Middletown transcript., 1909-06-19
noble IoyaIly wilI uphoid tha Sac.

4 Il
and q half before and since the Reyolu.
ton. Her part in the Revolutionary per-
iod is inspiring history. One thirteenth
OF the credit for the independence OF the
colonies and the establishment Of Ehe
Government belongs to Delaware. John
Dick inson, Cesar Rodney, George Read
and Thomas Mexican were leaders 10 that
great epoch. Delaware was the first col
ony after the Declaration of Independ-
ence to call herself State. Virginia and
Massachusetts, had called themselves com.
monwealths. In the constitution of Della.
ware adopted September 20th, I776, it is
provided: The government of the coun-
ties Of Nav Castle, Kent and Snssex mon
Delaware, shall hereafter in all public
and other writing be called The Delaware
State" In 1887 while the other States
we're hesitating and debating. it is to the
lasting credit OF Delaware that she set the
great example by Immediately ratifying
the federal constitution.
Judge Whitley in his very valuable
historical address said: "We, of Della.
ware, have great aud just cause to be
proud of the acts, conduct and heroism
of our Revolutionary soldiers. In less
than month after the Declaration of
Independence we had eight hundred men
in the field, who fought at Brooklyn,
White Plains, Trenton and Princeton i;
and by April of 1777 We had another
regiment of like number, who fought at
Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth,
Camden, Cowpens, Guilford, Ninety-six
and at Eutaw; and this latter one never
laid down its arms, though reduced al.
most to corporals guard, until Corn
wallis laid down his arms at Yorktown
and Leslie evacuated Charleston. In
fact, there was not battle during the
Revolution worthy of name. except the
battles of Bunker Hill and Yorktown, in
which one of the Delaware Regiments
| did not participate" Within a mile or
two of this church two national soldiers
we're born-Maior Thomas McDonough
ofthe Revolution and Commodore Thomas
McDonough of the War OF 1872. We do
not have TO idealize our past. We need,
above all things, short, accurate, read
able history OF Delaware, and knowledge
of that history should be prescribed in
all our schools.
Delaware does not cherish or Horthily
commemorate her great dead. Take the
single case of John Dickinson. He was
called "The Penman of the Revolution"
In 1865 he was drafted the "Plan of Pro.
test" adopted by the Stamp Act Congress.
He was the author of the Declaration of
Rights" the Petition to the King" the
address to the people of Canada," /" the
'sLiberty Song" and the famous "Farmers
Letters" In 1875 he drafted tie "Declar-
alton Of causes of taking up arms" In
1776 he drafted the 'tArticles Of Confed.
Grafton" for uniting the colonies.
Dickinson was born in Maryland. He
lived and held important Offices in Penn
sylvania. He also lived in Delaware and
probably received his greatest .honors
from this State. His political life began
as a member of the Delaware Assembly
in 1890. In 1776 and 1879 Delaware sent
him to the Congress. In 1880 he was
President of Delaware. In 1885 he was a
Commissioner from Delaware TO the An
napolis Convention when he presided. In
1887 he was delegate from Delaware to
the Constitutional Convention. Paul Lei
cester Ford who edited Dickinson's Writ
ings says: 'In the literature of that strug-
gle (the American Revolution) his posi-
ton is Appointment as Washington in war,
franklin ia diplomacy, and Morris in
fns ,e." JeffeH on writing to Mr.. Joseph
Bringhurst on February Oath, 1908, said
"his name will be consecrated in history
as one of the great worthless of the ReVo-
luton" George Read, the younger, said
of Dickinson: "He lives in my memory
as the realization of my beau.ideal of
gentleman"
Dickinson spent his youth at bis fathers
home in Dover and also part Of bis
middle life. The last twenty.thFee years
of his life he resided at Eighth and Market
streets in Wilmington. No town or street,
institution or monument marks his mem.
ory in Delaware. He is buried in the
Quaker burial gronnd at Fourth and West
streets in Wilmington. At his grave and
extending two or three inches above the
ground is small stone bearing the initials
a." 3D." Few men rendered greater
service to their country. No public man
Of Delaware better deserves to be remem-
bered, yet be lies within the borders OF
this State ''unwept, unfriended'' and un-
known,
State loyalty should find expression in
our public buildings, libraries, parks,
schools and roads. The worth and dig
nifty we attach to our State can be ex-
pressed in our new State House. If it
shall be beautiful piece OF colonial arch
itecture fitly embodying our great colonial
traditions, it will be source as well as an
expression of State pride aud loyalty.
These annual gatherings should be and
should continue to be occasions for re.
newing our pledges Of loyalty to Della
ware. Our State comes within the grasp
of our affections like our own fresides.
Love of State will strengthen love Of
country and we shall have the old Saxon
spirit OF the lines
ssDeare countrey o how dearley deare
Ought thy remembrance, and perpetuall
band
DC W bg AVooct -ULlIItlf bIlot HUI
Did commun breath and nouriture re.
ceave
How british is il not to understand
How much 10 her we owe, that all rs
That gave unto us all, whatever good We
For Hard Nan
An American guest for the night at an
inn in Stirling. Scotland. descended TO i