The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-02-13
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about many things. sometimes pro-
foundly, sometimes fippxntly,
sometimes recklessly.


ton. Charles Edward Russell's life of
Haym Salomon has been considered
in this column, but further consider
alton Of the book inspires further con-
sideration in these faltering para
graphs.
Haymn Salomon, Polish Jew who
was born in an atmosphere of resent
ment against tyranny, had been but
nine years in the American colonies
when he thrust himself, naturally and
with his whole soul, into the revolu-
tion then sprouting. He became the
seems almost that he became the
financial genius of the Revolution.
A wizard in business, this little
known personality put money in the
treasury when to do so seemed a
miracle. But more, he put, from his
own private earnings, money into the
hands of Colonial leaders who must
| have had to quit the battle but for his
quiet help. That, it will seem to
many, is the brightest side of Haymn
Salomon's service.
But this return consideration is
caused not so much by finding in the
book the inspiring story of this re-
| tiring wizard, who was but one of
many Jews who gave great service to
freedoms cause, as it is brought forth
by the manner in which Russell re-
wives the whole spirit of the Revolu-
ton, to save it from the merciless
claws of the debunkers, as they cali
i themselves.
Russell paints the picture of the
whole Revolutionary scene. Those
who would make but Civil War of
the Revolution are given short shrift
by Russell. He finds George Wash
ington towering figures, earnest
patient, great Revolutionary gen
eral, holding squabbling forces to-
gether by the sheer might of his
tpower as man and leader.
And the squabbling there was
and the cross purposes. There was
no Union There were thirteen SOY.
ereign states. Thus no financial
strength, no military orderliness
Great mutinies came at critical mo-
ments.
The Sons of Freedom, among whom
Solomon was numbered, were a great
band of highly courageous spirits
They stood for freedom. They knew
what the issue was and they refused
to be misled or fooled.
If Russell, writing cogently and as
if with truck loads Of facts and doeu
ments piled about him, steeped in the
material of his theme, did not more
than revive for us the magnificently
inspiring story of the Sons of Free
dom he would have earned our graft
tude.
Here were men, among these Sons
, whose gallantry was supreme, but
, above all whose conviction was sure
No era of human life ever produced
finer devotion and sacrifice. They
took the Jewish broker, Haym Salo
mon, to their numbers because they
found him as true as themselves. AnC
he was but one among them to know
the brutality of the new gaol in New
York, before he got himself to Phila
delphia and to service with Morris
: The British were plentifully unkind
4 in that gaol, to American prisoners
The Sons of Freedom were never
turned aside by punishment, or tn,
menace thereof They held libert,
dearer than life.
America could do with a great dea
, of that Sons of Freedom spirit il
these times. America could do will
great deal of the sureness of min;
and heart that drove those men for
ward in the face of overwhelming
odds.
II the Colonists had been guided b,
logic they would have been beater
before they started. Everything was