Samuel Morse..1791-1872...We have always known of his work with the telegraph, but he was quite an amazing artist as well.

Morse at the end of his life wearing his many medals
The Gallery of the Louvre 1832
John Adams 1816

House of Representatives 1822

***********************************************************************

Although we think of Morse mainly with the invention of the telegraph and what we call "Morse code" .....He was quite an accomplished artist who was not only successful in the United States, but in Europe as well.

By the 1830's his efforts became more involved in what would become the telegraph. He worked with Leonard Gale who was a friend of Joseph Henry who was an early supporter of Morse. His work with Alfred Vail who was there with money and ability brought the telegraph along at a good pace.

In fact Vail did a good deal of the work while Morse took all the credit. This was the later days of Morse but his work as an artist was his greatest moments of solo work.

It is hard to really give all the total credit to the telegraph to Morse, as those who worked with him did a great deal. But he was the one who had the dream mainly. So to the dreamer goes the prize!

But Morse did dabble in many different money making fields including photography. But today he best known for his work with the telegraph, but I kind of like to think of him as an artist of very good quality.

His paintings are in galleries all over the world. Perhaps one may say of his art, work and life what was said in the first official telegraph message sent in 1844 in the presence of Dolly Madison.."What hath God Wrought."....

John Bunny...1863-1915...The first great silent film comedian

Two pictures of John Bunny...The first great comedian in the movies

I remember my grandfather talking about going to see one of Bunny's films when he was a boy. Well My grandfather was a teenager right in that special period of time when movies really took off in 1912-1915. The industry was changing rapidly and the old scenes of watching streetcars going down the street were very much of Edison's early films.

By the time we reached the beginnings of the second decade of the 20th century John Bunny was one of the most famous men in the world. In the United States and in Europe as silent pictures did not have to deal with language barriers. He was the first major star before Charlie Chaplin started his great rise to fame.

Many theaters were made with bunnies in their facade and he was the king till his death in April 1915. His movies were often called Bunnyfinches for many of his movies were made with Flora Finch.

The movie industry grew so fast after his death he became almost forgotten in a short period of time. But I always will remember finding a story about John Bunny in my grandfathers book and asking him about it. I am glad I did.

Adolph Hitler.His book Mein Kampf (My struggle) was written in 1924, yet no one read it! First complete version in the USA not printed till 1939!

This is the first complete version of Mein Kampf made in the United States. Not printed till 1939! In fact the publishers apologise for some mistakes that may exist as they rushed it along.
There were several versions of the book in a condensed scale but never was there a complete version of the book till the outbreak of hostilities. As you see in this book. This was done in 1939 and France was still....France.

No one listened to Hitler till it was too late. He gave us several warning cries...but we did not listen. We are not listening now...There are many cries going on today that are just as frightening as Hitler, maybe more so!
I would like to issue this page as a warning. That we should listen to what our enemies say. As Winston Churchill once said that if there ever was a war that was preventable, it was World War Two. Hitler was telling in the 1920's what he wanted to do.

But we all put our heads in the sand.

I have often written here that it is 1938 all over again in this world. Listen to what others are saying, and take those warnings seriously! The world of 10 years from now will be very different from today!....Stop, Look, and Listen. The world is on the verge of a great conflict. I do not see it as it was in 1939, but now the toys have changed, the rules have changed.

History teaches us to see the folly of man. If mankind is wise he will learn from the foolishness of his nature. But sadly history teaches us that we are creatures of habit and routine. Read what others write....Listen to what others say....They are not saying what they do for enjoyment...It is part of the human animal, a warning cry!

When did the United States really become Independent? It was not July 4, 1776!!!

The American Delegates to the Treaty of Paris which included John Adams, John Jay, and Benj. Franklin. The British Delegates refused to pose for this picture of this most historic event and the picture remained as you see it...Unfinished.




**************************************************************

I know we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Of course as I have mentioned before that did not happen that day.

But in reality the Declaration of Independence did not give us independence. It just expressed our desire to gain it!

