Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-27

vinity at Princeton College, in New Jersey
and he was afterward elected president of
that institution. entering upon his duties
In 176S. when he was forty-six years old.
He was elected to the Continental Congress
in 1774 because of the prominence he had
gained and the ability and zeal he had
| shown in opposing the policy and acts of
| the British authorities, which he denounced
| as unjust. impolitic and barbarous to the
highest degree" In a memorial prepared
on behalf of convention of the citizens
OF New Jersey he declared that I'VE do de-
liberatey prefer war. with all it's horrors.
and even determination itself, to slavery
riveted upon us and our posterity."
An Uncompromising Patriot.
John Wtherspoon came into violent con-
tact with the British government before he
became an American citizen. While he was
a divinity student he Joined the ranks Of
the young pretender," Charles Edward
Stuart, and fought in the battle of Fall
kirk, where he was taken prisoner by the
English. And from the moment he came
to Princeton this disciple of the Prince of
Peace, was an Incorporating rebel. When
war was declared he sent his two grown
sons into the army, and, as have already
said, served himself six years in the Cont
mental Congress. He was the consistent
and devoted supporter of General Wash
ington, and urged upon his colleagues the
advantage of giving to Washington a free
hand and unconditional support in his cam
paigns. He was active in defeating the
cabal of Gates and Conway. He frequently
went to headquarters to confer personally
with Washington, and spent much time
at Valley Forge during that dreadful win
| ter, striving to relieve the sufferings of the
army. His sentiments and sincerity were
expressed on the 4th of July. 1776. when
the Declaration of independence was called
up for final action. Before the vote was
| taken, while some of the timid and cautious
brethren were wondering what would hap
pen to them if the revolution should fall,
John Witherspoon said
For my own part. of property | have
some, of reputation more. That reputation
is staked, that property is pledged on the
issue of this contest; and although these
gray hairs must soon descend into the sep
| uicher. l would infinitely rather that they
descend thither by the hand of the
executioner than desert at this crisis the
sacred cause of my country"
Although they fully realized the solemnity
and Importance of their proceedings, the
honorable delegates INDUCED in a few jests,
and the best of them have survived the
century. When John Hancock affixed his
magnificent signature he remarked: There,
John Bull can read my name without spec
tacles.''
In one of the corridors of the Capitol at
Washington is marble statue of Ham
cock which bears upon its pedestal the fol-
lowing inscription:
He wrote his name where
All nations should behold it
And all time should
Not eface it
When Hancock urged the members of the
Congress to hang together Franklin re-
torted Yes we must all hang together or
We shall all hang separately"
Opposed to Compromise.
After the defeat of Washington on Long
Island Lord Howe sent a proposal to Con-
gress for a conference to consider terms
of compromise. Witherspoon urged strong
ly against it, but was voted down; and
commission sent to confer with Lord
Howe which resulted, as he had predicted.
IN failure. Later in the war. when the king
army occupied Philadelphia and the cause
of the colonies seemed to be hopeless. it
WAS again proposed that reconciliation be
sought. Witherspoon denounced the propo-
stion in Congress and said that he would
favor continuing the contest even if the
state of affairs We're ten times more hope
less. His prominence in the revolution
and his relentless spirit of opposition
for him the hearty abuse of the loyalists.
Opa-of his political sermons, reprinted in
Glasgow, secured for him the title of fire
brand and traitor!' The British soldiers in
New York burned him in e:figy alongside
of Gen. Washington. He was described
by tory satirist as
known in the pulpit by, sedtious tolls:
Grown into consequence by civil hoils.'
In the Continental Congress DR.. Wither-
spoon labored assiduously to enact and
bring into force the articles of confedera
ton. While favorable to the preservation
or the separate states, he Dreaded earnestly
for a close and abiding union. He sought
fruitlessly to confer upon the Congress the
power to regulate commerce and levy i'm
post duties, and urged provision for
strong executive head to the government.
The failure of the articles of confedera-
ton proved his foresight, and after the
over he advocated, in the public
press and in speeches, that steps should
be taken to form more perfect union"
These views he impressed upon his Prince
ton pupil. James Madison, the chief Trainer
of the federal Constitution. Early in the
struggle he predicted that the American
revolution would be an important event in
the history of mankind;'' and as the tri-
umph became apparent he argued for "a
permanent and weli-planned confederacy
among the states of America that may
hand down the blessings of peace and pub
lie order to many generations
After the organization of the government
he resumed his duties as president of
Princeton College, but he soon became blind
and was compelled to relinquish his work.
He retired to a farm near Princeton where
he lived a retired life until 1904, debating
correspondence and commentaries and
watching, with anxious interest, the adj
mnistration Of the new government by his
friend and compatriot, George Washington.
His body lies in Presidents Row. beside
those of Jonathan Edwards and other IA
nous theologians, marked by a simple but