All good things must come to an end

are, sadly, nearing the end of the IJN’s Signers of the Declaration series. In each of her weekly installments, Linda Berrettini-McGinnis has explored the signers of the Declaration of Independence, some famous, some obscure. Each, without fail, had a fascinating life, filled with adventure, challenges, tragedies and, above all, commitment to liberty. As one reads the columns, a cliché comes to mind: “They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to.” Which is interesting, because many of the signers are today under fire for not living their lives according to 21st century social values. They are vilified for being slave owners, or misogynists, or racists. Some go so far as to discredit these men’s invaluable contribution to human and political development because of these handicaps. […]