donor of the market house instructed his architect, the renowned John Smibert, to add a hall above the space given over to provisioners’ stalls. In 1742 the two-story brick building was completed. When Peter Faneuil received the formal thanks of Boston, he made the prophetic response, “I hope what I have done will be for the service of the whole country.” A year later he died, and was buried in the Granary Burying Ground.