The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-03-02
ALAS! FOR FAME
OF FOREFATHERS
John Hancock a Smuggler and a
Defaulter; Postmaster Benz.
Franklin Robbed the Mails
SAM'L ADAMS A BAD MAN, TOO
Historian Writes Book In Which He
Sneers at the Heroes Of the Revolu-
tion-Patriots Of '76 are Knocked
from Pedestal by stark.

Boston. Mass lanes Henry Stark
of Boston has written book called
THE Loyalists of Massachusetts and
the Other Side of the American Revo-
luton. which refers to Samuel
Adams and John Hancock as default
ers and thieves, and classes other
Revolutionary heroes as "ne'er do
wells" "degenerates." and hooters
and betrayers of public trusts"
The book contains 500 pages and
the statement that in Virginia the
Revolutionary movement OF poor
white trash, or Crackers" led by
Patrick Henry, was against the plant
er aristocracy. 1t was only very de-
liberately, Mr.. Stark says, that Wash
ington identified himself with the dis
unionist" cause.
AS for Patrick Henry MIR. Stark de-
clares that he was one OF the most un-
reliable of men. Byron called him a
forest-born~ ~Demosthenes, and Jeffer-
son, wondering over his career, ex-
claimed: where he got that torrent
of language is incOnceiyable; | have
frequently closed my eyes While he
spoke, and when he was done asked
myself what he had said without be-
ing able to recollect word Of it."
Mr.. Stark also recalls the circum-
stance that Henry failed as store
keeper before he said: Give me lib
erty or give me death"
Samuel Adams, Mr. Stark says, was
another "ne'er do WELL He quotes
a letter of Adams TO prove that he
was defaulter, and as tax collector
OF Boston did not make proper returns
of taxes, his bondsmen paying $4,000.
In telling of the Boston massacre
the book asserts that the patriots pour
ed a torrent of coarse and profane
abuse upon the soldiers. astonishing
even in its echoes across the century"
while it compares the Boston Tea Par
ty with the so-called respectable mob
which on the 11th day of August, 1884,
destroyed the Charlestown convent,
and a year later nearly killed Garrison
and made the Jail his only safe place
of refuge. Had slavery triumphed,
that mob would at this day be the
object and subject of popular glorifca-
ton"
Mr.. Stark says John Hancock was
the owner of the sloop Liberty, which
was seized for smuggling, and even as
serts that one-fourth of the signers Of
the Declaration of Independence were
bred to trade or to the command Of
ships. More than one of them, and
adds. was branded with the epithei Of
"smuggler"
As Treasurer Of Harvard College,
he declares Hancock received COL
lege funds amounting to upward Of
&15,200. Hancock, too says Mr..
Stark, proved TO be a defaulter. Ile
tells how "for twenty years the cor
poration begged and entreated him to
make restitution, and even threatened
to prosecute him. and It was only after
his death, in 1873, that his heirs made
restitution tQgthe college"
Josiah Quikay is quoted as saying
it would have been grateful to pass
over in silence the extraordinary
course he pursued in his official rela-
tion TO Harvard College had truth and
the fidelity OF history permitted"
Mr.. Stark also submits evidence
that Benjamin Franklin. when 81
years old, was dismissed from the Of
fee Of Deputy Postmaster General of
the Colonies because he stole letters
from the mail. He relates in detail
how Franklin was tried in England
and dismissed from the service. The
reference is, OF course, to the historic
incident OF the so-called Hutchinson
letters"
Mr.. Stark was born in London, but
came to this country when . years
old. He is the author OF several books,
resides in Dorchester, is President OF
the British Charitable Association,
Vice President OF the Victorian Club,
and member of the New England
Historical Genealogical Society.
HFDnC nn3