The Irish standard., 1913-07-12

Stuoleu dDIOdu, llTSt at 81. omar 3, Lnen
at Paris, and finally in London, where
he practiced for several years and was
admitted to the bar. AS the encyclo-
Of unusual ability, and his high char
acter and great wealth exercised al
powerful influence upon the fortunes
Of the new republic; for he ever lab
ored to secure the independence of the
colonies, and to establish in America
strong central government. The
support, therefore, which Carroll gave
to the revolution came not only from
his well-flled purse, but from his pen,
also. For his legal training enabled
him to state accurately the points of
law involved in our controversy with
England. In a series of articles print
ed in the "Federalist' and spread
broadcast through the colonies Carroll
appears as a champion of American
freedom. Lord Brougham pays him
this compliment: He had talents,
requirements, which enabled him eff
fectually to help the cause he es-
poused. His knowledge was various,
his eloquence was of high order. It
was like his character, mild and pleas
ing; like his department, correct and
faultless. His taste was peculiarly
chaste, for he was scholar of ex-
traordinary accomplishments; and few,
if any, of the speakers of the New
World came nearer the model Of the
more refined oratory practiced in the
parent state" The articles published
in the Federalist present a strange
blend of fiery eloquence, and cold. dis
passionate reasoning, as if Patrick
Henry and Thomas Paine were united
in Carrolls personality or had collab-
GRATED in his work.
It is not the purpose of this article
to under-e estimate the oratory of Pat
rick Henry, or the cold appeals to rea-
son written. by Paine and rendered so
highly effective by his plain, simple
style. But the literary work of Car
roll, because it contained the merits Of
both men>without their defects, was the
, most successful popular literature 0s
| the revolutionary period-it appealed
to the heart and the brain Of the colo
nists, winning the intellect first. and
| then arousing the emotions. Paine
saw the truth OF the situation in some
detail, but he lacked imagination: he
lacked a trained lawyers grasp of the
case; but, above all, he lacked that
| Celtic fire which burned in the breast
of Patrick Henry and Charles Carroll.
On the other hand Patrick Henry went
to the extreme in his emotional ap-
of his temperament. they would have
| been moved to frenzy by the passion
ate appeals of Henry, just as the
French revolutionists were goaded to
madness by the resistless eloquence
of Mirabeau. But Carroll represents
| via media-a type in which the hot
blood of oratory flows indeed, but is
cooled and waits upon the judgment.
He understood better than Henry or
Paine the character and temperament
of the people to whom his patriotic
appeals were addressed. John Adams
formed correct estimate when he
wrote: Carroll of Carrollton is a
gentleman of Independent fortune
perhaps the largest in Amcrica-a per-
feet master Of the French language, a
professor of the Roman Catholic faith,
a jealous debater and supporter of the
rights of the colonies His writings
are plain, forcible, and convincing, Civ
| ing due scope to rhetoric and argu-
ment, admirable. discoursed to instruct
| and arouse the common people," Car
roll himself bears testimony to his
literary activity. About thirty years
after the revolutionary war. when all
the signers of the Declaration of In
dependence were long dead, Carroll
writes to friend as follows: "As soon
as took my seat in congress signed
the Declaration of independence. which
has thus far produced and which
| hope will perpetuate the happiness of
the United States. From the very be-
ginning of the agitation lent my voice
and my pen to the support Of my coun-
,trymen."
Charles Carroll of Carrollton signed
the Declaration of Independence on
August End, 1916, the Declaration hav-
ing been passed. by congress on the
fourth Of July. There go millions
was whispered round the house, as
Carroll placed his name on the i'm
mortal document. When jestingly re-
minded by his colleagues that there
were other CAROLS in Maryland and
| therefore he would incur little risk.