Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1916 — Nation Is Now 140 Years Old [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nation Is Now 140 Years Old

AS A nation we are now one hundred and forty years young. On July 4. 1776, in old Independence hall, the “Cradle of Liberty," the patriots severed completely their connection with the mother country, and started out to “make their own way,” “Probably no public paper," says Tyler, “ever more perfectly satisfied the immediate purpose for which it was set forth than this Declaration. From one end of the country to the other, as fast as it could be spread among the people, it was greeted in public and private w r ith every demonstration of approval and delight.’’ In his preamble to his immortal Declaration, Jefferson puts forth a new political gospel; and he lifts the strife of a small band of patriots up to the height and grandeur of a universal warfare, in which all ages and peoples are participants. “We hold this truth to be self-evident —that all men are created equal.” This declaration though a self-evident truth to Jefferson, was really a new revelation to Jefferson’s age. In this declaration is the Constitution of the United States contained. Here you have the republic in germ. One might suppose, at first thought, that the anniversary of America’.* independence should date from the day on which the Banner of Liberty was first unfurled and the first heroic blow against tyranny was struck, or, at least, from the day on which the last and decisive blow was given and national independence was secured. But our Independence day comes from no battle in the field. Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill —not one of these is selected. On this memorable day in 1776, when it became known that the final action was going to be taken, thousands of citizens, anxious to learn the decision of congress, crowded the streets of Philadelphia. In the steeple of the old statehouse was a bell on which by a happy coincidence, was inscribed: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof.” In the morning when congress assembled the bell-ringer went to his post, having placed his little boy below to announce when the Declaration was finally adopted, that his bell might be the first to peal forth the glad tidings. Long he waited while the deliberations went on. Suddenly, he heard his boy clapping his hands and shouting: “Ring! Ring!” Grasping the iron tongue, he swung it to and fro, proclaiming the glad

tidings to the waiting thousands. *The crowded street caught up the sound. Every steeple re-echoed it, and with cannon peals, bonfires and illumination the patriots that night declared their joy. The first public celebration of the Declaration of Independence was probably that of July 8, 1776, when Nixon read the statement in the yard of the statehouse in Philadelphia, and the king’s arms were taken down in the courtroom. In 1777, in honor of the first anniversary of the glorious day, every soldier was ordered an extra gill of rum. In 1778, the general orders read: ‘‘Tomorrow, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, will be celebrated by firing 13 pieces of cannon and a feu de joie to the whole line.”

Independence Hall.