We fought an amazingly successful revolution, and compared to the French revolution, a rather bloodless one.

Many great and noble men were killed fighting for our independence, but compared to most revolutions it was most successful and without many riots, murders, and class warfare.

Even though it was not commanded well at times. It was through chance, Benj. Franklin, the French, George Washington, great and noble young and old men, John Adams, the Dutch, and the help of many foreign nationals that made it a success.

The final battles were fought in 1781, and yet we were not independent, we were still part of England.

It was not till September 3, 1783 that we gained our independence from England.

So remember that day too, for that was the day that the United States of America became a reality!

July 4, 1826....The two people who had the most to do with American Independence.. One the architect, the other the writer, died..Amazing!!

John Adams in his last portrait in 1824 The old house where Adams died on July 4, 1826
Thomas Jefferson in later life somewhat stylised

Monticello where Jefferson died on July 4, 1826

*************************************************************

On the morning of July 4, 1826 there were 3 surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence. By that evening there would be just one. Thomas Jefferson who was the youngest of the three had been in rather poor health for a while. He was broke, he was sickly, he was living off the kindness of others. He always lived beyond his means.

John Adams was the oldest of the three. He was amazingly robust for his age, but at the age of 90 time had indeed taken its toll. He had been careful in his finance, lived within his means in a simple and quiet life.

Yet as the forth of July approached both of these men were ready for life's final journey. Jefferson had been in a bad way for a few years.

Jefferson had come in and out of a coma in the last days asking here and there what day is was....He wanted to die on the 4th ...He got his wish, he did. By the very early afternoon one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence was no more.

Adams who had slowly grown so old and lame that by his near 91st year he was basically just living in his library with his books. But by the 3rd of July it was seen he was failing fast. By the forth it was noticed that he would not live out the day.

He commented on how great the this day was. And mentioned that his friend, once foe..Thomas Jefferson still survives. Yet by the time that these words were leaving the lips of the dying sage, Jefferson was already dead.

By early evening his strong heart finally stopped. Another author of the Declaration of Independence and it's architect was dead.

It is most amazing that the two people who had the most to do with the Declaration of Independence died on the 50th anniversary of its announcement.

I know you are wondering...who was the third one that was still alive? That was Charles Carroll, who while not at the voting of the Declaration was allowed to sign it. He would be the last signer to survive and die at the advanced age of 95 in 1832..

Playing cards from the early days of the Lusitania and Mauretania circa 1907 They show the Lusitania in her first color style.

RMS Lusitania 1907-1915 ...This famous liner was sunk by the Germans on May 7, 1915. Note that the bow of the liner is painted black like all of the hull. Now look at the pictures below and see how the Lusitania might have looked. But in this picture she arrives on her maiden voyage. Only on her trials was she ever painted with a white bow. So these cards depict her right from her beginnings before the Mauretania was in service.

Playing cards showing the Lusitania in her original colors and layout. That makes me think they are very early. If you look at the card below you will see that the ship on top is the Lusitania as she had originally her top deck of the bow painted white like other ships before and after her. It was very becoming. But the Cunard Line decided against that and painted all of her bow black as you can see in the first photograph of her. So that makes me think that these cards are very early. Obviously before 1915. Look at the card below and you will see the many qualities of the Cunard ships...Speed, safety, luxury, and comfort. These cards could have easily have been on her and I would not be surprised to find that they were. But I can never quite prove it.
Here you will see the Lusitania on her trials. You can see the white painted bow. How nice it looked. I have always wished they had kept her that way. What a beautiful ship she was.

July 2, 1776..The date we voted for independence. It was Richard Henry Lee's resolution that would become the basis for the document

Here above is the record of the vote on independence of July 2, 1776. Below you will see Lee's resolution enlarged. (Nat'l Archives)
The first printing of Declaration available on July 5, 1776...It was made by the printer John Dunlap during the evening of July 4th.
The Declaration we know. It was not made or signed till August 2, 1776 and signed by others till 1781. The is a view of a wet ink process made in 1820's. While it did make a good copy of the document, it damaged the original tremendously.

