Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-07-03
our independence.


The wheels of time have rolled on
and brought to us the one hundred and
tenth ap nj versary OF the Dsclarasion Of
Indepe hdence. While the Fourth Of
j uly commonly called, and by which
IL will al ways be desig grated and better
kno sn as the natal day OF American
Indepe hdence, brings the ut
most enthusiasm to every true Ameri-
can heart is OF more than general in
terest To us who live within but twenty
eight miles OF the hall in which our
political liberties we're asserted and pro-
claimed, to the citizens of the then
Three l. ,wer Counties Of Pennsylvania
and with Q distinct government, the
Declaration of Independence brings
local interest. We Imagine that the
sound Of the liberty -proclaiming bell
on the morning OF that lint mortal day
could almos. be heard by the inhabi-
tants of Wilmington. This is fit
time to turn our thoughts to that little
room 10 the old State House, and pic
ture I'D our minds the patriotic CONT
mental Congress Of fifty-eigat members
who had met to pledge their sacred
honora and their lives that America
might be nation of freemen. These
ffty.sl x men took their lives In their
hands as they wendell their way to In
dependence Hall on that immortal
Fourth of July day morning Their
action that day would brand them as
traitors to highlands king, and rebels
to the laws OF their country. Bat they
hesitated not. The whole question had
bsen thought over and thoroughly die
cussed both by the Preside and in pub
lie. Thomas Jefferson had already the
Declaration prepared. Everything OBJ
jectio1able had been eliminated and the
patriots were imbued with the spirit OF
Patrick Henry when he proclaimed In
the Virginia House of Burgesses, "Give
me liberty or give me death"
In Imagination We think we can see
deter nination stamped upon the face OIL
every man. Never did Chestnut street
before or since that day contain such
o concourse of liberty-loving people
We can but family picture the uproal
Of patriotic excitement as Ca sar Rod
ney. one OF DelawAre's representati yes
came down the street on q flying s.eed
with dlattering hoofs to be present and
aftix his name to the immortal docu-
ment that was 10 declare the U United
Colonies q nation. Rodney was in thu
military service and was down In Sus-
sex County watching the movements o
the British and tories, and it tooh
several relays of horses to bring him tc
Philadelphia in time to sign the Dscla-
ration. But he got there, his stee1
covered with sweat ard foam, while
the crowd almost tired out In lookia
for him shouted, Here he comes, max
way fpr Rodney" Let us look In side
the hall. The patriots OF the Cont
nenta Congress are all there. Johr
Hancock is in the Speakers chair, the
fire of freedom flashing from his darh
eyes, The clerk has called the roll AMI
all the members have answered. Tn
mimi tes OF the preceding session ar
read and approved Benjamin Frank
lin, by request, steps forward and read
the Declaration Of Independence TIL
molten to adopt 1t is followed not by
discussion OF the weak and stron,
points contained in 1t, all ditferen SO
had bsen before har nonized, but Il
give their assent to 1t In appropriat
word and act. Stephen Hopkins
thou2h partially paralyzsd, but with
brave heart, cautioned moderation ant
prudence, but promi sed to be with hi
brother patriots If they saw proper Il
sign the declaration. Then folio We,
the eloquent john Adam, whose speed
is handed down 10 US as brillian
piece of oratory. Live or die, sink O
swim survive or perish" he was 70
the declaration. Then came Rich ar
Henry Lee, in the burning eloqnenee c
true Virginian, stalking his lie uoo
the declaration. Samuel Adams, SUI
named the h.eorand" OF the revolt
ton, with price offered for his hea(
bids defiance to th5se seeking HIS bloot
and holds up his life as an Offering Il
the great boon OF liberty. Tnoma AZ j )
ferson, the author of the Daclarat to,
winds ~ the debate which is all on,
sided. The minds of the patriots we,
made up, and nothing could swery
them from their purpose. the questio
is demanded, the roll is called an
every State answers AYE" Toe bel
mans son, watching close tho prooeed
ings, when the Declaration was passe
rushed out, and catching the eye
his father, the bellman, in the to we
swung his hat and shouted "Tney',
done 1t, father, they We done 1t. RIM
y, r ng for liberty Then came Ii
ring Eng OF the bell, proolaimin
"libtrty throughout all the land an
to tie inhabitants thereof" Inside t,
patrl OTIS are signing the Declaratie
that immo.talizs their nanes. J,h
HANCOCK affixed his name 10 bold le
ters, saying, there, HIS Maj asty, XIII
George, can read that without glasses
Stephen Hopkins, as he atfi xed b
signature with palsIed hand, declar,
that he had not trem bling heart.
THIS was done only one hundred al
ten years ago. II seems like q lol
time but we are young as natl
still, and are On. in our Infancy VIII
COMPARED with the na.ious OF Eurol
Let every American citiz IN, who Low
Ms cp1ntfy, celebrate this anniversa
In becoming manner. Our liberti
have Cost treasure and blood, and sheu
De hdl in The highest es;eem by eve
AeerF y.loving citizen,
IT SEEMS like turning the wheels