The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-12-26
MATTHEW LYON.
A Picturesque lrlsh-Amerlcan Char
acter of Jefferson's Time.

A Picturesque lrlsh-Amerlcan Char
acter of Jefferson's Time.
In his life of Matthew Lyon, whom
he describes as "a Picturesque Politi.
cian." the late ]. Fairfax Mclaughlin,
for many years clerk of the surrogates'
court of New York, gives brief study
of this remarkable man, who was an
important factor in the making of our
nation. Mr.. Mclaughlin thus describes
him: Matthew Lyon was a native of
County Wicklow, Ireland, and after a
good start at classical school in Dub
lin came over to America as an in
dentured servant in 1865, being then
Is years of age. In New York lie was
put on the block and sold to wealthy
Tory storekeeper. Lyon naturally
started into politics opposed to those
of his MASTER and so eXasperated the
latter that he took the young Irish
man over to Litchfield, where he
snapped him to Hugh Hannah, Of
that place, for Il pair of stays Han
nah, probably an Irishman himself,
evidently favored young Lyon, who
before the term of his indenture was
completed, had saved enough money
to buy his freedom, and attained an in
tcllcctual and social prominence in
settlement of able men. Other re-
dcmptionists rising to distinction in
American history were George Taylor,
of Pennsylvania, Il member of the
Continental congress, and one of the
signcrs of the Declaration of indie
pentlencc. and Daniel Duane the elder,
attorney general of Maryland. At u
years of age Lyon married niece of
Ethan Allen. \ few years after at
the outset of the Revolutionary war,
we find Lyon scaling the heights Of
Ticonderoga with Ethan Allen. Gen.
Schuyler made him quartermaster to
Warmers regiment. Lyon also did Il
soldiers part at Bennington and Sara
toga. After the war Colonel Lyon
went into journalism, establishing a
magazine, "The Farmers Library"
and newspaper 1.-The Scourge Of
Aristocracy," and east his own type,
made his own paper from bass wood
and wrote his own editorials. Politi-
cally he was, of course. a devoted al
hcrent of Jefferson. Defeated in three
campaigns, in the fourth. in 1907,
Colonel Lyon was elected to congress,
taking his seat with another magnifi-
cent Irshman, Andrew Jackson, of
Tennessee. Lyon began his political
career by vigorously opposing the GUS
tom of the congressman marching in
body to deliver their reply personally
to the presidents message. 1t savored
of royalty to his republican soul, and
he asked to be excused from the
street pageant" and was excused with
derision and insult. The story got into
the press and the people sympathized
with Lyon, who continued his protest.
Within Il few years Jefferson became
president, and his first act was TO
abolish the un-American custom.
Then Lyons enemies remembered his
Irish blood. and incipient know moth
ingism lifted it's head. us there no
pride in American bosoms?" asked
John Adams. Can their hearts en-
dure that Calender, Duane, Cooper
and Lyon should be the most infiuen.
tial men in the country, all foreigners
and all degraded claracters?" Then
began in congress Il systematic perse-
cution Of Lyon by SANDER, bullying
and physical force. But on all occa-
sions Lyon had the people with him.
Adams, as president, resolved Mt every
cost to get rid of Lyon. 10 strike
first of all at him, the alien and sedi-
ton laws We're framed on lines befit-
ting an absolute monarchy. Fines and
Imprisonment awaited whomsoever
dared to criticize the sacred person or
policy Of the president. For letter
of dignified dissent from the policy of
the administration, written fourteen
days before the passage of the sedi-
ton act, Lyon was indicted and duly
sentenced to four months imprison-
ment and a fine Of $1,000. The presi-
dent refused Vermont's petition for
her hero's release, and Vermont left
the federal party and was large fac
tor in defeating Mr.. Adams for re-elec-