"The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. . . . It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

This is what John Adams wrote to his wife on the 3rd of July after the vote for independence was approved.

However, the 4th became the day of days as the first print which was not fancy was signed by the President (John Hancock) and the Secretary of the Congress.

The first copies of the Declaration were available on the 5th of July. It was read around the colonies for weeks afterward.

*******************************************************************

It is interesting to note that the official document that we know of that is in the National Archives was not signed by the delegates till August 2, 1776. However there were others still signing it till 1781!

There was no major signing of the declaration till August 2. As the document we know of was not ready till then. The only persons who signed on July 4 were John Hancock and Thompson the secretary of Congress.

*******************************************************************

So while we talk of July 4th as the date we declared Independence, you will see that it was really the 2nd, and that the document we always associate with the signing on July 4th, was not signed till the following month and in some cases years.

*******************************************************************

So in a way the 2nd is correct. But to everyone, including Adams and Jefferson. The 4th became the date to honor their great work.

So much so that each pushed themselves to stay alive to die on that day.........Fifty years after it was announced.

May I end this with the words of John Adams on July 4, 1826, as he lay dying......

"Is it the 4th? It is great day, it is a good day" Indeed it is!

The Amistad Speech before the Supreme Court by John Quincy Adams. As we reflect on liberty let us reflect on the wonder of this great man

Pictures of Adams
His grave in Quincy, Mass

The Amistad Speech before the Supreme Court by John Quincy Adams was perhaps one of the greatest ever by an American speaking for liberty. It took many hours. In it he reflected on the greatest want of man, Liberty.

As we reach the 4th of July and celebrate the birth of this nation. Let us not forget the trials of the great who made this country what it is ....

I would hope someday to see the name John Quincy Adams next too others who fought for equality and just for all.
He beat out the powerhouses of the day and won freedom for the Amistad slaves. I often find that he is totally under rated and under respected. Next to posters of Frederick Douglas should be that of John Quincy Adams.
The man who killed the "gag rule" in Congress. If you do not know what that means...It meant that you could not bring up matters of slavery in Congress!!! Adams fought and won a victory over all forms of slavery...He did indeed light the match that started the civil war......He killed the gag rule and then it could be talked about...and it lead to civil war and the end of that horror called slavery.

May his named forever be blessed. For he gave his all for freedom.


I mention him today as we talk of freedom and independence. I am not a great fan of Thomas Jefferson as I find him to be a terrible hypocrite. John Quincy Adams risked all to make a difference.

He received daily death threats, yet he went on.

Watch the movie Amistad and see the greatness of this amazing man. I have added here a transcript from the movie of Adams speech before the Supreme Court. Many were a group of Southern men who were under the influence of Chief Justice Taney, who would later write the Dred Scott decision. Yet Adams beat them with intellect and magnificence in oral arguments.


Here are the words from the movie in which Adams speaks before the court.......




Adams:

