Smyrna times., 1950-07-06
LIBERTY BELL
VISITS SMYRNA
Replica of Original Bell Soon
To Have Permanent Home
in Delaware
CHILDREN RING BELL

Il am very happy and proud to
have the honor of officially well
coming the Liberty Bell to Smyrna,
said Mayor Albert A. Newcomb.
You all know what the Liberty Bell
stands for-our national symbol of
Liberty and freedom. Not only lib
erty and freedom as a nation, but
also liberty and freedom for the in
dividual citizens who make up this
nation. 1t was the voice of the or
iginal Liberty Bell that rang out
the news that we had become a
new and free, and independent ma
ton. On several occasions after
that important day the original
bell rang to mark important events
in the early growth of our country.
But since 1885 the voice of that old
bell has been stilled, muted by the
crack which appeared when it toll
ed at the funeral of Chief Justice
John Marshall. Many of you have
seen the old bell in its shrine in
nearby Philadelphia. But no one
living today has ever heard the
voice of the original bell and its
clear tone which announced the
birth of our nation Tonight we
are honored as a community here
in Smyrna to greet a new Liberty
Bell which is soon to have a perm
anent home in Delaware. This bell
before you is an exact replica of
the original bell, in form and size.
But more than that-through the
skillful calculation of engineers and
the accurate craftsmanship of the
bellmakers in a little village in
France, this bell, our bell, has a
voice and in a short time you will
hear it ring with the exact tone of
the original bell. To me, and
think all of you, this will be a sig
nificant moment. 1t seems to me
it is extremely important that our
attention be called to the need for
all of us in America to stand to-
gether as united people to see
that our independence and freedom
are kept intact. In line with this
thought, it is well and fitting at
this time to stress the need fol
each and every one of us to take Q
real personal interest in all phases
of our government. Time and agar
it is demonstrated the ease witt
which an organized minority car
gain control of any community Of
country when there is apathy ol
the part of the people as a whole
And I say to you that we as peo
pie are apathetic, we are prone tt
feel that either it's none of ou
concern or there is no need of ou
taking part in civic and commun
ity affairs someone else will do i
and anyhow it's too much bother
I've been told personally by gooc
outstanding, righteous, thinking
people that it's no use of their vot
ing things would be run the sam
old way anyhow. That way Q
thinking is wrong-those sam
people can do something about il
Now, no one knows better than
that interest in civic and commur
ity affairs takes time and mean
the doing of things at times ths
prevent ones doing somethin
which he would rather do; but ais
no one knows better than l ths
the best way in which to have
voice in things of interest to yo
is to exercise your right of partic
patton, and the best way in whic
to lose that right is to sit bac
complacently letting George do !
Those who would promote selfis
interests are depending on you
do just that. Let's all here an
now, knowing our liberties are
stake, and will be more threatene
unless we exercise our rights as
free people-Resolve that we WI
from here on out be more concerl
ed and be ever watchful to see to
that our way, our ideal of livir
will be preserved. You and yc
alone can do it. The need is urgel
and the time is now. Tonight eaC
one of us might make silent pc
sonal pledge to exercise his or NJ
personal freedom of thought al
action. In this country, as in
other country in the world, evel
adult citizen has the right al
privilege to have voice in o.
government. This privilege do
not stop when we go to the pol
and vote for a candidate of o.
choice. Each of us has not on
the right, but also duty to Ike
our chosen representatives inforr
ed of the things which we fe