Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-06
MIR. HALFoRD NOT DISTURBED.
He Says National Issues Were Not In.
VOWED.

Private Secretary Hal!ord does not seem 10
have been At all disturbed by the general DEM
ocratic success. Those who oxult over the re-
suits Of yesterdays elections" said he 10
STAR reporter this afternoon, have simply
proven how easily they forget the political his
tory OF the country. At least once in four
years the people must find vent for their
personal prejudices against certain candi-
dates and they generally select an Of year
IA which to do IT. During presidential elec
tion there are sins Of omission and commits
SION ana when party principles are
not at stake the voters consult
only ner own feelings; they so
themselves for what they have done in
the past. The elections are not evi-
dences OF additional democratic strength;
ON the contrary the democrats vote
has been cut down considerably in
many important places-nOtably in New York.
Years ago, when i lived in Chicago,
the saloon element elected Democrats
mayor in that city, aud aid
it with about 1900 votes to spare. Az the
next municipal struggle we elected
republican to the mayoralty and his
majority was about 1900. That
did not prove that there had been a great in
crease in the republican ranks; il was simply
change of sentiment on a local question. The
principles Of the republican party were not AZ
The Signing of the Declaration.
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
The article in yesterdays paper, copied from
the Philadelphia Press, contains some slight
mistakes. The distinctioni is not made between
the resolution OF independence, which was
passed on the I'd of July, and the declaration,
passed on the memorable 4th. 1t was printed
by Congress on a large sheet of paper during
that evening and the next morning, and on the
5;h was given 10 the world attested in print by
John Hancock, President, and Charles Thorn
son, Secretary Of Congress. II was officially
read to the public not on the 4th. but on the
9th or sth of July, by John Nixon from the
state house steps.
The engrossed declaration as il is now seen.
signed by the immortal ffty-six, was prepared
and generally signed on the I'd OF August fol-
lowing. The matter was kept secret by Con-
Gress for prudential reasons and entered only
on the secret journal. The names, however,
were made public in January, l777, and bear
ing date July 4. l776, il was plausibly inferred
that the parchment signed on that day.
Ii is still believed by the great majority of peo-
pie even at the present time.
The first to question this popular fallacy was
ex-Gov. Thomas Mexican. himself a signer In a
letter of September &C. 1896, and subsequently
IN the letter of August %, 1913, lately read by
Mr.. Bayard at the unveiling OF the monument
to Cesar Rodney at Dover, Del. In two other
letters also, all OF which have been published,
he makes similar statements He enumerates
several signers who were not members Of Con-
gress on the 4th, but being elected before the
"a of August signed on that latter day. He
also names Or. Thurston Of New Hampshire.
who was not elected until afterward taking
his seat November L. lie also signed. Nc
Kean was the last 70 sign but when he affixed
his signature is not definitely known. IL was
probably not long after January, l777. The
reason his signature was delayed is that imme-.
diately after the declaration was passed on the
Ath another resolution was passed that all
the available troops should march without de-
lay to support Gen. Washington in New Jersey.
Mr.. Mexican, therefore. marched at the head
of a battalion, of which he was colonel, and
was still in the Jerseys on the I'd Of August,
nor did he return for some time after that date
RoBERDEAU BUCHANAN.