The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-06-29
TIE DAY WE CELEBRATE
Birthday Of New Nation Duly
Commemorated.

citizen or new arrival celebrates.
One and all know there is Just
cause for the celebration, but few
realize the great and glorious facts.
They are facts that make every
one who really can say he is a citi-
zen of the United States feel as
proud as it is possible for human
being to feel the stimulus of pride.
just one hundred and thirty
years ago the bell rang in Inde-
pepdence Hall in Philadelphia. To
the uninitiated it pealed its sonor-
Gus notes for some unknown pur-
pose. To those who, breatnless,
were waiting for the sound, it 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 stald old
Quaker town, the last place IN the
colonies where one would have
suspected spark would be given
birth to light freedoms torch
throughout the western hemis-
phere.
1t was on the 7th day of June,
1915, that the delegates from the
colonies sitting IN Congress In
Philadelphia considered the fol-
lowing resolutions introduced by
Virginia's statesman, Ri C hard |
Henry Lee:
Resolved, That the United Col
onies are and ought to be free and
independent States and their poht-
ical connection with Great Britain
is and ought to be dissolved"
There had been murmuring and
threats and calm expressions of
determination. But here was
united action. The people, by
their representatives duly chosen,
formally absolved themselves from
allegiance from the mother coun-
try, and said to the world that they
had cast off their swaddling clothes,
they we're now wholly able to walk
alone. TO speak with absolute
truth, all the delegates did not
favor this progressive step. Some
it on the ground that it
was premature. Others, an d
among them some of the brightest
spirits Of the assemblage, both
spoke and voted against the reso-
luton.
AT THE CRUCIAL MOMENT.
Nevertheless, the resolution over
came opposition and was indorsed,
as stated, by the majority of one.
Thirteen colonies were represent
ed. Because seven of them voted
and stood for independence, the
United States is to day what she
Is. Subsequent developments
aroYe that had the action taken
been delayed, the question of inde- !
pendence might have slept in peace
until the herald of the people, no
one knows how many years after,
sounded the tocsin of revolution.
The delegates thought 1t wise to
lefer the question Of final consid-
sration to July /, 1776, by which !
ime they believed there might be
! more united feeling among the
people.
Thus it was that on June II that 1
'amons committee was appointed 4
d frame the Declaration Of Inde. :
,endence. Note the names, and If
1ou are student of the history Of :
he United States conceive if you II
an Of better quintet to have
represented the American peoples
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams,
Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, s
Robert r. Livingston. The first
vas the man whose fame was ticked
nto our ears every time we hear q @
instrument, whose geni-
i is placed in broad light when
yer we enjoy the illumination Of "
lectrlcity. The second rose to be G
resident Of the nation be helped j.