The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-06-21
The PEOPLES FORUM.


To the Editor of The Republican.
This honorable relic from the birth
day of the Republic, from the incl
pient movement Of a liberty loving
people renouncing allegiance to the
monarch of far away kingdom and de-
claring the first time for a government
deriving its rights from the consent of
the governed, is still preserved and
treasured as mute but eloquent re-
minder of period and of a people
grand and alone in history. Think of
population less than three millions es-
tablishing its being in the uncleared
forest of the western world roamed by
savage and hostile race, called by
this bell for a convention at Philadel-
phia to state to mankind their renuncia-
ton of foreign rule and their declara-
ton of future freedom. The manner
in which they performed these brave
determinations centered upon them the
attention if not the admiration of the
civilized world. Not one of that day
survives to relate those inspiring hap
penings, but the same old bell with the
same old tones is speaking to US just as
it spoke to patriots, to statesmen and
to heroes one hundred and forty one
years ago. If, as did those of that day,
we listen and hear it will be well, if we
! fail then the glory of that former time
will have faded in the degeneraey of
the present time. Some of US have
gazed upon this bell, high over all others
in the temple of the Republic, and
few may be acquainted with facts max
ing its history.
Liberty Bell formerly hung in the
dome Of the ancient State House, hide
pendence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsyl-
Yania, and was rung TO announce the
signing of the Declaration of American
independence July 4th 1776. In was
cast in England especially for the men
toned State House in the Colonial
period. and was brought there from its
English foundry in the year 1852 for a
purpose unsupported either here or in
Britain at that time. While being
taken from the ship in this country it
met an accident so injuring It's tone
that 1t was recast in Philadelphia in
1903, when were inscribed on the bell
these Words: Proclaim liberty throgh-
out all the land unto all the inhabitants
thereof" In after years when the
British army occupied Philadelphia, the
bell was taken down and hidden in the
Delaware river near Trenton but, upon
the return of peace, was reclaimed and
elevated to its original position and tor
years has been rung every 4th of July.
In 1888 1t was broken while tolling in
commentator Of Chief Justice Marshall,
who had just died. In 1854 it was fixed
upon pedestal Of thirteen sides repre-
sentlng the thirteen original States in
the hall of the old State House still
standing on Chestnut Street just as it
appeared, out side and IN, when John
Hancock presided over those momentous
deliberations one hundred and forty one
years ago.
In 1893 it again caught the public
spirit and went on a tour to the
Worlds Fair at Chicago, greeted by
throngs IN many cities and given ova-
tons by masses of citizens IN passing
on this western visit. Since receiving
such an out pouring of popular well
come at Chicago, this famous bell has,
on important occasions, appeared in
other cities to meet new generations
proud of the opportunity to pay it tri-
butte.
Under the erosions of time, with an
overstraining of its powerful voice toll
ing the death of Chief Justice Marshall
, and an excessive vocal rejoicing upon
the occasion of visit to Philadelphia
by Henry Clay, winding and widen
ing crack is creeping from the rim to-
ward the middle of the bell, not only
showing distinct stream of light for
, eight or more inches but convincing
such as look upon it that the strong
voice that proclaimed to the world the
birth of the Republic, is defined to
suppression by the encroachment of the
ages.
RELLIN.