New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-20
THE INCEPTION OF AMERICAN LIBERTY,

and such proposition should be jealousl,
scrutinized by the honest taxpayer.
THE INCEPTION OF AMERICAN LIBERTY
Yesterday was celebrated, on the spo
and in becoming manner, the centen
NAL anniversary of tho event of what is
known in revolutionary history as ''the
Concord fight" In the little town Of
Concord, Massachusetts,, on the nineteenth
of April, 1775, was fred the first shot Of
the Revolution, which shot, from the gun
of trusty minute man, felled to the
earth British soldier, and, followed By
other shots, turned the enemy back
toward their intrenchments at Boston. OF
that place and event. Ralph Waldo Emer-
son, who still lives at Concord, wrote
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.
At Concord had been laid by supplies
of ammunition and provisions by direc-
ton of the Congress Of the provinces
For this reason the comparatively unim-
POAtoAI 4AAdAu tO"A VA SOuCO1u WIS llduc
the theatre of the first tragedy in the
struggle for American independence. The
British had been closely watched in Bos-
ton by the Sons Of Liberty. When it was
found they were to make move on the
Eastern towns the signal lantern in the
tower of the old North Church, was
placed according to agreement, and on
the night of the eighteenth of April Paul
Revere, starting from Charlestown
Heights, made his famous ride, warming
the minute men to arms all along the
route The roads of egress from Boston
had been we'll guarded; but the
single lantern had told its story
in spite of British vigilance, and the pa
triots were found ready to strike the first
blow for liberty. The struggle virtually
ended with the surrender of CORVALLIS at
Yorktown, Virginia, October 10, 1881.
The magnitude of that first battle has
been greatly eclipsed by modern Skin.
mishes, as but few men were lost on
either side, and but few were engaged to
lose; but no more glorious results ever
came out of warfare. 1t was a cause of
fireside protection and home rights noble
enough to receive the sanctity Of religion.
Beside it the first gun at Sumpter was an
attempted crime of homicide or national
suicide. There was union OF hearts
and hands in the days of the Rev.
olution, and fire was kept up all
along the line. Occasionally was found
IN office-seeker, the original of the Amer
can political pest, who would betray his
comrades for position under the domi-
1ant power; but American independence
vas not to be suppressed or crushed out;
t was based upon justice and could not
all. The gun of Concord was echoed |
Until was written in the treaty of Septem-
Der 3, 1888, "His Britannia majesty &C.
the said United States, VIZ:
New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay,
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penn
ylvania, Delaware, Maryland. Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Geor-
ia to be free, sovereign and independent
states. This was twenty years before the
louisiana territory had been bought from
he French for the sum of S15, 900, coo, or a
title more than one-half of the present
tate debt OF Louisiana. Massachusetts
nd Virginia then stood proudly side by
ide in arms, having a common cause. In
bose days Patrick Henry said, 81 am not
Vlrginian, but an American"
1t is well enough in these days of inter-
al strife to revert in mind to first princi-
les. The spirit of national independence
lay be allowed to slumber, but its fires
hould never die out. The monument at
oncord was the first milestone on the road
} freedom from foreign invasion, and it
good for the children of patriots to
ather there hundred years after Yankee
owder flashed death to British tyrants,
nd review the events of intervening time.
he lessons of the dead past will make
etter men and safer citizens of the living
udents of the present. Raphael Semmes,
no is eentenially indisposed, would con-
der such celebration mockery. Amer
ans who love their country are proud of
Ie achievements of it's sons; and rejoice
this anniversary with Concord, where
lie egg was laid which Matched the bird :
freedom.