The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-07-19

Tod know not what course others
may take, but as for me give me lib.
erty, or give me death ~
Such an appeal as this could moi
be resisted. "Givs me liberty, OF
give me DEATH" rang across the
plains, rolled over the hills, and echo
ed through the vallies. The I" min
ute men" were ready; they left their
iplOws in the field, their hammers in
the shop, their wives and little ones
at home. and shouldering their mus
kets and shot-bags, they hurried to
the field OF Lexington, where they
heroically fought and bravely beat
the foes of freedom. Bunker Hill
was next bravely fought, and on Ju-
ly I'd, l1T5, George Washington
placed himself at the head of the
American armies as Commander-in-
Chief.
From one scene of conflict to an
other the revolutionary heroes hast
ened until 1t was seen that they had
gone so far that the struggle must
end either in the complete independ-
ence or enslavement of the colonies,
and the question having assumed
this simple and definite form, was
soon determined. Be slaves our fa-
theirs would not, and hence they de
termined to fight it out on freedoms $
line, or perish. The declaration of
Independence was adopted and sign
ell July 18th, 1I,6, and by it the death
knell of despotism on this Continent
was sounded, and great and free na-
tion sprang into being. The war was
now renewed with greater vigOr, and
the fighting hereafter was to drive in.
vaders from the land, and establish a
nation of equal rights and free men.
The battles of Charleston, Long Is
land, White Plains, Trenton, Prince
ton, Brandywine, Germantown, and OF
other places followed in succession,
and with varied fortune. But through
storm and sunshine, victory and de
feat. through oslumny and praise, with
traitors within the lines and foes all
around, the Revolutionary army, with
the patient, dauntless, wise, good,
and immortal Washington at its head,
marched on until the last battle was
fought, the.enemy was routed and the
invading foe was driven back to his
long neglected home. Despotism was
banished from our shores, the ban
ner of Freedom was unfurled to the
breeze, shouts of victory rent the
air, and the joyful acclamation sound
ed over the land and swept across
the seas-America is free, America
is free,
Fellow citizens, ninety-one years
have rolled away since the Declara-
ton of Independence was adopted,
and the hands which signed it have
mouldered in the dust. Our fathers
have gone TO their long home, and
left us 10 enjoy the blessings which
they purchased with their blood
Since the fathers passed away from
the scenes OF toll, and strife, and
blood, an migrate and renegade por-
tion of their sons have risen up in
rebellion against the government
which they founded, and have lifted
their sacriligious hands TO tear down
the temple of Freedom which they
erected but other sons-noble, pat /
riotic, heroic. and worthy their Rev
sires, rallied to its defence
and gallantly did they succeed In,
fighting for national independence
thousands Of the fathers sacrificed
their lives, and to perpetuate their
memories history has been written,
have been erected and
the Fourth of July is celebrated. In
and maintaining what the
fathers established, tens OF thousands
OF their sons suffered patiently, sac
riliced nobly, and perished heroicallyi
on the bloody field. To perpetuate
their names and noble deeds, let his
tory carefully gather them up and
store them away; let them be men
toned in our celebrations; be sang in
our songs; he incorporated in our
music, and he chiseled on monuments
of marble never to he etfaced.
But above all, fellow citizens, let
us manifest our gratitude to our Rev
fathers, and to their hero
ic sons of the war for the Union, by
and perpetuating what
they bought SO dearly. Let us on
This spot and on this our national
celebration, pledge each other and
all We have, that whatever may be-
tide us, and whatever party be IN
power, we will stand by the Union
until We curse Ives are gathered to
the fathers.