Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1876-04-27
WILMINGTON, DEL.
ThoFsAey, April ~. 1873.
YHx D8vNOPNINT OF ANI1ICAN
INDEPEUDKNCE,


lu order 10 comprehend the history Of
tue Revolutionary period, We must dismiss
from our minds the idea Of contest be-
twsso thirteen harmonious aud united
colonies on ono aide and Great Britain on
the other. Tue people Of tho colonies
were far from bsipg united, and their arm
ID opposition to the King was not spon.
tsnsous rsvolt-not . general uprising for
indepsndsucs-but . movement sncour.
sxed. fomsntsd, aud developed by leaders
who saw beyond the vision Of the mass.
Even after war bad begun, Washington
hlAsslf disavowsd purpose Of indepen-
'isncs, and when that object was ultimate
" declared 1t was because the minds Of
those who had engaged in the struggle had
themselves progressed, and because MILL
ssry policy oounselsd that better fight
could Be- made - IN independent nation
than ~ An insurgent popuiaos. "Three
Htllioos of people armed In the holy cause
Of liberty" cried Patrick Henry, are in.
vineihle, in such country ~ We possess,
but unfortunately no such number ever
united In that behslf. 1t may be doubtful
whether half the population was ~ all
iimss friendly 10 the patriot cause.
Iu fact the Revolution was . political
movement, begun and led forward by infiu.
snoss other than those which appeared on
the surface. In tho words Of recent wri-
ter In the Atlantic Monthly 1t was "An out
ward, visible sign Of An organic growth
which IL accelerated but did not produce, ="
aud 1t manifested tho forces of - nation
aiowly struggling against untoward outward
circumstance and inward dissension, col.
ssoting by degrees its constituent mem.
bsrs.' Tho mon who figured in 1t were
but the types Of the change, and the evolu-
ton Of the Nme was - painful, and - dit
ncult ~ have boon in all ages the moral ant
political mstamorphosss Of nations.
Hence, We must read between the lines
In our psrusa Of the historic pages which
the lapse Of an exact century now recall
to our attention. We must comprehend
that the American people were not unani
nous, that the feeble had to be strength
snsd, the .irresolute encouraged, and til,
disaneeted subdued, from day to day, an,
month to month that there were Jealous
Les, qaarrels, selfish ambitions, peculation
and oorruptions among those who csrriet
the patriot banners and that man.
things were done and many omitted to b,
done, not for effect against the British
arms but in consequence of causes existin,
amongst our own people. In the end til,
glorious result appeared, distinct, precis
And without notwithstanding q strip
erased or polluted, not . single star OBJ
scured"-but it came forth from struggle
wherein often it had seemed to disappear
aud often to be hopeless Of attainment
The courage and energy Of it's advocates
tho advantage they secured in prompt
ssizing the organization Of the govern
msnt and thereafter resolutely holding II
tie momentum Of the movement itself, fe,
by the forces of that ''organic growth
which was felt but not seen, and over a
these that Provtdence (which p, ss,dea owe
sio destinies Of nations" gave success a
last To the patriotic cause, and evolved it
result in accomplished freedom and estab
lshed independence.
The Revolution Was not q sudden purpos
bat the embodiment Of All aspiration; it wa
rot coup but development.