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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 2, 1905)
0 I is NUMBER 316. The Omaha Illustrated . Bee Entfrcd Second Class at Omaha Pout office Published Weeklj hj The Pee Publishing Co. Subscript ion, ?2.."0 Per Year. JCLY 2. 1005. V l Men Who Made Possible the Immortal Declaration that We Celebrate EACH recurring anniversary of tha nation's birth weerus to bring onto higher, brighter relief the rharacter, ability and wisdom of the men who signed the immortal Declaration of Independ ence. The cougreHs of 1776, which assembled in Inde pendence hall, Philadelphia, contained a remarkable proportion of able and distinguished men. The eulogy of those men can "never bo exhausted. The more thor oughly we study their characters and lives the more deeply graven on every American heart will be their' genius, virtues and sacrifices. "If we are not this day wanting in our duty to our country," exclaimed Rich ard Henry Lee, "the names of the American legislators of 1776 will be placed by posterity at the side of .those of Theseus, f Lycurgus, of Romulus, of Nuiua, of the three Williams of Nassau and of all those whose mem ory has been and forever will be dear to virtuous men and good citizens." Popular knowledge of the birthplace, education, pursuits and conditions of life of -those who stood spon sor's at Liberty's cradle and there pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor, can not but be Interesting and Instructive. With the ex ception of eight who had come In youth or early man hood, they were native Americans. John Hancock, whose bold signature as president of the continental congress stood alone with I hat of Charles Thompson, its secretary, at the foot of the tirst publication, was Vorn in Massachusetts In 1737. He beau life as a clerk in the counting house of his uncle. At the age of 27 he In herited a fortune, which placed him in affluence. Joshua Rnrtlett was born In Massachusetts In 1729 and was a sueeesful medical prttctlt loner before he entered public life. William Whipple was born at Kittery, now Maine. In 17;. In his youth be followed the sea and later became ft merchants at Portsmouth. N. II. Mat thew Thornton was born in Ireland in 1714. He was a prominent physician. John Adams, the champion of freedom, was born In Massachusetts in 1735. He was a distinguished lawyer. Samuel Adams was born in Bos ton In 172'-'. Intended for the bar by his father, he be 8ii life, however, ri a merchant's clerk. Robert Treat Paine, born In Massachusetts in 1731. begnu life as a minister of tbe gospel, but soon left It for the legal pro fession. Men of Varied Occupations Elbrldge Gerry, bom at Marhlehead, Mass., 1714, educated at Harvard, where he graduated with credit. Entering Into mercantile business, he acquired both reputation and property. Stephen liopkius, born at SeitUate, It. I., 1707; his early years were passed in agricultural pursuits. Later he engaged in mercantile business In Providence and almost Immediately entered Into political life. William Ellery, born at Newport in 1727, graduated at Harvard and practiced law with dis tinction. Roger Sherman was boni at Newton, Mass., ' in 1721. He began life as a shoemaker's apprentice, and, finding himself at his father's death charged with the, support of a large family, he nobly performed his task' by following his humble trade. Struggling against tflfflcultles and the want of early education, be ,masi , tered all and placed himself high among tho 1 ramers of the constitution; a perfect type of an American, a noble example of our country's best production, a self-made man. Samuel Huntington was bora at Haddam, Conn.. 1732. and praitlced law at Norwich when first known in public life. - William Williams, born at Lebanon, Conn.. In 1731, graduated at Harvard and commenced the study of divinity with his father, ne subsequently em braced a mercantile career, in which he was must suc cessful. Oliver Wolcott, born at Windsor, Conn., in 1726, graduated at Yale, began life as a captain in the French and Indian wars. At the peace he studied medi cine, but soon after entered public life. William Floyd, born at Retauket, L. I., was a prosperous farmer, rhlllp Livingston,, born at Albany, N. Y., 1716, gradu ated at Yale, and, in affluent circumstances immediately took an active part in politics. Lewis Morris, born in 1716, at the Manor of Morrlsania, which he Inherited on the decease of his father. He graduated at Yale and became active in politics. Although enjoying a competency, he was a practical farmer. Francis Lewis, born at Llandaff, Wales, in 1713. He was educated at Westminster, apprenticed to a London merchant, and when of age emigrated to this country and entered Into mercantile business. Richard Stockton, born at Frlnceton, N. J., 1730. Graduated at Princeton college. Was a prominent Judge, and from the position of his family and fortune was freed from tho early struggle to which many of his colleagues were subjected. Francis Hopkinson, born In Philadelphia, in 1737, of an Influential and wealthy family. He was a lawyer, an admiralty Judge of reputation and a man of letters. John Witherspoon, born at Tester, Scotland, in 1722; a descendant of John Knox. He graduated at the University of F.dlnburg. He was a dis tinguished and popular preacher. John Hart, a thrifty fanner of Hopewell, N. J., who, though not so well educated as others of the New Jersey delegation, stepped , forward and filled his place as firmly and as consistently as did more scholarly and Influen tial