Evening star., 1925-06-28
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L
language in regard to Cornwallis and
the acts Of which heiwas accused. and
with proofs attached. sound quite
reminiscent of certain memorials
presented to Congress against Gen.
Weyler during the Cuban insurrection,
or more recently those directed
against Hindenburg and Ludendorff
in France and Belgium. Mr.. Middle
ton died in 1887.
Commercial pursuits claimed nine
of the signers, five followed the heal
ing arts and practiced them through
out the struggle. besides attending to
legislative duties. There were two
mechanics in the Congress. The one
doctor Of divinity, John W'itherspoon,
has been honored in the National Cap
ital by statue on one of the most
beautiful avenues and before the
Church of the Covenant. Woodrow
Wilson. then president of Princeton.
pronounced the eulogy on his remote
predecessor, and this was his first off,
cial appearance in the city where he
was to play so dominant a political
role. There was one mariner among
the fifty-six and one who wrote him
self a surveyor. But all followed sew
eral occupations before and after
the signing had written their names
in the national valhalla.
A consideration which can never be
logically omitted in studying the lives
of the signers Is that all were respon-
sible men with lucrative calling, or at
least the needful competency, and
that when they pledged their fortunes
they offered something which even the
most exacting banker of today would
deem good Endorsement. John Han
cock, Robert Morris and Charles Car.
roll were affluent men and of wide
influence. John Adams had a present
fortune and a great potential one
when he affixed his name to the docu-
ment. AS Samuel Adams, his cousin,
appears always as the poor gentle
man" of the era, it would seem that
he alone of the Sc had an uncertain
financial backing. But even he had
everything to lose and nothing to gain
but liberty by declaring war against
Great Britain. But liberty they all
deemed the only boon worth while
and none shirked a single duty in the
conflict which their act invoked.
X X X X
NEARLY all the signers rose tc
eminent positions. two becoming
Presidents of the United States
| Adams and Jefferson. Scores served
| in the succeeding Congresses and sew
eral were of those who framed the
Constitution. Others received Su
| preme honor in their several States
Roger Sherman of Connecticut filled
| every role of Importance save those
| Of the executive class, was one of tho
| outstanding figures in the framing o.
| the Constitution and with the sole eX
| ception of Alexander Hamilton die
more to have that document accept
able than any four members of tha
| bodv. Mr.. Sherman served in the
| highest legal tribunal of Connection
| and was it's governor, q representative
to the National Congress and then {
| Senator. There are several other eX
amples Of similar honors conferred Oh
the signers by the grateful people
| when the war successfully terminated
! In the matter Of age, the men o
| the Congress which wrote and signed
the declaration exhibits in it's members
| a fair representation of the various
stages of life. The youngest member
, was 27, the oldest II, the former tht
ardent Rutledge of South Carolina ant
| the latter the venerable Franklin. II
| the aggregate the signers were q
their prime. AZ out Of the 56 beini
between 80 and so years. Their aver
age age on July 4. 1875, reckoned b,
| statistical measure, was 43 and
| II was llllS
| combination Of the ardor of you'll
with the caution of mature age which
drew that splendid eulogium from
Lord Chatham, in which he tracet
the progress Of a feeble people in sc
curing the confidence and support o
sovereignties and its achievement II
founding Nation which has spreat
over half a hemisphere and the shad
| ow of which has been thrown owe!
the world. The longevity Of the sign
ers has frequently excited the interes
of historians. So many passed int
an age normally far beyond their owl
that it seemed a part of their earthl.
reward that they should assist at th
gathering of the rich and tranquil
harvest which they had sowed in an
guish and often in blood.
Volumes have been written on th'
signers, for their history is part O
the beginnings Of the nation and o
the states which formed the nucleus
Of the present glorious union OF A