The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-06-29
THE EVENTFUL HOUR
TWO O'CLOCK, JULY. 1875, MARKED
A NATIONS BIRTH.

rmnres.tye scene In the Continental
Congress--signing the Declaration.
Spreading the Glad Tidings-Apofn-
costs of July 4.
Up to 2 O'Clock in the afternoon OF that
Fourth of July, 1776, American independ
ence hung in the balance.
How eyes and thoughts were turned
that summer day TO the old statehouse al
Philadelphia! Would the body of men
gathered there take the stepa Would they
dare to do 1t?
For many months the colonists had
been carrying on brave, unequal strug-
gle with the mother country. But that
struggle had been as loyal subjects OF the
English king, in arms only as against GER
tain acts of injustice.
Now that other conception, at first pass
ed in hushed whispers from man to man
and later set ringing through the colonies
by the eloquence of Patrick Henry and the
logic of Thomas Paine, that glorious con-
ception of American Independence was be-
ing finally weighed in the balance against
the claims of George III.
And yet all knew there were grave diff
culties in the way of Independence. Many
would have known It better could they
have stood within the east room Of the old
statehouse through the long hours of that
hot July day. There sat the Continental
congress, now pale faced, grim and care
worn.
At the east side of the chamber on
dais sat the presiding officer In his red
leather chair. Before him was large
mahogany table, on which a massive ink
stand of silver held bunch OF fresh
quilts A document then under discus
sion lay beside 1t. The men who were to
use the quilts that day in making that
document, "America's Magma Charta,
were grouped about In semicircle.
They were not men of the same nation
atty, for among them were two English
men, three Irishmen, two Scotchmen, one
Welshman; the others were born in the
colonies. Not Of the same occupation,
either, for "a lawyers, IA farmers, mer-
chants, physicians, gospel minister
and manufacturer were there. Not rep
resenting the interest of a single state, but
of 10 separate little governments, torn by
longings, fears and discussions On the
right of the chairman sat Benjamin
Franklin, with his soft hair flowing down
his shoulders. Farther on was Thomas
jefferson, the writer of the document on
the table, now busy taking notes of the
proceedings. Directly in front sat young
Richard Lee, who had risen days before to
read to the hushed assembly the daring
resolution, "That these united colonies
are and of right ought to be free and in
dependent States and that all political con-
nection between us and the state of Great
Britain is and ought to be totally dissolv
ed"
Here, in their quaint attire, with pow
dered hair in "cues," knee breeches and
buckles, broad tapped coats and bright
hued waistcoats, sat the men who were to
be known as the signers of the Declaration
of Independence.
Inch by inch the ground was gone over,
the chamber now ringing with applause,
now hushed in awe, as fiery words pic
tured the triumph of liberty or warning
voice foretold humiliation and defeat.
Then came the moment when the last
word had been spoken. Even the plea for
postponement because ssthe people are not
ripe for declaration OF independence"
had been finally crushed by the answer in
the broad Scotch accents of DR.. Wither-
spoon: ''Not ripe, sirl In my Judgment
we are not only ripe, but rotting Almost
stem, and your own province, sir, needs
no more sunshine to mature it. "
It was 2 O'Clock when the vote was tax
en-. Secretary Thomas arose and announc-
ed to the assembled congress the final de-
cision and sat down Suddenly the cham
Der, but now so full of words of gestures,
of flashing eyes and of imprisoned figures,
is hushed, and those within it motionless;
almost the rapid heart beats can be heard.
Then, in geographical order, the men,
bers signed the paper. And in the relief
of a decision they made grim jokes.
So big Carter Bruxton of Virginia said
to little Charles Carroll of Maryland as
the two walked to the table, "Well, Mr..
Carroll, the British say they will hang us
as rebels If they catch us. If they do, I
will have greatly the advantage, for, as I
am heavy, my neck will be broken at once,
while fear you will bangle in the air and
hang on for some time" Still smiling at
the Jest, Mr.. Carroll stepped forward and
signed his name. Then he added "of Car
rollton," saying, "There Is my address II
any one wishes to find me-"
John Hancock, the president of con-
gress, must have taken fresh quill to
make his big signature, remarking, as he
wrote, that he guessed John Bull could
read that without spectaclee. Then he
added grayeiy that there was great neces-
sity OF their "all hanging together in this
matter"
Yes, indeed, said Benjamin Frank
lin, eve must all hang together, gentle
men. or assuredly we shall all hang sepa-
/ rateiy."
5, The big bell that had been mufied to
toll on the passing Of, the stamp act (Which
the people declared was the death knell
/ Of liberty'o now rang the joyous procla-
nation Of liberty throughout the world.
j unto all the inhabitants thereof"
so plain July came to be the great
Fourth Of July. And though the event
took place little late In the day for full
celebration, yet good use was made Of the
hours that remained, and of several days
that followed, too, for joyful recognition
of Independence day. Philadelphia had
the start In all this and showed her reioic-
ing in iiIuminations, the ringing Of bells
and firing of cannon.
But slowly the glad tidings crept over
the colonies. So slowly it seems to us In
this day of rapid communication Copies
of the declaration had to be sent out by
riders-men tearing madly through the
colonies upon loan despatched steeds, yet
unable to do in days for this great mes