Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-07-28
R BY UMEARA COOL

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doubt not, you are impatient and which, I
suspect, is better suited to your tastes and un-
derstandings than the one | have endeavored
to spread before you,
1 told you that more than two hundred years
ago, some pious men and women crossed the
ocean to make for themselves and their chill
dren, homes in this country, then wilderness,
and inhabited only by savage Indians. They
had suffered much i'll their own country, be-
cause they worshipped God in manner thev
thought right and proper. The king and lords
and gentry OF England, wished every one to
believe in the same religious doctrines, and to
worship God after the same manner as them
selves and those who would not do so, were
thrown into prisons, and otherwise bitterly per-
secuted. But they were earnest, courageous
men, who feared God more than they feared
the king and who believed that His law was
to be obeyed, even if in doing so, they set at
naught the unjust and cruel laws of men. They
endured much suffering, and had many bloody
conflicts with the Indians but God watched
over and preserved them and in after years,
their descendants became q numerous people.
From the first the King of England claimed
the country as his own, and the right to 60
yern by his laws and officers those who settled
in it. This right, thus claimed by England's
kings was not seriously disputed by the peo-
pie for about one hundred and fifty years Du-
ring this long period of time, the English kings
and Parliament virtually made the laws which
governed the inhabitants of this country and
the King appointed all the Governors Judges
and other officers to administer them. At
length the people grew dissatisfied with this
rule of England over them The King be-
came tyrannical, ana attempted to enforce up-
on our fathers unjust and oppressive laws
He sent his armies here to compel obedience.
This aroused among the people strong spirit
OF resistance. A great council, composed of
many of the abest. and best men of the land
met the city Of Philadelphia to consider of the
wrongs the country suffered, and of the best
mode to redress them This council, or con-
vention, on the 4th day of July, sevcnty-nine
years ago, published to the world the solemn
Declaration you have just heard read By it.,
they declared this country free and indepen-
dent of the English crown-that they would
no longer be subject the laws and authority of
the English King but that the people should
make their own laws, and choose their own ru-
lers The King of England was not willing to
give up his claim of right to govern this coun-
try. He called our fathers rebels, and sent
out numerous and powerful armies to compel
them to obedience. Our fathers met these ar
mics of the king in many bloody battles. For
seven long years did this war last-a handful
of people, as it were, fighting for their liber-
ties against the armies of one of the most pow-
ful kings on earth The battle is not always
to the strong. God dsposes of the victory
The armies of the king were defeated his
,,ri6a nd hpn,hIol e l.
soldiers as escaped the sword, he called home,
and agreed henceforth to give up all authority
and claim of right to rule over this country.
We date our Independence as a Nation,
from the 4th day of July, 1776-the day on
which the great council of the people, in the
city of Philadelphia, proclaimed to the world
the Declaration you have heard read and
therefore on each succeeding year we celebrate
this day as our Nations birth-day y-the great
day of our freedom and independence.
When you shall be older, children, you must
study attentively the history of your country
1t is one of the most interesting and instruc-
tive on the pages of the worlds history
Throughout its eventful progress, the finger of
God is plainly visible. Whenever God in His
providence, purposes a great work in the re-
v0lution and change of Kingdoms and empires,
He raises up men qualified by their wisdom
and virtues, to guide and direct the people
So it was when he brought the children of Is
rael from the house of their bondage to the
promised land, under the direction of Moses,
Aaron, and Joshua. So it was also, when He
brought our fathers through the perils of the
Revolution, under the guidance and leadership
of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Hancock,
Franklin, and host of other worthless, whose
names will ever shine in history, as among the
noblest of their race. God has some great and
wise purpose, not yet fully revealed, in raising
up this free and powerful nation, with institu-
tions so different from those that characterize
the other governments of the world
In conclusion, children, desire to impress
upon your minds, the scope and sense Of this
address-that the great business of life is, to
learn more and more of God and that to be
happy, you must be -VirtuOus and good
f