men. Abraham Clark, born at Elisabeth, N. J., in 1726. Too feeble to labor, he turned his at tention to surveying and the study of law, but his fellow pro vincials early selecting him at an object of their confidence la public life. Robert Morris, the financier of the revolution, was born at Lancashire, England, In 1733. He bad the advantage of a lib eral education, and entering Into mercantile life he became the boldest and most prominent op erator in the country in goods, stocks and lands. It was to his financial skill and expedients as financial agent and the Unking of his own wealth, credit and destiny to that of his country, that the success of the war of the revolution was largely due. Benjamin Rush was born at Ber berry. Pa., In 1743, graduated at Princeton and after studying medicine In Philadelphia took his degree of doctor of medicine at Fdlnburg. He was one of the most widely known physicians of Patriotic Partnership ' can of his day. George Clymer, born in Philadelphia in 1739, a mer chant, soldier and statesman. John Morton, born In Ridley, Fa., in 1724, was of Swedish descent and an Intelligent, well educated sur veyor. James Smith, born in Ireland in 17130, and in 1730 emigrated with his parents to this country; was a lawyer and active in military matters. George Taylor, born also in Ireland, in 1716. An emigrant at 20, he was an apprentice In iron works at Durham, Pa., and subse quently erected a large iron works at Lehigh. James Wilson, born In Scotland In 1742, emigrated to this country at 24. Regan life as a teacher and lawyer. George Ross, born at Newcastle, DeL, in 1730. Liberally educated, he established himself in the practice jot lnw at the age of 21. Caesar Rodney, born at Dover, Del., In 1730, of English descent. George Read, born in Maryland in 1734, of a family of Irish origin, possessed of wealth and position; was prominent as a lawyer. Thomas McKean, born In Pennsylvania iu 1734; lawyer, and soldier, distinguished, it is said, as the only man who served in the continental congress without intermission during the whole period of the war. Samuel Chase, born in Maryland in 1741, rend law at Annapolis and was admitted to practice at 20 years of ago. Charles Carroll of Carrollton, born In 1737 of a family of Irish The Stars and StripesOur Emblem of Patriotism his day. TVrJ-mln Trank'in, bom at Boston. Mass., In 1706. an er rand boy, printer, editor of a newspaper, of almanacs and hooks, author, compiler. Inven tor, philosopher, economist and ambassador, he stands easily ahead, tn the opinion of thw world generally, as the foremost and most widely known Amert- ATRIOTI8M has become the basis of a great American Industry. Because of the amazing Increase of patriotic sentiment in this coun try during the last decade the manufacture of American flags has quadrupled. More than 3.000, 000 star-spangled banners annually are made of silk and burning, but these form only a small portion of the total number of United States flags that are born, that live and die between January and January. In remote farming districts, where ten years ago the natioual colors were rarely seen, every suitable occasion witnesess a flag display. The flag has been added to the household goods from Maine to Cali fornia and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian line. So far as Individual iopularity is concerned, it ranks with Uie firecracker ou Independence day, and outranks alr else on thnt day of national patriotic observance, May 30. While the flagmakers are busy all the year. Oo tobejrr November, December, and January are the strenuous mouths. Sales are greatest in the late winter and in the spring, while the largest deliveries are in April, May and June, June being known as the, smallest month of the three. The greatest de mand Is from the New England, central aud western states, the latter being by far the largest consumers. Pennsylvania leads all other ktate iu the number and cost of flags purchased. One of the more Interesting facts In connection with the making aud sale of the American flag Is that each year shows Mcinoilul day. May 30, to be growing iu popularity. It is the strength of the Me morial day spirit iu Pennsylvania, for instance, that places that state at the head of the flag purchasing column. The tiny flags that annually make Arling ton cemetery af Washington, where so many thou sand soldiers sleep, almost gorgeous. Is most tn evi dence. The 6x10 feet banner is markedly in favor at this time, however, ana smaller flags of muslin and silk are used In large numbers. During the last fifteen years July 4 has slowly been giving way to May 80, so far as the demand for flags Is concerned. Not that the spirit of patriotism as regards Independence day is lessening, but that each years sees the number of soldiers' graves In creasing and a consequent addition of interest to Me morial day. The Spanish-American war seems to strengthen the popular desire to observe May 30. Up to 180S flag sentiment seemed sleeping. With the outbreak of the Spanish-American war came a change. Not only were more flags wanted, but the demand for better materials grew apace. Where,' for Instance, the tiny paper flags had been used for din ner favors, silk flags were sought Gradually this feeling has extended, until the silk aud the wool bunt ing flags are chief in favor, the most popular of the larger flags being 5x8 and 6x10 feet. ' The tendency Is toward a long flag, for the economical reason that when the end of such a banner has been whipped Into rags by the w Ind, it can be cut off, hemmed over, and remain In proportion. The government flags, of which there are many different varieties, are exclusively of silk and of wool buntlug. The sizes most In use are 4Vix8 aud 9x14 feet. More flags are made for the army thau for the navy, but the quality of the latter averages higher. The flags flown by the cruiser Olympla when, as Admiral Dewey's flagship, It led the mem orable' parade In the Hudson river at New York City In 1SW, were perhaps as flue silken specimens of the flagmaker's art as ever existed. 