The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-01-19
THOMAS JOHNSON, FIRST
GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND
War Ruler of State Won Com
mendatiOn From Washington
Among Other Leaders.

Frederick, appeared in the book re-
view section of the New York Times
Sunday last under the heading:
Thomas Johnson = A Neglected
Founding Father" as follows:
When political personality fails to
be amply recognized by his own gen
Grafton it is difficult for biographer
to establish his prestige with future
generation. Mr.. Deleaplaine has at
tempted to perform this service for
the first Governor of Maryland, who
was also a warm friend of George
Washington, a member of the Poto-
mac Company,lawyer of parts, an am
ateur soldier, an iron founder, a spec
ulator in real estate, an Associate JUS
tice of the United States Supreme
Court, a Commissioner of the Federal
City of Washington, and perhaps also
something of a philosopher. A life
lived in these capacities should have
been exciting as we'll as significant.
But Mr.. Delaplaine, though he has ev-
identity made a thorough study of his
material, does not quite succeed in
making Thomas johnson vivid.
The reader is not certain whether
this is Mr.. Delaplaines fault or Mr..
Johnson's. Mr.. Delaplaine is at least
not lively and sometimes he is ingen-
ious. For instance, he observes:
"In the early days of the State the
Legislators were not bound by blocs or
cliques. These were the days when,
regardless of friendships, men voted
their own personal convictions"
Practical Man.
Statements of this sort may still ap-
pear in elementary textbooks but they
have ceased to be feature of history
or biography intended for adult minds.
The fact is, on Mr.. Delaplaine'S own
showing that Johnson honest and pub
lic-spirited man though he was, was
not unaware of his own interests. AS
delegate to the State Convention Of
Maryland he got through law in the
| interests of his own Potomac Compa-
ny. AS a Commissioner of the FEEDER
al city he bought land for a rise in
value and involved himself in unpleas-
ant litigation. When supply agents
for the Continental troops were buy
ing flour in Maryland at what were
thought inflated prices he took the
eminently practical view that the
| main thing was to get the flour to the
troops at whatever price the market
demanded
That he had unusual ability was
manifest. He was one of a committee
appointed by the Maryland Conven-
ton in 1774 to concert measures with
Pennsylvania and Virginia. He serv-
ed on numerous important committees
| of Congress. John Adams said of
| him:
johnson of Maryland has a clear
and a cool head, an extensive knowl-
edge of trade as we'll as law. He is
a celebrating man, but not shining
orator; his passions and imaginations
don't appear enough for an orator;
his reason and penetration appear
but not his rhetoric"
Mr.. Delaplaine makes an important
point of the fact that it was johnson
and not Adams who nominated George
| Washington for the command of the
Continental armies. But as Mr.. Della
| PLANE himself comedies, johnson did
not make the nomination until after
Adams had pushed the suggestion
with all his influence and eloquence.
Adams illusions, in fact, became SO
pointed that Colonel Washington, who
was occupying a seat near the door
darted with characteristic modesty in
to the library. The actual nomination
by johnson, though an act of friend
ship, seems to have been stragetic, for
Maryland held the middle ground be-
tween Virginia and New England.
johnson had the caution and conser-
vatism of a thoroughgoing business
man. He is said to have told the royal
Governor Eden Of Maryland that "the
first Hessian soldier who puts his foot
on Maryland soil will absolve me from
all allegiance to Great Britain. But
when the pinch came he stood with
Jay and Dickinson for reconciliation
and against what he considered pre-
mature declaration of independence
Whether or not he would have voted
for the Declaration had he been pres
ent in Congress at the time is ques-
ton. Mr. Delaplaine believes he would
But Mr. Delaplaine' also believes that
the Declaration was actually adopted
on the Fourt of July-an error Of
which modern scholarship long age
disposed.
AS a war Governor of Maryland
johnson was energetic and earnest
His friendship with Washington as
we'll as his reluctant conversion to the
cause of independence made him co.
operate with the Federal Government