Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-04

which some historical writer has painted upon his vision.
 In fancy he sees Independence Hall in Philadelphia and the Continental Con- gress with its ruff1ed shirts, long cloth coats, knee pants silk stockings and low shoes sitting with dignity, but lis tening spellbound to a wonderfully strange and entirely new document called "The Declaration of Independence"
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 Tn fancy he even hears the popular ac- claim of That Is just what we all sayi"z and ''It is we'll worded. MT. Jefferson." Then the mind pictures the various dele gates to Congress hastening forward, eager for the. honor of aff1xing their sig natures to sheepskin document
 The scene changes to the ringing of the great liberty bell, to the assembling Of the people at Philadelphia who applaud the reading of this bill of rights and to the final closing of the day with every man, woman and child in Philadelphia happy because he is no longer a British subject. having become a free American in single day.
 Such a vision pictures an heroic scene :; but the true record of events does not affirm that these so-cailed happenings took place on that memorable day. By plotting out the imperfect details of the picture the Fourth of July is in no way robbed of any of it's glory.
 An authentic account of what trans pired at that time changes the meaning of the Fourth of July from one day to about sixty in which the whole history of our national liberty is told and the heroic heart throbs of the sorely tried colonists . are keenly felt
 The day itself properly symbolizes the liberty for which the patriots of that time stood ready to sacrifice their lives in or der to launch the United States as a na- tionai craft which should be anchored by no weight of foreign despotism.
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 It was time of danger when brother, friend and neighbor became estranged by reason of political opinion. Some colo nists still loved the mother country with true English pride. while others were so embittere dby the injustice of the sov- ereign across the seat that they willingly gave their all to the cause of the people of the new land. I4 Many were clearly convinced that fl was their duty to repudiate the sover- eighty of George III, but they feared to De considered rebels when there was such probability that EHgland'ss wealth and ists.
 The desire for independence had come to the colonists gradually. For six weeks before the war a Boston paper denounced such thought contending that it was islander to accuse any one in the province of panting after independence During the latter part of 1774 George Washing Ion nimseif wrote that no thinking man among the colonists wanted to separate from England, and Franklin ridiculed me idea. He said that he had never nearo any ene drunk or sober express aaI Irtt During the early days of the revolution the piGecoats never dreamed of separat- ing from the beloved land of their an- cestors; In fact. such a course would nave been condemned hy Americans themselves as treason. Jefferson declared that prior to the 10th Of April. IT'S. he or any one to stand from under the governmental power of Great Britain.
 The inevitable, however. came with the ssprns or l116, when local assemblies began formal discussion regarding the Moerty of eolonists. These legisIatiye bodies possessed but little power. but thev e uid great part in crystallizing the sen timent for independence in many auar ters and forcing those opposed to tbo idea to-declare their inimical attitude
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 The good work of these small legisla- tive bodies was reflected and naenified as soon as the delegates were sent to the Continental Congress. Then the spirit or liberty permeated the very atmosphere or the national assembly and many ar individual received the courage to aligr himself with the new cause.
 If. June ', 1776, there had been ar extra paper" to have informed the n,,h He of the latest political news one n1iebt have read the faring headlines "RieharG 1enFy Lee or Virginia the man of th, hour" for it was he who on that da, started the Fourth of July 1t was tbi. southerner who introduced the frs aaec,aratlon of independence in Congress oeclaring the American people free
 Good Judgment dictated the caution O. emitting John Adams name from tb, minutes, as the second to that motion yet the fact is known today. when ther, is no army of redcoats waiting to seiz, patriots as rebels.
 Too much praise cannot be given t, the introduction of Lees resolution. ye 1t was to the credit of the Continenta Congress that action was not force, upon such an important measure at ina time; N could not have succeeded unti all objections had been silenced, all fear Of England's success allayed, until al were conscientiously convinced that tn cause or liberty was just. It was i'm perative that all should look the God dess of Liberty squarely in the face wit lead. - '" where she shoui' As no agreement could be reached o the 7th of June. the resolution was lai over until the next day. when it wa again postponed for consideration unti the list of July. Sufficient time wouI therefore be given for delegates not al ready instructed to receive orders fror the provincial government as to how t cast their votes.
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 In order that the cause of liberty sheul not be retarded during this wait Cor gress at that time appointed a commit tee of five to prepare declaration of ir dependence to the same purport as Lee resolution, in the hopes that the new doe Urine would be unanimously accepte when the matter should be again take up in July. Robert Livingston, Roge sherman, John Adams Benjamin Franl lin and Thomas Jefferson, as chairman were given the honor of serving on thi important charge.
 Policy demanded that a southerne should be chosen to write the declaration in oruer to increase the probability of ii unanimous adoption. Logically, Jefferso was the man to carry this work througl for the masterly style of his pen was we known. With such co-workers, thpugl tt cannot be supposed that he alone we