1 The government makes some of its flags In its factory at the Brooklyn navy yard, but the majority are from prlvste establishments. In fact, 85 per cent of the annual output of United States flags is made In New York City, although the western factories have gained In the last five years. Throughout the western states the tendency toward a more enthusiastic observance of all patri otic occasions Is rapidly growing. Most active among the observers of Independence day, so far as the flag demand indicates, are foreign-born citizens, the ma jority of whom came to this country in the steerage. This is especially noticeable In tho grain growing states in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Nebraska and then through the southwest, whose vast stretches of rlrgln soil, touched by tho magic wand of Irrigation, have within the last three years put forth crops that have given causo for rejoicing. These huge crops apparently have stimulated the flag demand, aud the flag distributing houses In Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City have this year sent out 25 per cent more flags thau ever before. It would seem, therefore, viewed from the flag sale' standpoint, that the ma jority of Immigrants not only really adopt this coun try as their own, but develop a genuine spirit of pa triotism, one form of which Is a lavish display of tho nation's flag. Making the American flag Is. the work of skilled labor. Girls and women alone possess the degree of ability required to obtain best results. Only the heaviest and least complicated features of the work fall to the men. First, the stripes are cut from huge rolls of red or white silk or bunting. Then they are basted together and later turned over to girls orat Ing sewing machines that stitch at the rate of 2.100 stitciies n minute. The lock-stitch Is used, and the thread fed from spools, each holding Sf.nnrt yards. The stripes stitched together, the flag Is ready to receive the union. Red is the predominant color In a flag. The union Is the blue field which apyars in the left upter corner of a flag, and R contains forty live star, one for each state. Silk flag stars are of embroidered silk. On wool burning flags they are of muslin. The union Itself is of the same material as origin. He was educated In France and pursued the study of law at Bruges. Imdon and Pari. ' Thomas Stone, born In Maryland In 174:!. He read law and en tered Into practice at Annapolis. William Paca, born In Maryland iu 173". Graduntcd at Philadelphia college; was a lawyer. Richard Henry Lee was born in Vir ginia In 1732, received his education at Wakefield, In Yorkshire. George Wythe, born In Virgnla, In 1726. Fully prepared by previous education, he entered the practice of law and from the lirst showed much ability. Thomas Jefferson, born iu Virgnla, in 1743. It Is only necessary to say that this, the central figure of the day we celebrate, went to his rest at the ago of H4, on the anniversary of the crowning act of his greatness, July 4, 126, leaving his biography ns patriot, states man, philosopher, author and diplomatist written in the memory of the people. Thomas Nelson, Jr., born in Vir ginia In 173. Visited England fit 15 and graduated at Trinity college, Cambridge. Benjamin Harrison, born In Virginia. His ances tors were'lu Virginia ns early as 1640, the year of the breaking out of the English revolution which cost Charles I his crown. He was educated at the College of William and Mary. Carter Braxton, born at New lngton, Va., 1736; was educated also at tho Collego of William and Mary. Francis Llghtfoot Iee, born In Vir ginia in 1734. He was carefully educated under Rev. Dr. Craig, a Scottish clergyman, and, like Ids brother, Richard Hour, was um early and consistent patriot. William Hooper, born in Boston in 1732, graduated at Harvard and read law. He settled in North Carolina and soon stood at the head of tho bar. Joseph Hewes, born at Kingston, N. J., In 1730, of a Quaker family. After studying at Frlnceton and pursuing commercial business in Philadelphia, at tho age of 30 he settled at Edeutou, N. C. Noted Professional Men John Peun, born In Virgnla iu 1741. Although bid oportuuitles for education were limited, be made such good use of his time as to be admitted to the bar when 21 years of age. Edward Rutledge, of Irish parentage, a soldier and lawyer, born In Charleston, 1719. Thomas Heywood, Jr., born in South Carolina In 1746, was lib erally educated, and, like Johu Laurens, Thomas Lynch, Jr., aud others of the sons of wealthy planters, com pleted his studies In England. Thomas Lynch, jr., born in South Carolina .in 1749; was educated at Eton and at Cambridge. In 1772 he returned to South Carolina to practice law, belug described as "a finished gentleman, a thing very raro In this country at that period and since." Arthur Mlddleton, born In South Carolina, In 1743. Educated in England at Hackney and Westminster schools and graduated at Cambridge, His earliest appearance In public was as signer of the colonial paper money. Lyman Hall, born