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Show Page 18 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume II, Issue XIII 1 July 2000 Benjamin Franklin 1706 – 1790 Note: This article is a condensed version of the story of Franklin as found in the book, “First Steps in the History of Our Country” by William A. Mowry, Ph.D. and Arthur May Mowry, A.M., printed in 1899. Benjamin Franklin was one of the most famous men that America has ever produced. His life covers the greater part of the last century. He was born in Boston, at that time the largest town in all the English colonies, but having less than ten thousand people. There were then ten colonies along the coast. Baltimore had not been settled, nor New Orleans. There were no railroads, and not even a stagecoach in the country. At that time there were three colleges and but one newspaper. How different was America when Franklin died, an old man, eighty-four years of age. The Revolutionary War had been fought, the Constitution of the United States had been adopted, and Washington had become President. At the birth of Franklin the population of this country was probably less than half a million. At his death it was nearly ten times as great. Franklin was a self-educated man. He went to school only two years, leaving it when he was ten years of age. At that time he went into his father’s candle-shop to help make candles for the people of Boston. He did not like this occupation and soon grew tired of it. Then his father apprenticed him to his brother James, who published a newspaper. Franklin liked this business better. One day . . . Franklin purchased a copy of the third volume of Addison’s “Spectator.” He was charmed not only with the thought, but with the elegant way in which it was expressed. He would read one of the short papers, close the book, and rewrite it, partly in his own language. Then, comparing his work with Addison’s, he was quite inclined to say that Addison’s was the better. In this way he found that a good deal depends upon how thoughts are expressed, and he began to study style. If you will read his autobiography, you will find that he tells in a charming way how he left Boston when he was seventeen years old, went to New York, and from there to Philadelphia. Franklin’s first visit to England was when he was eighteen years of age. On reaching London he sought for work in a printing office. When he was twenty years of age he returned to Philadelphia, and really began his life work in that city. He published a newspaper when he was twenty-three years old; he kept a stationery shop, and soon began to publish “Poor Richard’s Almanac.” This almanac brought him large profits, and he continued it for many years. “Poor Richard’s Almanac” contained a great many homely maxims, which made it very popular and which had a good influence upon the habits and morals of the people. Franklin rose rapidly in the esteem of the people. He was chosen to fill many offices; he was postmaster of Philadelphia and a member of the city govern- ment; he was clerk as well as representative to the legislature; and he was postmaster-general for the English colonies. He also served the people by his great inventions; he sent a kite up in a thunderstorm and showed that lightning was the same as electricity; he made the Franklin stove, which proved much better than the old-fashioned large fireplaces. He desired to aid education as far as possible; he founded the University of Pennsylvania, and he started the first public library in Philadelphia. When Franklin had become greatly interested in his studies, they were interrupted by the struggle which led up to the Revolutionary War. Franklin was appointed by the people of Pennsylvania as their representative to the British Government. From this time onward his mind and time were mostly occupied in public affairs. Franklin tried his best to prevent the passage of the Stamp Act, but it was passed and the necessary results followed. The Stamp Act led to the next step, and that to the next, and so on, until the Revolution came, which ended in the independence of the colonies. Franklin was one of the last to believe that independence was necessary. Still, when the time came, Franklin heartily yielded and signed the Declaration of Independence. Franklin was sent to France to represent the government of the new republic at the Court of Paris. The war went on; the contest was uneven between this little republic with its small army and the great power of England with its experienced generals. But Washington overcame the difficulties, and the army was finally victorious through the help of France, which Franklin by his genius and popularity had secured. Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown and the war was at an end. Next came the treaty of peace with Great Britain. In that treaty the most important question was what should be our western boundaries. Franklin and John Jay of New York finally succeeded in securing for this country the territory north of the Ohio, so carrying the western bounds of the republic to the Mississippi River. Franklin was now an old man. Soon after the making of this treaty he returned to his native land for the last time. Yet he had strength enough to engage in one more great work for his country. When he was bowed down by the burden of more than four-score years, he was appointed by the State of Pennsylvania as a member of that great convention which was to frame the Constitution of the United States of America. For four months during the heat of summer Franklin daily met with his colleagues in the old state house in Philadelphia, in “Independence Hall,” giving to his country those wise counsels which came from his long life and varied experiences, his great mental ability, and his remarkable genius. This convention had a very difficult task to perform. The delegates represented different States, under different conditions, and it was almost impossible to agree upon a new Constitution that would be approved by the States they represented. More than a month passed by before any successful agreement had taken place among the members. One morning when the convention had assembled, Franklin arose and said: THINK OF THE FUTURE The Ogden Valley Land Trust a non-profit organization For more information Call (801) 745-2048 “How has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard; and they were graciously answered. Have we now forgotten that powerful Friend, or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance: I have lived, sir, a long time; and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?” The convention finally succeeded in framing a Constitution that all could agree to. It was not perfect, but it was clearly the best that could be obtained. Franklin said of it, in a speech to the convention just before the vote was taken: “Thus I consent, sir, to this Constitution, because I expect no better and because I am not sure that this is not the best.” While the different members of the convention were signing the constitution, Franklin stood rubbing his eye-glasses and looking toward the president’s chair, on the back of which was represented the sun upon the horizon, shooting its slanting rays upward. Franklin turned to the member standing near him, and remarked that painters have found it difficult to distinguish in their art a rising from a setting sun. ”I have,” said he, “often and often, in the course of the session and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked at that picture behind the president without being able to tell whether the sun was rising or setting; but now at length I have the happiness to know that the sun of America is rising.” Franklin continued to exert himself for the public good until the very end of his life. Just before his death he signed a memorial to Congress, praying for the abolition of slavery in the United States, and the very day before he died, in the midst of extreme suffering, he finished a paper upon this subject. His age was a little above eighty-four years. Without question, Benjamin Franklin was one of the greatest men of his age. When the news of his death reached France, the National Assembly put on mourning. The Frenchman, Turgot, said of Franklin: “He snatched the thunderbolt from the sky and the sceptre from tyrants.” Franklin and his wife were buried in the graveyard of Christ Church, Philadelphia, at the corner of Fifth and Arch Streets. When he was a young man and a printer in Philadelphia, he wrote his own epitaph: THE BODY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, PRINTER, (Like the cover of an old book, Its contents torn out, And stript of its lettering and gilding,) LIES HERE, FOOD FOR WORMS. BUT THE WORK SHALL NOT BE LOST, FOR IT WILL APPEAR ONCE MORE IN A NEW AND MORE ELEGANT EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED BY THE AUTHOR. * * * NOTICE TO ALL LIBERTY WATER USERS * * * Due to the warm weather so early in the season it has become necessary to implement a watering program as follows: Please start immediately watering every other day, odd numbered houses on the odd numbered days and the even numbered houses on the even numbered days. Water only in the evenings or early morning hours to get the most benefit from this program. Until Utah Power & Light gets the power to the new well, we will have to continue this program to conserve water. Your cooperation is deeply appreciated by your water operator. |