Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-07-01
IT is possible to hold Fourth OF
July celebrations in the shadow

u ~ TIC structure WHICH Saw the
birth and signing of the Declara-
ton of Independence, the most potent
doctrine for freedom in the history of
the world, and the nation has not ig.
nored the opportunity.
There are many patriotic Ameri-
cans who make it duty on
July 4 to journey to Philadelphia,
pilgrimage to the shrine of liberty,
there to raise their voices in thanks
and rejoicing for the great deed that
was there accomplished.
Since that day, now distant 131
years, when Charles Thomson, rising
In his chair, read for the first time the
final draft of that momentous docu-
ment which Thomas Jefferson wrote,
but which underwent many changes
before meeting with the final approval
of the delegates to the continental
congress-, not an Independence day
has been permitted to pass without a
proper celebration in the public square
back of Independence hall.
Presidents of the United States, SEN
ators, representatives, justices of the
highest courts, and even foreign am
bassadors have poured forth their elo-
quence at liberty's cradle. The
municipal authorities of the city of
Philadelphia are careful to see to it
that some distinguished man is always
on hand as orator of the day.
The pomp of military circumstance
has sometimes been called upon to
lend prestige to the occasion, and the
best musicians of the land have been
proud to play patriotic airs in the
shadow of the steeple where hung the
bell that SO singularly fulfilled the pro-
phetic mission assigned it "a years
before to proclaim liberty through
out the land"
The location of the hall lends itself
to purposes of public celebration
There is ample room, both front and
back, for the building stands we'll
back from the pavement, so that a
large company can gather in front.
dence square, there is still more
space, and thousands assemble to lis
ten to the orations, and hear the
Declaration of independence read.
This latter is really the distinctive
feature of Fourth of July celebrations
in independence square. The day
would not seem properly observed
with. this omitted.
1t is notable record of which
every American may be proud that
not Fourth of July has passed since
we have been a nation, without the in
spired words being uttered again to
the air that heard them first.
The first reading of the declaration
was that by Charles Thomson, the
secretary of congress, when he an
nounced the completed paper to the
men who had framed it. Thomson
did not, however, read the declaration
from the balcony of Independence hall
to the people crowded outside to hear
for the first time in what terms the
colonists should tell King George that
his control of the 13 colonies was at
an end.
That privilege was reserved for
John Nixon, prominent member of
the committee of safety. In honor of
the occasion, delegates to the congress
filed out in the July sunshine to listen
to the sacred words.
Nixon has been described as master
elocutionist with a voice so clear and
distinct that it was heard clear to
Fifth street, one square distant. He
took his place on the balcony, which
was then the favorite rostrum of the
day. Crowds had assembled to hear
him, gathered by the ringing of the
liberty bell. 1t was memorable cele-
bration, and the first in the history of
the nation.
Later, long years after, Edwin For
est, the most noted of American ac-
tors, whose love for patriotism and the
institutions of his country was deeper
even than his regard for the stage,
stood on the same spot, and on a
Fourth of July morning read the words
of Jefferson, as no man has read them
before or since. A great crowd was
present, perhaps the largest ever as
sembled, and the actor during and aft
er the reading was cheered again and
again.
Forest esteemed the Declaration of
independence as the best single piece
of composition in existence. valuing it