Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-27
THE BELL IN PORTLAND
How the People of the West Read the
Lesson 1t Teaches.

From the Portland (ore.) Journal
1t is not the metal in the bell that draws the
crowds. 1t is not the clapper that used TO
swing back and forth that the multitudes gather
TO see 1t is not the outlines and physical con-
tour of the mass of ancient alloy in the bell
that interest all these people and call forth all
this pomp and ceremony and concerned pro-
lection
The bell is plain old affair, and 1t was never
a very good one. 1t cannot even be rung be-
cause of the great rift in its side.
The old mass of metal is loved for what It
symbolizes II rang out tidings of great joy TO
mankind. The notes from its throat were music
to men OF old in that they declared the doctrine
that all men are free and equal and that gov
ernments derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. 1t was tremendous
message, a message to mankind, that
the old metal Vibrates yet.
All over the world the Liberty Bell is ringing
still Its echoes roll on from Maine TO the Phil
ippines and from Oregon to Africa and the
islands OF the sea- They will sweep on and on
with the song OF liberty until time when the
dwellers In heather lands will catch the inspira-
tiOn and rise into the full stature and hopes and
purposes of manhood.
Back Of the bell that Portland gazed on today
Is great body OF principles and free institu-
tions and citizens of whom every is a SOW
ereign. eBack OF II is a ballot box and a Cohsti-
tuition and free people, whose allegiance Is not
to a throne. but to themselves and their chill
dren and their childTens children. Back OF Il is
a nag that floats ever armies only Of defense
and freedom. a flag unblemished by conquest
and untainted by aggression.
For lS9 years the things back OF the bell have
been the subject OF dreams and air castles and
longings by the oppressed In every country in
the world The Irshman sings OF them In "The
Wearing OF the Green" and the Polish peasant
muses. Of them he mourns over the loss OF his
own national life. The Finnish immigrant sets
westward with his slender store to reach
shore where he has heard that the yoke Is
easier and the burden lighter
The mgrations OF people all these years to-
ward the setting sun haFe been the EFFORT OF
human beings 10 get away from hampered and
narrowed life into a fuller and bigger existence
in the land where every citizen wears a crown
and every individual Is a king.
Nor did the things behind the old ben ever
mean more than they mean today The experl-
ment tn free government never stood so fully
vlndeated by events. Our fields and meadows
unseamed by battle trenches and are green
ana yellow with grains and grasses for the
hsubandman. Our streams are uncTimsoned with
the blood OF our sons. but cool and crysfal
gurgle and murmur the melodies OF peace. our
orchards are unshattered BY war shells but
groan under the frultage waiting for the har-
vest. Cur homes are untofn by the recruiting
officers and our stalwart boys are amonf US ana
with as and hy us ia the sweet walks through
the green meadows and By the slin waters 81
happiness ana peaee
These ihinss the klnd OF llls he old bell
Rfociataea tef us. aad fheY are oellshlhtI ihinaa
"a contrast eltp the hidgoas nappsninea "a po0r