Not All Patriots

In the years before the American Revolution, the questions of the day were often stark and demanded decisive answers. Should the Stamp Act of 1765 be protested or not? Should British tea be dumped in Boston harbor? And finally, when the war broke out, the ultimate question: should one remain a loyalist or support the patriot militia?

These questions and others are being posed today on red, white and blue ballots handed to visitors at a Bicentennial exhibit in Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The visitor must reply whether he would have supported the patriots or the British Crown or would have remained neutral; a computer then calculates the respondents' basic allegiances.

The 3,100 ballots cast thus far express a surprisingly guarded view of the nation's founding. While a solid 44% of the visitors supported the patriot cause, 27% have endorsed loyalists, and 29% more have settled on neutrality. Says Betty McGloan, the exhibit manager:"Many people are surprised to learn that not everybody is a patriot."

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