Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-04
WHY WE CELEBRATE.
FOURTH Is THE DAY IN UNITED
STATES TO GIVE THANKS.
TIE CAUSE BEGAN 12i YEARS AGO
1t Started with n Message That In
dependence Bell Rang Ont I'm Phil
adeIphia in 1776-A Death Kncll to
Bondage.
Correspondence Of the Dispatch.)

Correspondence Of the Dispatch)
NEW YORK. July 3.-This is the day
OF patriotism and the frecracker. Every
one-old citizen or new arrival-cele-
brates. One and all know there is just
cause for the celebration, but few rea-
lie the great and glorious facts. They
are facts that make every one who re-
ally can say he is citizen of the United
States feel as proud as II is possible for
a human being to feel the stimulus Of
pride.
lust 12f years ago the bell rang in In
dependence Hall, in Philadelphia. To
the unlnitiated it pealed its sonorous
notes for some unknown purpose. To
those who. breathless, were waiting for
the sound, 1t told the news that liberty
had shaken OFF her shackles in the New
World; that she had taken her rightful
place and that hereafter the people
would acknowledge the power OF no
ruler except such as might be chosen by
themselves. 1t was a curious scene IN
that staid old Quaker town, the last place
! I'm the Colonies where one would have
suspected "A spark would be given birth
IN light freedoms torch throughout the
| Western Hemisphere
IT was on the eth day of June, 1716, that
| the delegates from the Colonies sit
ting in Congress, in Philadelphia, con-
sidered the following resolution, intro
duced by Virginia's statesman, Richard
Henry Lee:
"Resolved, That the United Colonies are
| and ought to be, free and independent
i with
| Great Britain is, and ought 10 be, dis
solved"
There had been murmurings and
| threats and calm expressions of deter
| mination. But here was united action.
! The people, by their representatives
| duly chosen, formally absolved them
selves from allegiance from the Mother
| Country and said TO the world that they
| had cast off their swaddling clothes
| they were now wholly able to walk alone.
| To speak with absolute truth, all the
| delegates did not favor this progressive
| stem. Some opposed It on the ground
that II was premature, others, and
among them some OF the brightest
spirits of the assemblage, both spoke and
voted against the resolution.
OVERcAME OPPOSITION.
Nevertheless, the resolution overcame
|
bv the majority of one. Thirteen Colo
Mes were represented. Because seven of
them voted and stood for independence,
the limited States is to-day what she is.
SUBSEQUENT developments prove that had
tho action taken been delayed, the ques-
zion OF independence might have slept
On neace until the herald OF the people,
no one knows how many years after,
sounded the tocsin of revolution. Inc
! doloyates thought it wise to DEFER the
, question Of final consideration TO July l,
,--e nv which time they believed there
The ha more united feeling among tho
people. ,,u, .,o,
..,,,o,,s committee was appointed TO
f-o,,a the Declaration Of Independence.
Me the names. and II you are STU
dent of tho history OF the United States'
conceive II you can, OF pelter qui"-
tette TO have represented the American
neonle: BENJAMIN Franklin, Johh Aualhs'
Thomas jefferson, Roger sherman ~
bert r. Livingston. The nrst WAS the
man whose fame IL licked into our ears
every time we hear telegraph iiistru,
.ont whose genius Is placed in broad
~. ,,horever we enjoy the illumina-
ton of electricity. The second rose 70
- president of the nation he helped %
sor,r rhe third is the father or wha'
49, World knows as Jeffersonian Democ-
-, THE fourth-Puritan, patriot, lead-
arrgave more IN moral force ana oe-
Termination. in knowledge OF inc law
ord its common sense principies tnsN
air,os, anv man who assisted at Inc
birth of the nation. The nfth was u,'
80 Of whom the majority or people
Lnoyv comparatively little, and yet tner'
81, rona who better deserved plact
20 homer in the public mind Emiheh'
20 a fnancler. n shrewd Judge OF hunai
,,at,re his touch on the helm OF sta''
was exactly what was needed 10 heei
the young craft on her course. co,
Jefferson had spoken but nt,.e III
oress. and he had no part In the acpiai io
siies', ,bich then prevailed. In PLAIN
hrScL house. corner OF Market am
Saventh streets, philadelphia, he dratrs'
the Declaration Of independence. III
work was almost wnony Seing sugeeste,
a. Adams and Franklin. 1t was tnsl
ennroyed by the committee. rev pas
saqes were struck out by Congress. -.
raesar Rodney, one OF DeiaWares uSiS
atss IN order TO have his vote recorded
sroda In the saddle from point elsnt
miles from Philadelphia all night an
reached the floor Just IN tine sv on S ~ inde
nendence. on that day, ever memoraDI
rnerican annals. the Declaration O
Indenendence was adopted by the unani
nous vote OF the thirteen Colonies.
The enthusiasm Of the patriots at near
,n ne me Intelligence was unbounded
While Congress had been discussing IN
subject. crowds assembled outside IN
baII and in the streets, anUously awai'
ing the result; When !. T heT, a ON whic
vas Inscribed. proclaim liberty through
out out all the lands unto all the inhabitant