in Connecticut In 1731, entered Yale college at IS, and after taking his degree studied medicine. Ou the completion of his studies he removed to South Carolina, but the same year located in Georgia and enteredfupon a successful practice. Button Gwinett, born In England in 1732. He emigrated from Bristol in 1770 to South Carolina and two years after settled In Georgia. Through the Influence of Dr. Hall, it is said, he became an advocate t)f the colonies. George -Walton, born In Frederick county Virginia, In 1740. From a carpenter's appren tlce, seeking knowledge In hours stolen from sleep, by the light of a pine knot, he acquired an eminent posi tion In the Georgia bar and on the bench. To sum up, it will be seen thnt nearly one-half of the signers were members of the legal profession; thir teen of them were planters or farmers, nine were mer chants, five physicians, two mechanics, one a clergyman, oue a mariner and one a surveyor. Many of tbera were engaged In mingled pursuits and nearly all of them were more or less interested in agriculture. A considerable majority appear to have been professional men. Tho youngest member of the signers was 27, the eldest 70 years of age. The mass of the signers were in the most vigorous season of life forty-two out of fifty-six being between the nges of 30 and DO years. The average age in July, 1776, was 43 years. To this combination of the ardor of youth, has it been said, with the vigor of matured manhood and the caution of experienced age may be ascribed the enterprise, energy and wisdom of those councils which elicited' the eujo- glum of Chatham, secured for a feeble people tho con fidence of sovereignities, and founded a nation whoso presence occu pies nearly half a hemisphere aud whose power and Influence are felt and respected throughout tho world. It would be a difficult task to collect In public life examples In the face of danger and tinder tribulations, of lives so illustrious and happy. Not one of all that sacred band died with a stain upon his name. The annals of the world can present no political body the lives of whose members, minutely traced, exhibit so much of the zeal of the patriot, dignified by the virtues of the man. Though we have made some departures from the simplicity and honest zeal for the welfare of the nation which existed la those days, chiefly, perhaps, by the more general distribution of wealth and consequent growth of luxury aud extravagance, though some men delegated with power have forgot right; that many have pursued their own Interested views to the det riment of their country aud cor ruption has prevailed, our fath ers left to us with this birth right of liberty a corrective; which no other people possesses, In the force of public opinion, in the freedom of the press and In the power of tho ballot These are blessings never suffi ciently to bo esteemed the day Is happy for calling them to re membrance. Let each American today renew within his heart the pledge given by the men of 1776, to the principles which they established; cement his faith to the constitution wlrbu they and their compatriots erected and consecrated. Then shall our land take its proper place among the nations of tho earth; then shall gather around Its altar emancipated million; then shall Its institutions rest on political tr.ii'.i, :,avlurf pti'..tn.' morals and private worth for Its bae. and from now to ilie re . inntest end of time it shall pro claim to the world the soul In spiring theme that all men are created free and equal and en dowed by their Creator with cer tain natural and Inalienable rights, smone which are life, liberty and tho pursuit of ban. piness. the body of the flag. A star is half the width of the stripe of the flag containing it Muslin stars are cut out by machinery at the rate of 3,000 an hour. Embroidered stars are cut out In block form by the use of die, sewing machines be ing utilized for the embroidering process. These stars are- flve-pointed, each point being precisely like Its fellow. No band tan become so skilled as to make one point the counterpart of another, eo tho dies, which never err, are used. The muslin from which the stars are cut out Is folded in forty-five thicknesses and placed beneath a die attached to a press operated by foot power. A sharp pressure of the treadle brings the die down uion the cloth with such force that the sharp steel cuts as cleanly as a surgeon' knife. After the basting threads aud stray pieces of silk and wool are removed the unions are placed in posi tion. Two unions are required for each flag, one on cither side. The flag then passes to the flulsher, who head It that Is, sew strong canvas bunds across the headings. In the corners of these bands are placed grouimets or eyelets. Such flags arc not at tached to staffs. If the flags are meaut for the staff they are not grommeted. Iu addition to the flags made In the fashion de- scribed, millions of printed flags are manufactured every year. If the material used Is cotton or silk, the flags are printed from copper rollers, in the same fashion that print goods are created. Muslin rings and those of paper aro printed on an ordinary cylin der press, from iron blocks aud heavy electrotypes. It is plain that flag making holds a place among the great Industries of the United States, and that it Is certain to extend In exact proportion with the growth of the national patriotic spirit. It really stands, however, In a class by Itself, for It is the only Industry whose growth, prosierlty and position find patriotism their sole basin.-Pearson.