The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-07-05
LOCAL MATTERS.

FOURTH OF JULY.-Yesterterda was the ninety
seventh anniversary of the Declaration of Inde-
penence: On the 4th of July, 1776, at quarter
past 3 o'clock p. m, the American Congress as
sembled at Independence Hall in the city of Phi
ladelphia and declared the American Colonies alb
solved from all allegiance to the British Crown.
That act gave birth to nation. That promul-
CATION announced to the world that America
and Britain were one no longer. A people, who
had long suffered impositions rather than take
up arms against the mother country could no
longer refrain from the discharge of high duty
to themselves and the world. That edict de-
clared the Independence Of the Nation. After
that it took six years of bloodshed, war and des-
olation to put into execution the solemn declara-
ton thus uttered. That feeble band of little
states that joined hands for their mutual defense
and eventual Independence grew in strength,
principle, population and wealth. Their inter-
est became greater. Their motives for a more
compact form of government grew stronger every
day. The people became possessed of the the
idea that they should become one people, united
by the most solemn and binding ties-made Zone
and indivisiblep
The matter was discussed in brief way in the
few newspapers of the day, by epistolary cores
pondence carried on between the leading men of
various parts of the country and agitated in va
rious ways for number years. 1t is true they
exercised sort Of supervisory care over each
other. They had their general Congress, COM
posed of members from all the states. They
went through the functions of legislating for the
government of the colonies. They had sort of
bond of Union, but this was not sufficient to
meet the requirements of the situation. The ag-
tation of the question of stronger Union ofthe
states brought about a Constitutional Conven-
ton, which assembled in the city of Philadelphia,
in May 1887, and continued its session until the
latter partof September of the same year. George
Washington, who had lead the American armies
triumphanty through the struggle for liberty,
presided over its deliberations This Consttu-
ton was submitted to the people Of the several
states for their adoption or rejection, requiring
the sanction of nine out of the thirteen states to
make it a valid instrument. 1t took nearly two
years to obtain the necessary sanction for its
adoption. This was obtained. The bond of "a
more perfect Union was formed. The indissol-
uble ties of united people formed and fashioned
US perfect nation. George Washington was
made our first President and took his seat
April Both, 1889. Before this there was no head,
no central organization, no controlling power.
From handful of weak and feeble commu
mites we have grown into family of stalwart
nations, many of whom during the late war for
the suppression Of the rebellion gave ample proof
of their capacity to measure swords with some
of the first Powers of the European Continent.
From thirteen we have increased to thirty-seven
States. From three millions we have increased
to forty millions of people. From the rank of
a weak, impotent, unimportant nationality, we
by the dint of of our industry, the magic of our
intellectual genius, the proves of our arms, the
valor of our seamen, the indomiable spirit of our
people have risen to the enviable position of the
most powerful and exalted nation on the globe,
having demonstrated the unsolved problem of
elf-government-and convinced the world that
On fho rif Of q cit s IN
dismayed amid the storm and hurricane of civil
commotion, relying in the intelligence, the pa
triotism, the patient endurance and self-sacrifc-
ing devotion of her people. This has excited the
admiration and envy of every crowned monarch
of Europe.
No flag to-day bears in its folds equal majesty
with ''the Stars and Stripes" No other nation
al ensign excites so much respect in the breasts
of those who behold it. 1t gives to all lands
the blessed hope of liberty to her people and self
government 10 the nation. 1t is blazing light
set in the high way of the centuries to guide the
footsteps of men in the pathway of freedom and
light all nationalities in the way of blissful Re-
publicanism. Our bright example, our self-re-
liant, self-sustaining, majestic bearing amid the
pillows of ten years revolution from which
we emerge with the complete independence Of the
man, animates the hopes of all struggling peo-
pie. Our sun, rising and setting only on free
men, has enkindled anew in the hearts of all civ
lized people resistless yearning for the blessings
we enjoy under our enlightened Institutions
All over the world people are enjoying greater
privileges, rising higher in the scale of freedom
while Kings, Popes, Priests, Powers and Poten-
tates feel their power passing away as ice-bergs
melt amid the rays of a tropical sun. Let our
wholesome influence encrcle the world like the
atmosphere we breathe that every human being
may drink in the inspirations of liberty until
- al,ol1 h,,0n Of
freedom while the Star Spangled Banner streams
in n,atchIaSc enlandor above them all