The Irish standard., 1898-09-24
with provisions for two months"
The subscription paper read:

supplying the army OF the United States
with provisions for two months"
The subscription paper read:
Whereas, In the present situation OF
public affairs in the United States the
greatest and most vigorous exertons
are required for the successful manage
ment of the just and necessary war in
which they are engaged with Great
Britain. We, the subscribers, deeply
impressed with the sentiments that on
such an occasion should govern us, in
the prosecution of a war on the event of
which our own freedom, and that of our
posterity, and the freedom and indie
pendence Of the United States are all
involved, hereby severally pledge our
property and credit for the several sums
specified and mentioned after our names
in order to support the credit of bank
to be established for furnishing a supply
Of provisions for the armies of the
United States. And we do sevrrally prcm
Use and engage to execute to the Gree
tors of the said bank, bonds of the form
hercunto annexed
Witness our hands this 18th day of
June. in the year of our Lord, 17Gc.
To that paper &C. OO,O 900 Pennsylvania
currency. payable in gold or silver" was
subscribed. Or that sum merchants who
were members OF the Sons of st. Pat
rick subscribed ElO350O
The bank opened just one month later
July II. 1t continued in operation till
the establishment of the Bank of North
America, Jan. Z, 1882. which appears to
have sprung out of it,
That's the history of that event which
we Irish blooded people are continually
told was subscription for the relief of
Washington's starving army at Valley
Forge. I'll this happened two years
,, after Washington had gone from Valley
Forge
How came this subscription or estab-
lishment of bank to supply provis-
ions to the army?
| Washington's army was at Morris
town. N. J. The credit of the United
States wasn't worth "a damn" You
yet hear the expression mot worth a
continental" The money of the Unit
ed States wasn't worth handling. No
one wanted it. Fines for not taking il
wouldn't make it good to those who had
things to sell. Contractors for supply
| ing the army wouldn't take the govern,
ments money. Why the sailors actua-
| lily tarred Il dog and "fcathcrcd" him
| with contincntals and let him loose
through the streets OF Philadelphia to
show their contempt for the worthless
ness OF the money Of the United States,
This, indeed. was the most critical
part OF the war. What was to be done
When supplies would not be given the
army because the money of the govern
mcnt would not he taken because it was
valneless? The merchants Of Philadel-
phia simply said I'VE will pledge our
property and credit. The bank we will
establish will take the obligations of
1
and we will look to the government for
repayment"
II was Il noble act. 1t was patriotic,
Every signer is TO be honorc, as though
| he had won a battle in the field. They
enabled the men who had the guns to
win the battles by feeding them while
| they held the guns
That's the whole history of that event
which has got into Irish American his
tory as relief to Washngton's starving
army at Valley Forgc-and that two
| years after the army had marched away
and net the enemy at Monmouth, that
hot Sunday in Juno. 1878
The truth brings glory enough to the
merchants who were members of the
Sons of ST. Patrick The story brings
utter discredit on them ] honor them
by telling the truth. Respectfully.
MARTIN l. J. GRIFFIN.