The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
By RUDOLPH DE zAPP.

IlDOLEh AAHEs
Ia no instance furnished by accurate
historical research is the deep-seated
love Of the Iris'i for liberty better Illus
trated than by facts furnished in relation
TO the signing of that immortal dOcu-
ment. the Declaration Of Independence
Nine Of the signers OF the Declaration
.of Independence were Irishmen. and at
least FIVE more were deScended from the
sons and daughters OF that fair isle.
Among the nine. there are included the
richest signer, the Wittiest signer. the
signer who was the longest a member OF
the Continental Congress. the only Catho-
lie who signed the Declaration. the one
who lived longest after signing. and the
great man who gave his fortune 10 his
country and died in the poorhouse.
Charles Carroll OF Carrollton Is, of
course. the most celebrated on the list.
His name viii always stand prominent
among those Of the ifty-six who did the
most for their country he was the
richest man In the United States AT the
time and risked more than many OF the
others put together His action was
consequently great spur 20 some. who.
when they saw Carroll with his thou
sands ar stake quite willing TO support
rolls family was one Of the first Catholic
families IN the country, and may be said
70 have been the most prominent II
gave 20 America her Irish archbishop
John Carroll
John Hancock. Of Massachusetts. one
OF the giants Of the period. was also
OF Irish descent, his grandfather
having been a native. He was one Of the
powers Of the assembly and a most be-
loved son of his native Massachusetts.
He was president OF Congress ard after
ward governor Of the state.
The wittiest. the livelest spirit in that
solemn body was John Smith OF Penusyl-
vania- He was a native Irishman. with
all the characteristics Of his race. and Is
described as a typical. jolly Celt. with
many eccentricites and oddities OF man
uer. His history is very obscure and the
date OF his birth Is not known He re-
sided In Lancaster. Pa. and served HIS
district we'll He was a great practical
joker.
Thomas NJ Kean OF Delaware. whose
father was native of Ireland. was the
only man who was a member OF the
Continental Congress from the time OF its
opening, in f77f. until after the preiiu-
inaries OF peace. IN I7S3. He was a very
conservative. able man. whose opinions
carried much weight
Matthew Thornton. a native OF the
Aud Sod" was the only physician OF
the assembly He had first lived in
Wiscssset. Ne. and then in Worcester.
and finally practiced among his country
men IN Londonderry. y. H. the first
Irish settlement IN New England Il
was from here that he went 20 Congress.
Other men OF great wealth besides
( Charles Carroll were George Taylor. OF
Delaware. and Thomas Lynch. OF South
Carolina The two were directly in con-
trast Taylor was a seIf-made man. a
native Of Ireland. who came % this coun-
try and began life as a day lab0rer He
rose rapidly and for many years was the
I Carnegie OF his day IN Pennsylvania
/ Lyrch. on the other hand, was born II
South Carolina. where three generations
0f bis family had resided and sccumu-
( lated an immense fortune He was a
Southern gentleman, was educated ar
/ EtOn and Cambridge. and spent many
years abroad but was an intensely
7 patriotic member OF the Second Congress.
/ Robert Morris vas another wealthy
I Irishman who signed the Declaration.
/ he rendered inestimable service 10 his
adopted country by putting his private
Z fort Rne in the breach when the nation
was n th[ closest financial straits he
I gave an immense sum 10 enable Wash
I ington 10 carry on his campaigns. AID
RfteTward. when some unfortunate land
/ speculation ruined him. and hiss country
I refused 10 come 70 his aid. he died IN the
! pOOrhouse-
In speaking OF Irish heroes who fought
I and agitated for liberty. it IS well worth
while also 20 include in this category
I Daniel O-ConneI, who gave utterance 10
the famous words: NO political change
I Is worth the shedding Of a drop OF
blood" This expression was a favorite
motto Of the indefatIgable Iaborer fl the
/ cause OF Irish liberty.
/ In his formal address. in his broad dsides
and prOclamations. in HIS letters 20
intimates. and IN his innumerable I'm
/ promptu speeches. the Iiberator always
dWslt On the great Importance OF acQuir-
\ ing the freedom Of HIS native land solely
/ by con nsttutional means "Agitate- was
Z his watchword But 'agiIate" in the
/ newspapers. on the hustings. in the as
/ semblv rooms and at the clubs Apply
/ the permanent mental force OF right and
/ just arguments. and not the temporary
\ physical force or the shotgun and the
stick. was a stereOtyped theme IN all
L his exhortations 20 HIS countryInen.
] Refrain from violence" he would say
/ in his unique poster productions that
were scattered throughout the highways