New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-04-15
THE BELL OF LIBERTY.

THE BELL OF LIBERTY.
The Pathos Of It's Mission to the Southern
People Kindling Anew the Fires Of Ma
ttonal Pride and Patriotism. -
To the Editor Of the Capital.
No more happy event has trans
pired in this country than the visit to
the Worlds exposition at New Or
leans of the grand old Liberty bell.
In view of comparative recent
events, and the vindictive animoslties
and resentments, peculiar to family
quarrels, which grew out of them,
and which, for a while, seemed des-
tined to create an everlasting breach
between the north and the south, the
spectacle at New Orleans the other
day was most remarkable one, and
one to swell the heart of every true
American with pride of his country
with citation at the unity of his fellow
countrymen, once more presented to
the world as a grand and irresistible
whole.
IT anything was wanting to convince
fair minded men and women of the un-
swerving loyalty of the southern peo-
pie to all these great Americanisms
which are distinctly ours, and which
have characterized us as a nation, it
was supplied in the affectionate recep-
ton accorded that proud old SOUVENIR
of American liberty on the 9th of
January, at New Orleans. Hereto
fore we guarded it at the north with
Jealous care, as would mother her
tenderest offspring-as something too
sacred to be entrusted to hands other
of the venerable structure, which for
nearly $50 years has given it shelter.
But, 10! the millennium of peace has
come, and shed its refulgent rays
throughout the length and breadth of
this great and prosperous land; quar-
rels and discussions have been re-
placed by fraternity and good will,
founded on the higher and broader
plain of patriotism. Our brothers of
the south in cumulative rivalry of their
brothers of the north, inaugurate a
great peace fair, and invite the world
to be their guests, and bear testimony
to their earnest and bona tide efforts to
keep step with the symphony of the
age in its harmony of science, art and
universal progress. Then it was in
accordance with the very nature of
things that this noble old harbinger of
free people should wake up from it's
long repose and start out on its mis-
sion in all the state of a conquering
hero.
AS all eyes are turned again to this
historic bell, [ have concluded that it
will not be out Of place to briefly sum-
Marie it's history, which, in a general
way, is already familiar to every one!
And in doing this I necessarily have
to refer to that edifice so dear to the
American people, Independence hall,
which is and ever will be inseparably
connected with the Liberty Bell.
The first assemblage of representa-
tives of the people of Pennsylvania
was in December, 1852, at Chester,
in log house, which was destroyed
during the revolutionary war. They
next met in Philadelphia for the first
time in 1858 they had no fixed place
in which to assemble.
Their first meeting was in an old
boarded meeting house. They were
often required to move. Sometimes
when they adjourned on Saturday it
was to meet the following Monday
in another building, either a school or
meeting house, or private residence.
But the appointments of Legislative
halls in We olden time were not nearly
so commodious and luxurious as now,
hence the difficulty attendant on a
change Of quarters were triAing. A
large deal table around which the
members grouped, with some simple
chairs and stools, generally constitute
ed the furniture. One winter they
occupied a school room, for the use
of which, during the session, they
had agreed to pay the master, one
Thomas Maxim, the sum of twenty
shillings, but Mr.. Maxim making a
piteous complaint to the assembly,
that by surrendering up his room
generously voted him three pounds
more. This romantic method of hold
ing session of the Pennsylvania legisla-
ture continued until 1929, when an
act passed reciting, among other
things. ''That a house for the repre-
sentatives of the freemen of this
province to meet in is very much
wanted"
After much delay and trouble g
building was commenced, and Mr.
Hamilton, speaker of the assembly
appointed its architect and supervisor
Human nature has already been very
nearly alike, and it seems the gooc
citizens of s.that province" made
things about as warm for Hamilton
as for some of our more modern
government architects. At any rate
we find him begging of the assembly
at later period to release him from
the burden they had imposed on hin
in the following indignant strain:
"Many Persons, imagining it Nigh
recommend them to the People, hav'
made it their business to charge M,
with being the sole Protector of tn
Building for Mine own aggrandise
} ment and emolument, and that m,
} Head is running the country to mucl
J greater Charge than IS necessary.
But the assembly evidently though