The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-04
JOHN DICKINSON,
FRIEND OF WASHINGTON

The result of a mans work living after
him and the obliteration of his name by
a false, or unpopular position, nno eA-
ceptional illustration in John Dickinson
of Pennsylvania. All about us are eVi-
dences of him, and the influence OF ms
genius will continue to be recognn1eu'
A reference to Dickinson, therefore, Is
suggestive of the living rather tnan tne
dea He seems to refute SnakespedFe'
that the evil remains while the good IL
inferred with the bones. That wnacn
was questionable about Dickinson 10
buried with him; the good that he ola
lives on, though apart from his name.
The man and his glory are distinct. To-
morrow. one week hence, is the anniver-
sary of his birth. Few except rnose
who see this announcement Will KNOW
it. He and Washington were born the
same year, Washington nine months
earlier, and his birthday in February
will be a time for celebration. Yet as
much as washington or any other, DICK
inson was a power in controlling and
directing the sentiment that made the
colonies an dependent nal ion. He did
not however, counsel independence, be-
lleving it am extremity impossible or at
tadnment. That is why he is not in the
great galaxy of the past that shines for
us today.
Dickinson first made himself felt by a
series OF letters. in which he brought to
light and emphasized the truth that ap-
preparations without consent is tyranny
and which makes him vital person
ality in the present, though the least
revered of his compatriots. He was one
of those uncertain men whom 1t is hard
to estimate exactly. He did not SEEM
ingly understand his own ability, or,
rather, the result of it's full sweep. He
effected more than he intended to, or
else he was deeper man than commonly
thought. The rule lis that one falls short
of his aim. With the ideahst it Is
truth that admits of no exception. Dick
dnson went away beyond his mark, and
shrank from the consequences. He
never dreamed of a war for independ-
ence, so he would have 1t understood,
yet 1t broke in full fury directly in line
with policy enunciated by him. This
is said because of trait in Dickinson
that has never been insisted on. He
could play the fox, though never the
lion, when his purpose demanded it, as
Bostons protest against England. Here
he won by deception, though in the right,
supporting Mass achusetts. The result
showed that he could with complete sue
cess and without suspicion shadow his
designs.
1t was as a writer that Dickinson was
known and will be remembered, If re-
membered at all. He died the last year
of Jefferson's administration, and the
president said of him: "A truer patriot
could not have left u.s. Jefferson had
known him in congress intimately, and
as the less experienced and younger
man had assisted Dickinson in formu-
hating the reason why the colonies should
appeal to arms. If Jefferson could for
get his antagonism to independence, a
Christian charity would suggest that we
might also. In Dickinson and Jeffer-
son are seen the two stalwart opposing
champions on this subject. Up to the
time of the declaration they had worked
in harmony. On that they split, each
the creature of his convection, to reunite
later. But Dickinson had done as much
or more than Jefferson to make the dec
laration possible. This opens up the
consideration of his Farmers Letters"
By these he showed with power that
made him Instantly famous the intoler-
ance of England and the duty of the
colonists to resist. He not only pointed
this out, as any one might have done,
but gave 1t an Interpretation in words
that was irresistible. Those first letters
made the influence of Dickinson inieli-
BILE The genius of the man is as dis
tinctly manifest in the spirit of the
American republic today as 1t was In
that of the British colonies 100 years ago.
1t lis merely his name that is gone into
oblivion.
But Dickinson as name Is well-nigh
forgotten, and would be utterly so ex-
cept in Pennsylvania, had not the His
torical society of that state. six years
ago, through the medium of biography,
rescued him. In Pennsylvania he is
stin remembered for his interest in edu-
cation. His reputation on this score,
because there is something materially
perpetuating at the bottom of it, has
outlived that of the patriot and states
man, and has projed ed his name into
the present time. His action in this
line was long subsequent to the writing
of his extraordinary letters that were
so potential in creating and solidify-
ing opinion anterior to the revolution.
Besides William and Mary, Harvard and
Yale there were no colleges in Dickin-
sons time, and he believing that the fu-
ture greatne IS of his country depended
on the education of its youth, interest
ed himself in schools, founding the one
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