Among the strongest advocates for American independence were Irishmen, or the descendants of Irishmen. Hancock and Rutledge and the Carrolls and their co-workers contributed vastly to the development of a National spirit. The work of these strong, patriotic and efficient men had much to do with drawing the colonies together in united effort and cementing their interests in the common cause. Their voices had long been raised in protest against the Mother Country before the musketry was heard at Lexington. These brave and courageous men, and their associates, with their large vision and patriotic purpose, pointed out the way and crystalized the sentiment for national independence. The work they performed for the cause of national independence, though different in character, was as important in its way as that of the actual participants in the field, of the general or the soldier. As indicative of the high character of the Irish race, and of their activities and large influence in the formative period of our National history it is gratifying and with a sense of pride in this presence to state that in the First Continental Congress, with a membership of fifty-four, eleven were Irish or of Irish descent. The same race has also to its credit three presidents of the Republic whose ancestors came from the Emerald Isle. And Roosevelt, an honored member of this Society, not only our President, but the most distinguished citizen of the world, takes pride in the fact that he can trace his lineage to this indomitable people. (Applause.) Of the membership of the Continental Congress that put forth the immortal Declaration of Independence, twenty per cent was Irish or of Irish descent. The hand of Thompson that first transcribed it upon parchment was Irish; the first signature that was placed to it as President was that of John Hancock, an Irishman-American; and when those immortal words were read for the first time to the assembled multitude from the balcony of Continental Hall at Philadelphia, it was by the voice of an Irishman, Mr. Nixon; and when it was placed in type for the first time it was by one Dunlap, an Irish printer.