The new era., 1910-04-14

all hopes OF this kind are doomed to disap-
pointment The Declaration was transferred
10 Philadelphia for the Centennial in 1876 but
never before nor since has 1t been out of its
depository at the national capital and 1t is
pretty safe to predict that 1t will never in
future be disturbed
During the past decade there has been
redoubing of protective measures looking to
the safeguarding and preservation Of the In
valuable document. Some years ago the secre
itary Of state issued an order that the Declara
.tion should be hermeticaily sealed In light
tight, fre-proof. burglar-proof safe, and that
this safe should not be opened except upon his
written order. How resolute Is the determine
itfon Of the Offcials to keep the document in
that seclusion that is believed to be essential
for its preservation may be surmised from the
fact that never in the seven years since the
s'retirement order" was issued has any person
been able to induce the secretary Of state to
tssne the necessary order to obtain q peep
at the important document
The Declaration Of Independence has had
most interesting history since 1t came into
existence on that memorable fourth Of July.
I'm Philadelphia one and one-third centuries
ago. The penned document that now reposes
in the library Of the state department at
Washington is the one and only ofhcial in
etrument- So far known. there was no
duplicate or extra copy of the declaration made
the case OF any important document the con-
tents Of which were to be perpetusted. 1t il
believed that the copy in the hands of lSecre-
tary Thomson at the close of the session ON
that first Independence day went to the onicial
printer. John Dunlap and was used by him as
copy The next day. in making up the journal
of the continental congress. the secretary
wafered in blank space left for this purpose
= copy Of the broadside print. N
Copies of the printed broadsice were also
sent out in compliance with the resolution Of
congress to Assemblies conventions coun-
cils Of safety" etc. Other editions differing
somewhat in style were printed by Dunlap to
meet the demand for the Declaration and few
copies were printed on vellum. Meanwhile
THE original document was most carefully pre-
served. Under an act Of congress approved
Huly "a. 1888. tho Declaration was deposited In
what was then known a. the department of
foreign affairs. A few months later the name
of this branch Of the government was changed
10 department of state and the secretary of
state was declared to have charge and custody
pf the Declaration.
Tho Declaration has virtually been in the
custody Of the state department continuously
from that date to the present time. To be
SURE It reposed In tho patent once at Wash
lngton from 1891 to 1877, but the patent ONCE
lt may be recalled, was for many years = part
pe ne dsplrtment Of state and occupied what
iWas belt,ved to be . nreproof building
rhereas that which then housed the depart.
ansnt Of tJtats was not regarded ~ a1brding
my surety against damage BY nre Aftsr the
Centennial. however. the Declaration was trans
essred 70 ~ stAts department proper. that
hxs.uch q the eovefnment having In the mean
2AA aalrsl = ap.to data buildiag. Iisrs +