The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-03

icance of its impressive sentences de-
pended, perhaps, the very lives of
these Sc men here assembled. AS one
of them put it, IF we do not hang
| together now. we are more than apt
to hang separately" So Thomas JEFF
ferson approached the chairman, fol-
| lowed by the other four committeeman,
of whom was a lawyer, one a printer,
one a shoemaker and one a merchant
This is the scene that Trumbull
commentaries in his historical paint
ing which now hangs IN the rotunda of
the capitol at Washington This paint
ing is rather stiff and bristles with
faults from a technical or artistic
point of view but, still it is Of inesti-
mable value because it preserves a
portraits of each of these Sc patriots.
Thomas jefferson hands the paper
across the desk: on his right stands
Franklin and on his left John Adams.
The other two stand a little back.
There is grim determination paint
ed on all the faces, but also much con-
fidence in the outcome. Since the
success of Washington's spring cam
paign had made many new friends for
the incipient revolution, it had also
increased the boldness of the colony's
old friends. North Carolina had also
taken the same irretrievable step. II
was prior to this great July 4th that
she threw of fthe last vestage of 10y "
ty to the English crown. Now her sis
ter colonies were following her heroic
example,; and here before them on
the table lay Jefferson's vital declara-
ton. What would the future bring?
Trumbull shows us that this ques-
ton was in all their minds. Full well
did each man in this assembly realize
that the signing OF this paper turned
their resistance into an avowed re-
bellion. Study the individual faces in
this great painting when you next so
to Washington. Then you viii realize
that every one of the members of the
continental congress comprehended
his responsibility; that whether nc
were a shoemaker or a general COM !
manding an army, that day he wrote
down his name in full realization of |
what the act involved He knew that |
it spelled danger and perhaps, it meant |
death. After this there would not lie |
the slightest chance of retreat. Hence |
forth there was no possible compro- |
mise. After July 4th, 1875, there was |
only one future for the colonies, and |
that must be a state of such content |
ed freedom as follows the self govern
ment of free and independent coun-
tries. No alternative was comprehend
able.
So on this July morning, 1921, it Is
well to recall what our forefathers did |
for US 245 years ago. If good fortune /
permits you to have an old engraving I
of this picture take a few minutes and /
study it. Perhaps you will catch the
lesson that these practical and even
commonplace faces teach. AS you look /
at them you will recall that in their |
number were 26 lawyers. merchants
6 farmers, 8 doctors, statesmen, 2 /
soldiers, minister, l shoemaker, |
sailor, printer and / surveyor.
Thus we learn that the men who |
first made our nation came from ey-
cry walk in life. Therefore It is reason
able to argue that as we come down
the centuries it has been and ever will
be the same kinds of men who will |
preserve America. Indeed, it win be
such men as these who shall arise
hereafter to fortify Americas great
Institutions. In the eyes Of the world
they will be plain everyday men, and
viii come from the heart Of the COM
mon folks The spirit that really i
makes leaders great is the spirit of {
God And His spirit bloweth where
It nsteth. Perchance it may linger in
! kings palace. but oftener it dwells
n a cottage home. In time men recog-
nize II, for It writes such Immortal pa
pers as our Declaration Of Indepen-
1ence. such poetry as Mnton's, and the
theology Of the sermon on the mount
It will be with US just so long as we
1eep "a firm reliance on the protection
of divine providence" and are ready
10 pledge to each other our lives, our
fortunes and our sacred honor"