The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-04
WHY WE CELEBRATE NATIONS BIRTHDAY
The Red White and Blue Will Wave in the Land of the Free
aid Every True American Will Make His Own
Declaration of Independence

approved by the committee. A few pas
sages were struck out by Congress.
Caesar Rodney, one of Delaware.
delegates, in order to have his vote re.
corded, rode in the saddle from a point
eighty miles from Philadelphia, all night
and reached the floor in time on July 4
to cast Delaware's vote in favor OF in
dependence. On that day, ever memor-
| ible in american annals, the Declaration
| of Independence was adopted by the
unanimous vote of the thirteen colonies
| The enthusiasm of the patriotic at
hearing the intelligence, was unbounded.
While Congress had been discussing the
subject, crowds assembled outside the
hall and in the streets, anxiously await
/! ing the result. When it was announced
at noon the State House BELL on which
! vas inscribed: Proclaim liberty through
out al the lands unto all the inhabitants
thereof changed deep and melodiously
and the throng gave vent to long and
loud shouts of exultation.
| The old bell-ringer had been at his post
since early morning. He had placed his
boy below TO announce when the Declara-
ton was adopted, SO that not an instant
might be lost In transferring the glad
tidinge by means OF the bell to the await
ing multitude. As the wearisome hours
passed ard no sign came to him, the aged
lbell-ringer finally exclaimed: "They will
never DO it! They will never do itv'
Just then he heard his boy clapping his
hands and yociferating at the top of his
juvenile lungs, Ring! Ringr' The old
hands ewayed the sonorous bell with
delirious yigor. It's reverberaticn was
echoed by every steeple in the city.
| That was gala day in Philadelphia,
what with rejoicing and bonires and il
| Nominations The cannon doomed and
messengers rode AWAY hotly to all quar-
ters TO announce the news. Washington
then was in New York with the army.
BY his orders it was read to the soldiers
who acclaimed it enthusiastically. The
ltownsfolk On that night tore the statue
of George III. from its pedestal in
Bowling Green, and it was melted into
forty thousand bullets for the patriot
troops.
Yesterday" wrote John Adams to his
wife, "thc greatest question was decided
that was ever debated in America; and
greater, perhaps, never was or will be
decided among men. A resolution was
passed without one dissenting colony
that these United Colonies are, and Of
right ought to be. free and independent
The day is passed. The Fourth of July,
I1776, win be a memorable epoch in the
history Of america. ] am apt to believe
it viii be celebrated by succeeding gem
IeraEoD6 as the great anniversary festival.
1t ought TO be commemorated as the
day Of deliverance by solemn acts of de-
votion 10 Almighty God. Tt ought to be
solemnized with pomp. shows, games,
sports, guns, bells, bonires and illumina.
tons from one end of the continent to
the other, from this time forward for
lever'
BY strange coincidence John Adams
died on July 4, 1896. the fiftieth anniver-
Isary or the Declaration of independence.
His last words were: Jefferson still sur
wives" But at ] O'Clock on the.same day
Jefferson also passed away.
Poys and girls for generations have
been taught these facts in history; that
lis, the boys and girls who have studied
the history of the United States. There
are thousands resident here now who
have never had this opportunity. To
them The Fourth of July is a holiday, a
day to celebrate. a day of enjoyment.
TO the American boy and girl, who
knows what happened here 121 years ago.
1T is so much more than that that it is
no eSaggeration TO say they enjoy the
celebration with twice the keenness that
those who are ignorant OF the country 5
history could possibly experience.
| Among the older ones, plenty of whom
have studied history, too, there is host
who only know that Fourth Of July i
the day when the Declaration of indie
lpendence was made public. That is what
we celebrate. to be sure, but the kindred
Incidents must be known to those who
would appreciate the greatness OF the day
would appreciate the greatnes of the day
celebrate the Fourth of July. To the
American citizen these two are The
Damon and Pythias Of freedom. VIZ
wave the first and we set off fre-work,
in observance Of the second. And the1
incidentally we all make a little declara
ton OF independence of our own.