The Alaska daily empire., 1915-07-08

and ii remalned for the hnsine3s abil- ity and statosmanship of ihe country lo afiiilose finally end quickly ii any. thing were to be accomplished Through their coioniql assembiages the people urged Che Aastlly formed oongress to cut the last strand with Ia declaration ol independence, and on Juno 2. l776 Richard Henry Lee brought the issue sQuarely before that body yith bis resolution declaring the iunitcd colonies free and independent
 In the old statehouse debate ran i its limit of strength and purpose then with the bell hanging silent in the tower above. They postpoued the fin- lstep until July ] and in Che mean time Jefferson Adams Franklin, Rog- er sherman and Robert Livingston set to work to draft the formal dec. laration.
 On July 1. the results of their delib- erations came before the continen- lai Congress in the form of a report emhodylng the nations declaration of independence familiar still to every school boy Lees original resolution was adopted the next day On July 8 the stern old nation builders in their Hong coats and knickerbrockers went undauntedly. into iiual consideration of the pledge of honor life and for tune Imposed by accepting the issue. They were intent then on the present welfare. but every man present was capable of looking far down the fu- ure. yet it is extremly doubtful if any of them realized how large and boldly he was writing his name upon the anncls of human affairs. The rev erence paid the old bell today all oveI the land is an unmisakoble token of that
 Waiting For the Signal
 Meanwhile the city founded by the Quabers as an asylum of peace and naternal affection teemed and hum. med under the strain of waiting, One by one inside the menoyho had sud. denly encountered and accepted the responsibilities of revolution arose and expressed the conclusions they had reached in the lofty capacities of determination and heroic action the occasions of their day had opened up for them. Few slept in Philadelphia that night and on the morning of July 4 the streets were again filled with clamoring crowds. now at the very pitch of expectation for the final de- clsion must soon come. It would be announced by the bell, with the aged ringord waiting by 1t in the tower, his little grandson stationed in the porch below ready Co pass the signal up to him
 There they waited until two o'clock In the afternoon. the old man quietly watchul up in the sunlight aSoye the mrging populace, the eager child below. and concentrated upon them both the gaze of every anxious eye. To the boy 1t was probably only an incident Of joyous excitement but the old man waiting in the tower through the wisdom of his years, must have lived his moments there to the fullest Suddenly he heard the boys joyous shout Go ring and in the next instant the iron tones were pro- claiming liberty throughout all the land The declaration of independ- ence had been signed and the desper- ate yeors that followed made it good
 They heightened and dragged along, sometimes at fortunes lowest ebb for the colonies, but the men who sat in tbe state house. as well as those who had taken the field, decided with no thought of turning back and they did not. When the British occupied Philadelphia the service of the bell was not forgotten and loyal hands slunk and kept it in the Delaware riv- CT mead Trenton until the enemy had gone.
 A Message In the Night
 On a chill October evening in 1871 Philadelphia. like the rest of the war stricken country. sank into sleep for those who could command it. Somewhere to the south they knew that Washington as calmly determin- ed as on the day he took command, was grappling with Cornwallis in what would likely be the final strug- gle of the weary contest If he were defeated of little avail might be the sacrifices already made and even less could be expected Of the future The