Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-07-06
The One Hundr red and Fourth.

The One Hundred and FOurub.
One hundred and four when applied
TO the period said to be allotted to man
10 live is long space of time, but
VIII IN applied TO tn. lives Of nations it
is very short. Only one hundred and
four years ago in Independence Hall,
Philaie phia, within twenty-eight miles
of our own city, it was declared that
"thess united colonies ought to be free
and Independent States. There were
only thirteen then in the family group,
but they have grown to be thirty. eight.
One hundred and four years ago last
Sunday, for which Monday was used to
celebrate, ffty-six wigged. powdered
and curled gentlemen met together as
the Continental Congress in the old
hall, Chen comparatively new men
toned, pledged to one another thtir
support Of that Declaration, "their
lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor" Many other things were prom
issd at tie slme time, about which
there were differences Of opinion and
there are differences of opinion still,
but they Ika Congresses now have to
compromise, give a little and take a
little for the sake of harmony and for
the sake Of preserving a perfect union
Of States. Ons of the great causes OF
difference then, afterwards le1 to a long
and bloody war, in which might and
tie right triumphed, but there are
differences still and there will
be differences to the end of tims. That
primitive Congress, had to keep ia
view many prejudices and many things
were carefully enumerated so that
they might not cause offence, but in
regard to tbs great essential principle
oslibcrty AMI lresdom all were united,
aud in their condemnation of the
tyranny OF English Government there
was but one voice. In their platform
OF principles, some very plain language
was used and the Fathers were no
ways backward in declaring that His
Majesty George III, was "unft to be
the ruler o. a free people" 1t is bu.
seldom sEca plain language is put in
our modern day platforms.
In regard to the kind of government
bsst adapted to the new order Of things
there were differences of opinion, many
even of the signers of the immortal
Declaration Of Independence, being in
favor of a strong Government, and a
strong man at the head of it. Th ese
differences Of opinion might have led
to serious results had there not been a
common bond Of hatred to King Georges
rule. Against the hard hearted tories
Of the country and against tbs forces of
His Majesty, which at one time amount
ed to forty thouand well equipped
troops, the patriots Of tina. day had
an undying hatred, and in car.
rying out their pledges to drive
the invaders from the land they
kept their pledges, and to-d.y we en-
joy the results Of tie wise PERCEPTION,
the resolute purpose and heroic devo.
ton, through which hey laid the foun-
dation Of this grea. Republic, now the
admiration Of the world Of Kingdoms
and empires.
One hundred ard four years ago
these ffty-six men took their lives in
their hands when hey entered that
hall, not knowing what would be the
result, but their minds were made up
and none Of them shrank back from the
ordeal. See with what frmness and q
triumphant flourish the President
John Hancock, affixed his signature
He was the first to sign. He was ar
excellent pensman, and the flourish
with which his pane was written can
not be taken as any indication o
vanity. No doubt, as he traced the let
ters with the old quill pen, he fell
proud that he was given an opportuni
ty to thus express his devotion to thu
cause Of liberty, and though in the
eyes of the British Government this
was rank treason which would subject
his neck to the halter il the
colonists did not succeed, not tremol
is noticeable in the evenly traced
hairliaes tina! 80 perfectly formed the