The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-07-06
RODERICK 0. MATHESON, EDITOR
The Sinners

l ought to be- free and independent States
that they arc ab>olVed from all allegiance to the
British Crown and that all political connection
between them and the State OF Great Britain is
and ought to be totally dissolved
Ihis, shurn OF the preamble and the concluding
clauses. is the Declaration of independence which
this country celebrates saneIy and safely or
insanely and unSaely, the may be, every
Fourth Of July.
1t is interesting to notice that Of the hitv-SX
men who finally affixed their signatures to the
document, To- the support OF which they pledged
their lives. their fortunes and their sacred honor
none were SO old as to be liable to a suspicion OF
senility and few SGT young that they might be
accused of immaturity Of judgment. Even John
Hancock. rather rowing blade and none too
stable in his personal habits and predictions
was thirtv-nine wears old when the General Con-
grcss met in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, to
sit in Judgment upon the wording OF the historical
document.
The oldest man in the aSSemblage was Ben
jamin Franklin, then six months past his seven
teth birthday, and the youngest Thomas
Lynch Tr. Of South Carolina, who born
August : l749. and was therefore a month short
Of being twcnty-seven years old, although he had
a close second in Edward Rutledge Of the same
State, who was born in November OF the same
year
The first of the signerS Of the Declaration to
die after the execution OF the instrument was But
ton Gwinnett of Georgia, who passed away on
May y OF the following year Charles Carroll OF
CarrolIton. Maryland, lived the longest after the
memorable date. He remained until November
IS, 1882 There are persons living today who, SC
far as years are concerned, might have shaken
hands with this, the last survivor Of the signers
and still remember the occasion.
James Smith OF Pennsylvania was the only
signer who lived to more advanced age thar
Charles Carroll. He ninety-siX years ole
when his life ended, on July II, 1906 There were
three others who became nonogenarians: Iohr
Adams OF Massachusetts,, who passed away al
ninety-onc years; William Elery of Rhode
Island, at ninety-three years, and Francis Levi:
of New York, at ninety-one years OF age. The
youngest to die Arthur Middleton of SOut}
Carolina, who was only forty-four years old a
his demise, on January l. 1888.
OF the fftysx signers bit seven had advanced
past the age of sixty years on July A. NO. Nine
were between fifty and sixty, there were nineteer
between forty and fifty the same number nineteen
between thirty and forty and two below the age .
thirty years The average age was 43.& years
Surely there enough young men to push
enough middlc-aged men to check and enough ole
men to balance this most important conference.
But contrary to the belief OF thousands wh
will this year celebrate the anniversary OF tn
Fourth Of July, NO, the Declaration OF indie
pendenCe not signed on that date. As mat
ter OF fact the last signature was not appended
until five years later. in 1871. Thomas Mckear
a member from Delaware, who had been presen
on July !, l77O but absent with the army at tn
general subscription OF said instrument, apphr
for permis Siun to sign. An act then pa>>c
permitting him aIhx his signature, and IN
ahGrd thereto the date Of such subscription
fnuther delegate. Matthew ThOrntan Of Ncl
Hampshire, who had been present at neither tn
reading on July nor at the later date of genera
subscription. presented his credentials ON M
Vembcr I, l77O, and was permitted to sign
1t was the first reading Of the Declaration Z
Independence that occurred the date we celc
brate, and the tentative draft presented by tn
committee previously appointed to draw up sucI
GuCument approved by all the member
present. No resolution passed until July Il
when it was "Resolved, That the DeclaratiO
passed on the fourth be fairly engrossed on parch
ment, with the title, etc, and that the same, whe
engr"ssed, be signed by every member OF Con
grees."
Another fact in connection with the Declare
ton OF independence which we celebrate is that
is neither the first nor THE only Declaration e.
independence from the rule of Great Britain tina
was made in her North American colonies.
More than year before the framing OF tn
document which we cherish, on May 20, l773,
convention was held at Charlotte North Care
Iina and an instrument declaring freedom fr"r
the rule Of Great Britain was drawn up an
signed. This was the famous Mecklenbur
Declaration, the original Of which was unfortu
nately destroyed by fire in 1900. 1t wa, recon
structed from memory, and this "copy" is sti
preserved