The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-01-17

No subject. perhaps. has been so
little discussed. which is so full of
interest. as that of our national bird
the American bald eagle.
Another century. with two hundred.
instead OF one hundred millions of
people. toiling and moiling over the
lace of the land. that has now so
many places. waste and desert; an
other generation of evoHition and rev.
olution. in the Improvement and
manufacture of fire arms in the coun.
try. with almost every man and boy
demanding his glorious constitutional
right-Io kill what he pleases of all
or the wild creatures of the earth.
and The eagle Of the United States
may have PASSED into memory.
The myths OF mighty race. may
then be growing up about its van
ished form. Tales may be told OF the
tutelary bird OF the great republic.
spurninG the land where freedom has
lost its prestine vigor and ascending
gradually 10 height beyond height, un.
I'll its slleniid figure merges with the
dazzling sun. TO which its spirit as
pres but the inspiration taught Va by
this noble bird OF freedom. will live
Cii AhApuHI TIE flfTUdl ages
In the very nature of events the
creatuses OF the wilds must give way
before the advance of civilization and
the over onward march OF mankind.
The time must come when in any
gwen territory. a. the country be-
comes more populated with man. il
must become less populated with the
wild denizens OF the forests Preda-
4.
prey cannot exist together. and IL is
the birds and beasts tnat pirish
Time was when our eagles OF land
and seat. bald and golden. were al.
most as many a. the fish-hawks over
which they lorded il. Ike feudal
barons UPON their rocky heights.
Those were the days when the nation
vas growing irno its earliest. distinct
existence. and popular sentiment IN
hesitatingly endorsed the choice of
the eagle as the emblem OF the great
seal OF III" United States. and time
has not effaced its popularity.
As late as the year 1892. the De
partment Ct state. az Washington.
published the monogram u OF Gillard
tuht winch gave IN cOIapleie detail.
me history OF the formal adoption Of
the eagle a. orr National bird
According 70 This report. ir was on
me fourth day a. July. l71G. after
the Declaration OF Independence had
been read in the Continental Congress
That a resolution was passed. appoint
ing Dr Franklin. Mr. Adams and W
JEFFERSON. 10 prepare device for a
seal for the United STATES OF America
This committee reported on August
I"th OF the same year. but only Two
details Of m" seal. suggested by this
mi TO- O.
Eye of Providence in tho triangle.
which nov appears on tho reverse
and the motto = pluribus Inuru -
q quotation familiar 10 tho coloni-fs.
ebcause ~ Was Tho motto ~ the. Gen.
Yemen MHEdlin". familiar 20 many
~ the wealthy md ieisurod class
IN" design was NOT favorable 70
ceived ~ his time. and tho rcpor'
was tabled Four and Onr-h half wears
elapsed before rho complexion Of ar
Engagements for q great seal
N fell 70 Tho lo' ~ one William Bar.
ION. \. VI. 20 prominent resident Of
PhiladcI phid. 70 make the final aup
Hatlstactnri ~ ALL 20" suggested
among other features ~ his design
an eagle on a dOric column saving
The eagle displayed. is tho symbol
o. supreme Power and Authiri-y and
signihe- The Congress rho eagle DO.
ing placed IN the summit az tho
column. in- omblemafic % the
Sovereign ~ 'hc Government - mo
United Gfafre
v Was. however. fo Charles Thomp.
son. tho Secr.farr 80 Congress. that
me hNinE - Tho "tg'"e final rI1ce boo
the device. o. 20 D." affrIhu'nd
" ~a- not s'rarE" that tl" people
With ono accord recpgrilrd mo .rltf
bald cagl" a- fhc typical dominant
bird ~ this continent From tho mpat