Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-05-11

Quuhei qulel is SoHe. NOW Il
~ strange spirit of excitement
pervades 1t, subtle electricity that
touches all things with expectancy.
The inns, the Black Boar and Indian
Queen and the London Coffee House,
dilate with taproom wiseacres, and
crowds Of townfolk loitcr along the
streets in the warm evenings to view
the great men come TO attend the most
honorable congress sitting in the state
house. They have seen the Charles
town packet bring the delegates from
South Carolina. Every citizen who can
muster horse has ridden out to meet
the delegates from Virginia, Maryland
and Delaware who arrived in body.
They have seen them all, have com
pared them with one another.
On High street stands the great man
sion Of Richard Penn, one of the pro-
prietarics. 1t is now thrown open for
the entertainment of the visitors.
Up and down the dusty street pass
and repass earnest men in dull coats
and small clothes, workmen in oznabrig
f6arse cloth. They pause in knots on
,,te-paEe ind tstfa,T each -by-isis kind. ~
One house they pass many times,
looking at it with more eager curiosity
and concern. This building is even less
pretentious than its fellows, but one
who observes it long will have noted
that those who pass in and out Of its
door lend it peculiar distinction. They
come in velvet instead of cloth, their
sleeves droop with lace. They wear
powdered hair and diamond buckles
and for the most part carry dress
swords.
The house is occupied as shop, and
the silver plate on the door bears the
name of James Randolph" 1t is the
headquarters of the Virginia delega-
tons.
To Henry, chatting in his Virginia
harness, how slowly the ball had rolled
among the conventions! How halting
went the leaders,! Messengers riding
posthaste brought him the news from
Philadelphia.
Congress had recommended that the
several colonies form distinct govern.
ments for themselves. And even to
this the delegates of New York and
Pennsylvania had loud objection. Hen
~ CRASHED his teeth in the convention
at Williamsburg, and ON May Is a
resolution was passed directing the
Virginia delegates in Philadelphia to
declare the united colonies free and
independent states"
A significant word! Richard Henry
Lee followed in June with his resolu.
ton for Independence.
But alas for human failing! Many
of the delegates, Dickinson, Morris,
Livingston, We're men of property, and
the possession of property enlarges the
bump of caution. They cried for de-
lay. Tile older Quakers, men of peace,
had set their faces and their faith
against rebellion.
New York was milk and water. There
had been the failure of the Canadian
expedition, and, besides, the province
had its exposed harbor and the Indian
raids on its frontier to think of. The
pennsylvania delegation refused to
vote on separation and left their seats
in anger Maryland had few grIev-
ances.
And what of New Jersey? There
was Toryism intrenched. Its royal
governor, the son of the benevolent
faced patriot, Benjamin Franklin, Went
breathing fire against the Wings. Not
till he had been shipped to Connect
cut in irons, not till congress had sent
three Of its members to argue, to
plead, to storm, did its assembly de-
clare for freedom.
Think not that those who hesitated
were not men Of honor Jealous for the
welfare of their country. Not every
one believed George. III. another such
despot as Philip II. of Spain or the
bloody minded man the radicals illib-
orally called him. The storm was
high on the horizon. And it is the
part of wisdom to count we'll the cost
Of desperate ventures. Against the
colonies was pitted the mistress Of the
seas-a king, innumerable battalions,
armament, navies, money and the
prestige Of hereditary possession. The
colonies stood alone.
There We're those who, like Henry,
whose clear eye saw the future as with
divlnntion, pinned faith upon Gallo
cnmity to England and looked for n
sign of aid. But the months came and
went without Its appearance. Now the
Third congress was sitting, and France
was silent. Granted defiance to
Great Britain, the outcome was doubt
ful-how doubtful five red years of
smoke and blood were to demonstrate.
AS the pendulum vibrated n British
fleet in the Delaware brought the war
within hearing, and Lord Howe hove
to off Sandy Hook with all his army.
The congress was, after all, minia-
ture of the country. 1t held Tory
party who awaited some disaster to
become dangerous. 1t held faint hearts