Your Honors, I derive much consolation from the fact that my colleague, Mr. Baldwin, here, has argued the case in so able and so complete a manner as to leave me scarcely anything to say.
However, why are we here? How is it that a simple, plain property issue should now find itself so ennobled as to be argued before the Supreme Court of the United States of America? I mean, do we fear the lower courts, which found for us easily, somehow missed the truth? Is that it? Or is it, rather, our great and consuming fear of civil war that has allowed us to heap symbolism upon a simple case that never asked for it and now would have us disregard truth, even as it stands before us, tall and proud as a mountain? The truth, in truth, has been driven from this case like a slave, flogged from court to court, wretched and destitute. And not by any great legal acumen on the part of the opposition, I might add, but through the long, powerful arm of the Executive Office.
Yea, this is no mere property case, gentlemen. I put it to you thus: This is the most important case ever to come before this court. Because what it, in fact, concerns is the very nature of man.
These are transcriptions of letters written between our Secretary of State, John Forsyth, and the Queen of Spain, Isabella the Second. Now, I ask that you accept their perusal as part of your deliberations.
Thank you, sir. [to court officer]
I would not touch on them now except to notice a curious phrase which is much repeated. The queen again and again refers to our incompetent courts. Now what, I wonder, would be more to her liking? Huh? A court that finds against the Africans? Well, I think not. And here is the fine point of it: What her majesty wants is a court that behaves just like her courts, the courts this eleven year-old child plays with in her magical kingdom called Spain, a court that will do what it is told, a court that can be toyed with like a doll, a court -- as it happens -- of which our own President, Martin Van Buren, would be most proud.
Thank you. [takes document from Baldwin]
This is a publication of the Office of the President. It's called the Executive Review, and I'm sure you all read it. At least I'm sure the President hopes you all read it. This is a recent issue, and there's an article in here written by a "keen mind of the South," who is my former Vice President, John Calhoun, perhaps -- Could it be? -- who asserts that:
"There has never existed a civilized society in which one segment did not thrive upon the labor of another. As far back as one chooses to look -- to ancient times, to biblical times -- history bears this out. In Eden, where only two were created, even there one was pronounced subordinate to the other. Slavery has always been with us and is neither sinful nor immoral. Rather, as war and antagonism are the natural states of man, so, too, slavery, as natural as it is inevitable."
Now, gentlemen, I must say I differ with the keen minds of the South, and with our president, who apparently shares their views, offering that the natural state of mankind is instead -- and I know this is a controversial idea -- is freedom. Is freedom. And the proof is the length to which a man, woman, or child will go to regain it, once taken. He will break loose his chains, He will decimate his enemies. He will try and try and try against all odds, against all prejudices, to get home.
Cinque, would you stand up, if you would, so everyone can see you. This man is black. We can all see that. But can we also see as easily that which is equally true -- that he is the only true hero in this room.
Now, if he were white, he wouldn't be standing before this court fighting for his life. If he were white and his enslavers were British, he wouldn't be able to stand, so heavy the weight of the medals and honors we would bestow upon him. Songs would be written about him. The great authors of our times would fill books about him. His story would be told and retold in our classrooms. Our children, because we would make sure of it, would know his name as well as they know Patrick Henry's.
Yet, if the South is right, what are we to do with that embarrassing, annoying document, "The Declaration of Independence?" What of its conceits? "All men...created equal," "inalienable rights," "life," "liberty," and so on and so forth? What on earth are we to do with this?

I have a modest suggestion. [tears up the Executive Review]

The other night I was talking with my friend, Cinque. He was over at my place, and we were out in the greenhouse together. And he was explaining to me how when a member of the Mende -- that's his people -- how when a member of the Mende encounters a situation where there appears no hope at all, he invokes his ancestors. It's a tradition. See, the Mende believe that if one can summon the spirits of one's ancestors, then they have never left, and the wisdom and strength they fathered and inspired will come to his aid.


James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams: We've long resisted asking you for guidance. Perhaps we have feared in doing so we might acknowledge that our individuality which we so, so revere is not entirely our own. Perhaps we've feared an appeal to you might be taken for weakness. But, we've come to understand, finally, that this is not so.

We understand now, we've been made to understand, and to embrace the understanding that who we are is who we were.

We desperately need your strength and wisdom to triumph over our fears, our prejudices, our-selves. Give us the courage to do what is right.


And if it means civil war, then let it come. And when it does, may it be, finally, the last battle of the American Revolution.

That's all I have to say.




That is just a bit of the great words of Old man eloquent as he was known. So as you think of liberty, justice, fairness, remember the great master of these ideals ..... John Q. Adams.

The author of the Monroe Doctrine, 6th President of the United States, member of Congress 1830-1848, Ambassador for George Washington, Secretary for his father John Adams (1777- 1780), Secretary of State, Arbitrator for peace with England for the War of 1812, Abolitionist, Philosopher, author, Lastly the man who started the chain of events that started the civil war, and above all a man who believed in liberty and the rights of man.

History thanks you sir