The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-09-18

featuring many kinds of goods, from
importing machinery, and in fact, from
making any progress commercially or
industrially which would emancipate
them from the grasp of British traders
and capitalists. ~
The Parliament.o of England regarded
the colonies as things it was at lib,
erty to practice anything she chose.
At it's head was a Privy Council.
known Familiarity az the Lords Of
Trade" This body had been in exist
ence since the year 1915. To this
board the British. governors of this
colonies made their rfports of the leg
islative, financial agricultural AMI
commercial conditions of the colonies.
Frequently. to show stheir attachment
to the King, they would send letters
stating the. "dinHculties and hardships
they had to endure in maintaining tho
authority and dignity Of England ov,r
~.
notorious SUBJECTS" Few knew much
or cared much for the condition Of the
colonies. The public at large. when
it thought of them at all, thought of
them merely as SO many commercial
advantages to England. and referred
to them as our colonies"
With the accession to power vi
Greenville. he presented new policy
Of three intentions--to enforce very
rigidly the acts Of Trade, to establish
British garrisons. and to impose tax
alton upon the colonies for the sup
port of these foreign garrisons. Such
policy was exceedingly easy to pro-
pose at home, but very difiicult t.
carry into effect IN America. The pa,
triots had their own militia. and they
knew that the design of the British
government was to minimize their
liberty. AS they neither asked for nor
wished for soldiers, they resented hav.
ing soldiers irnposed vpon them. Three
hundred Thousand pounds would be
required to mathtain these soldiers.
and they would have to pay It,
In 1774, things had reached such an
intolerabfs pass y 5als VI ax.ns minds
saw the necessity II some united ana
decisive action. Til. little colony OF
Rhode Island had the honor of making
the first declaration for national
councils through the medium of town
meeting held in Providence, May II.
1774.s Philadelphia Sspoke the same
sentiments four days after, and New
York. seconded them. Virginia MARI
land, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massa.
chusetts, New Hampshire, South Caro-.
lima and North Carolina Endorsed the
idea in the order named, and on Sept.
f1fty-four delegates from the twelve
colonies assembled in Carpenters
Hall, Philadelphia. and the first Con-
tinental Congress began it's momentous
session. For Il long time" says
Charles Botta, mo spectacle had been
offered to mankind Of SO powerful all
can Congress-"
The Congress was organized by the
selection of Peyton Randolph Of Vir-
ginia as president, and Charles Thom-
son as secretary. "Thomson's we'll
known patriotism and talents" says
the historian, won for him the Sec
retaryship of the Continental Congress
a post which he filed for fifteen con-
secutive years." The Continental Con-
gress having been duly organized, the
delegates paused What was to be
done? At length grave-looking man
rose. slowly to his feet. WHO is it?'
who is he?" was whispered from
man to man. A few who knew him
answered, 1T is Patrick Henry of Vir-
ginia!" The brave Irish American
patriot soon had the delegates electri-
fed by his impassioned eloquence and
profound logic. The man who hat
startled the people Of America witt
the memorable words. "Give me libert,
or give me DEATH" set the new power
in motion which gave to the world tht
Declaration Of Independence less tina:
/ two years afterWard.