Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-07-08
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
FREEDOM PROCLAIMED ON THE
SECOND DAY OF JULY.
ON THAT DAY FINAL ACTION WAS
TAKEN ON THE DECLARATION BY
THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

In Mr.. webster's eulogy on Adams and
Jefferson he makes John Adams the proph
ct of our celebration OF Independence
Gay, writes Edward Everett Hale in The
Independent In the we'll remembered
speech which he puts into the mouth Of
Adams. the speech which a million school
boys have repeated, he makes Adams use
these words;
We make this a glorious, an immortal day.
When WE are in our graves, our children viii
honor it. They will celebrate il with thanks
giving, with festivities, with bon1res and lllu
limitations ON lis annual return they viii shed
tears, cQpIou-, gushing tears, not u suhiec-
tion and slavery, not % agony and distress,
but Of exultatlon, Of gratitude and Of joy. SIR,
before God, believe the hour Is come!
And at the end OF the Adams speech, as
Mr. Webster reproduccs it, after the words.
"independonce now and Independence for
ever, MIR. Webster says;
And Sc that day shall he honored, illustrious
prophet and patriot! SO that day shall DE hon
ored. and rs often as II returns thy renown
shall come along with it, and the glory Of thy
life, like the day of death, shall not fail from
the remembrance II men.
The reader will remember that ty one OF
those extraordinary condolences which
stagger men who Try to resolve history into
myths jefferson and Adams both died ON
the tifteth anniversary of the Declaration
of Independence
In truth there was n formal discussion
IN the continental congress beginning on
the Isl ~ July. on The question Of thu
Declaration. John Dickinson wanted II
place himself on record The delegates
just arrived from New Jersey wanted To
hear the reasoning on both sides There
Is DO record left Of that great day debate,
OF the friends OF the resolution for indie
pendence-
Lee. who had moved 1t, had been called
home: Mr.. Jefferson was no speaker; George
wyths was sensible, but not eloquent. Witber-
spoon was clear, but a tribe heavy. This de
batting talent must be admitted to have pre-
ponderated on the opposite side. 1t claimed
John Dickinson. James Wilson, Robert X. Liv.
ingston OF New York and Edward Rutledge @.
south Carolina.
These are Charles Francis Adams words
Dickinson took part in the discussion and
spoke against immediate Independence,
and the duty OF defending the proposal fell
naturally upon John Adams OF thi.
speech, as really made not one word Ia,
been transmitted to posterity. But the &C
counts Of il agree in representing it ~
having been in the highest class e oratorv.
Adams himself wrote II his " liz ca the
Sd OF DULY, after the final vote had been
20 Ne4i ~ -, ~ = rom ,'ts
caught fsw passages which he las inter
NoNeH ll'.' ~ N''NH - '''c sis''" q.
Adams In this lettcr Adams Sly:
But tn die : cast The second dsy of July
viii ire tn must memorable epocha n me his
tory Of America. am apt to believe THAT i
VIII be- celebrated hy succeeding generation.
a. the great anniversary festival 1t or.,b, fc
be c5tnyaeru ,-.,,.l ns the 5lav e ds9iv,r.,rce
lv solemn acts af devotion to God Almighty.
1t ouEl t. Ire s9ienulfel with roa9 and pa
roc, y ~. -a'''.~ ports guns ''...: bonfire
,,, ,-,,, ~. go.
ey,.r,Tor,
As is well known, the celebration Of rbe
4th IF rrl, ins..,, If The 81 ,.,,,..s r.,
~, f,a+ ,L,.,, -. -, 1,.,l.u.,+;...,
~
va" =" - '' az '''' '''' ,ii'Ni9 Pl 'SeHt'
20 soon a. TINS was cone broadslde
was issued which was sent to the different
states. he newspapers copied it inmcdi
ately. and it was read in public assem-.
hliee. sometimes from tho ORIGINAL Iro,I
s;d, nd e,,,,t to-. -, ~ ,.
~ '"N ~ 7l"l,o,'
nc ~ "a "'i'ii "iIiHtu III boston with
sucH speed Ihal IL couIo DE proclaimed on
the 18TH OF July, fortnight after II was
signed. An English officer, prisoner in
the town at that time, describes the cele.
bration:
AS passed through the town. we found il
thronged, All were in their holiday suits,
every eye beamed with delight and every
tongue was IN RAPID motion Ihe streets ad'
t1,tai,s we ,i.ri' Ger were 'lheo WIN
while in front q, the tajI cont .yreetl 49,
low $40,