The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-07-08

reading was interrupted Dy the Irqurht
acclamations Of the p,puIace, and that
at its close the excited crowd rushed to
the ST. te House, tore down and burned
in the street the Kings arms, destroyed
every ensignia of British authority and
rank, and consumed the greater portion
OF the day with the firing OF cannon
and the ringing of bells, closing with
bonfres, speech. making, and other evil
dcnces Of public rcjoicings, which were
at last cut short by violent thunder
storm late in the afternoon. 1t was a
big patriotic spree, il we may be per-
mtted the expression. Prior to all this,
however, the colonies had for years been
making history in their resistance to the
expressions OF the British crown. In
October 1873, the largest assembly
which up to that time had been held in
the colonies to consult against the exac-
tons of the mother country, came to-
gether in the yard Of the State House
to protest against the landing OF car
90 of tea from the ship Polly, whose
sailing for the Quaker city had been
noticed few days before. Her arrival
was announced on Christmas day and
as result OF the former meeting, the
people again assembled to the number
OF about ten thousand, and kindly ad-
vised the captain OF the vessel to take
the tea back within twcnty.four hours,
which he very wisely concluded to do
within the time prescribed. Again the
patriots OF Boston had also held little
tea party in Boston Harbor, meeting in
the disguise OF Mohawk Indians. The
history of this little social gathering is
familiar to every child in America
Concerning il Oliver Wendell Holmes
gives us some beautiful lines, conclud.
ing with these words
"The waves that wrought a century's wreck
Have rolled DER Wing and Tory;
The MOhawks on the Dart mouths deck
still Ii G in song and story
And freedoms tea cup still O'erfiows
With ever fresh li0atiOns,
70 cheat OF slum or all her fees,
And cheer the Weakening nations"
The destruction of tea in Boston
lIarbor was only one Of the many Incl.
dents which serve to illustrate the in
flexible purpose OF the fathers OF the
Revolution. Their virtue and bravery,
aud not their numbers, enabled them to
achieve their independence from the
British crown. They were equal to
the highest type of fortitude and pat
riolism found among the ancient Greeks.
AS consequence, what appeared at
first as but trivial circumstances, at the
last proved the virtue Of our fathers
and the justice of Their Cause. These
smallest circumstances were net lost
sight of by the thinking men of the
British army. That British officer
who saw Francis Marion eat hearty
and happy dinner from roast sweet po-
tatoes, usng IL log tor table, was salts
fled. lie returned to King Georgia.
army in moody spirit, and when qucs-
toned as to the cause by bis superior
officer he replied, like Pitt, 'my lord
we cannot conquer these people," lie
was asked why. Ills reply was: "Why
sir, l have seen an American general,
his officers and soldiers, without pay
and almost without clothes, living OH
roots and drinking water-and all for
the sake Of liberty. Sir, such peo-
pie may be extermnated but they can
never be subjugated. To conquer them
is impossible" Thus the personal vir-
tue Of these revolutionary patriots saved
new world and a new nation to liberty.
Without personal virtue national power
and greatness are impossible. The per-
sonal courage and thrilling words of
the heroic Stark when he exclaimed
Eight, boys ! Fight We must win
the fight, or Mollie Stark sleeps widow
tonight, saved the military stores at
Bennington. These stores constituted
the last hope Of Burgoyne'S army. His
surrender soon followed !; and this SUR
render was what at last determined the
French nation to send help to the strug-
Cling colonies. With this help the
hopes of the continental army revived,
and success at last dawned upon the
desperate efforts of a brave and he
role people. The individual virtue of
people is tho rock Of their national
strength. Let us then, fellow citizens,
learn lesson from the personal exam
pies OF our revolutionary sires. Scores
OF powerful nations have fallen like
over-ripe fruit, from decay. Egypt tell
from her proud position. Greece has
changed to petty and helpless commu-
nifty. Persia is a desert. Carthage
has long since persisted. Jerusalem has