Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-17
Address by DR.. Peters.


address 'Haym Solomon. the Jew, the
Man. the Patriot and the Backer of the
American Revolution" He made an
earnest plea that the people of the re-
public erect the monument as proposed,
declaring that Solomon did as much to
establish the nations credit Washing
ton did on the field of battle.
"Haym Solomon, Polish Jew he
said. ''in 1881 became a dealer in bills
Of exchange in France and Holland. He
was intrusted with the negotiation of
all the war subsidies of France and Hol-
land. on his own personal integrity,
which were sold to the resident mer-
chants in America without any loss, at
a credit of two or three months, for
which he received the small commission
Of one-fourth of l per cent. For the
most part the money advanced by Louis
XVI passed through his hands. He was
appointed broker to the French consul
and treasurer of the French army and
fiscal agent of the French minister TO
the United States. enormous sums passing
through his hands. He was the conf
Dental friend and adviser of agents, con-
suls and representatives of foreign pow
ers in sympathy with the revolutionary
movement. He was made banker for the
French government. treasurer or the
forces of France in America and made
paymaSter general, which once he niled
free of charge.
HE was the principal depositor OF the
Bank of North America, an institution
founded through the instrumentality of
Robert Morris to serve as means of
obtaining funds to carry on the govern
ment. the first and only bank chartered
by the revolutionary congress Morris
diary records not less than seventy-tive
transactions with Solomon between Au-
gust, 1881, and April, 1884. Solomon s
balances at various times Of settlement
in his bank book show sums of from
$4,000 to $4,000.
Views of Hamilton.
Alexander Hamilton. writing during the
dark days Of the war to Robert Morris,
says: 1T is by restoring public credit,
not by gaining battles, that we are fin
ally to gain our object Haym Solomon
brought not only all his wealth to the
aid Of his adopted country. but finan-
cial insight which, for clearness and
depth, was not surpassed by Alexander
Hamilton. nor equaled by Robert Morris
America found in Haym Solomon
in resources and soundness of financial
views made him. through Robert Morris,
superintendent Of finance, the real finan-
cier of the revolution, and, Judged by
Alexander Hamilton's standard OF pa
triotism. surpassed by none, for Haym
Solomon was practically the sole agent
employed by Morris for negotiating bills
of exchange. by which means the credit
of the government was so largely 1ndlil-
tanned during this period. We do not
wish to detract from the glory Of Robert
Morris but we do insist that the success
Morris obtained in his financial schemes
was due to the skin ability and sacrifice
of Haym Solomon.
Not only did Solomon advance large
sums to the government for which he re-
ceived no return, but the services of
James Madison, Edmund Randolph
Gems. Miffin. st. Clair and others. were
retained In the cause through his bounty
James Madison's Tribute.
James Madison. twice President Of the
United States. the most learned and
patriotic member of the revolutionary
Congress, thus paid his tribute to Salo-
mons devotion and bounty: When any
member was in need all that was neces-
sary was to call upon Solomon Again
and again he refers to his little friend in
Front street. acknowledged not only his
Indebtedness to the little Jew on whose
bounty he had pensioned, but again and
again refers to his integrity and disin-
terestednesS.
1t is true that there were merchants