In a recent column, Ann Coulter vigorously condemns the Leftist revisionist history treatment of Senator Joe McCarthy and longtime FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, reminding us that both men were libelously accused of being homosexual. The attacks on Hoover intensified after his death, and just this year, the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival staged a musical comedy about Hoover’s never-proven gay side in “J. Edgar! The Musical,” written by Harry Shearer and Tom Leopold.
Isn’t it interesting how the traitorous Left can have it both ways? While applauding anyone with the correct politics who comes out of the closet, they can simultaneously use homosexuality to taint their political enemies. Isn’t it also interesting that just about the only columnist on the Right, who writes with huevos and scares the Hell out of the Left, happens to be an anorexic blonde chick attorney, who once worked in government?
At the same festival, a “Freedom of Speech” award was presented to corpulent faux documentarian Michael Moore, while festival executive director Stu Smiley gushed that the purpose of the festival was
“to reacquaint ourselves with people who have sacrificed for their right to express themselves.”
I’m not sure just what was sacrificed by multi-millionaire Moore, but this nonsense must be viewed in the same context as sports “heroes” and all those “courageous” individuals who ad nauseum reveal their homosexuality—mostly when it seems to be to their immediate personal benefit to do so. (Chrissy Gephardt propping up her father’s presidential run, and Richard Chamberlain’s far-from-surprise announcement, that may yet jump-start his fading career, come to mind.) Let me lift you up, if only for a few moments, from our present day, doomed as it is to mostly effete, epicene, impuissant, and counterfeit “leaders.”
If it’s heroes and courage you want, especially around July 4th, then I would nominate the signers of the Declaration of Independence, all of whom had a great deal to lose, but none more than the richest man in the Colonies, and, for that matter, the richest man in the United States until his death—Charles Carroll.
The only Catholic signer, and scion of a prominent Maryland family, who enjoyed the friendship of the noble Baltimores, Carroll received an exceptional education, that included stints at Jesuit schools at home, and in France. He also studied law in Bourges and London, finally returning to America in 1765 at age 28.
Given his family history whereby his grandfather emigrated from England in 1688 to escape religious persecution, it was perhaps inevitable that he would take up the colonists’ side against the Brits. He wouldn’t have too long to wait.
In 1770, Governor Eden imposed certain fees by proclamation (sound familiar?). Carroll protested that these fees were actually taxes, and that taxes should not be levied upon the people except by the consent of their representatives. The issue was debated in the “Maryland Gazette” newspaper, and Carroll won the day. He was to remain in public life until 1801.
Eschewing a life of privilege and pleasure, Carroll was an early advocate of independence, embracing the cause well before the leadership of his colony, that failed to send a representative to the first Continental Congress. In fact, in January, 1776, well into the second Continental Congress, the Maryland Convention instructed its delegates to
“disavow in the most solemn manner, all design in the colonies for independence”
But, by June, and largely because of Carroll, the Convention authorized its delegates to
“vote in declaring the United States free and independent states”
On the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration (occurring as it did, some weeks after July 4th), Carroll was honored as the only surviving signer. Ironically, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration was approved by the Continental Congress.
Carroll’s cousin, John Carroll, was the first American Catholic bishop, and author of the famous Prayer for the Government. But, Charles Carroll himself left us these wise words:
“Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure (and) which insures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.”
Should we add “prophet” to his posthumous resumé?