Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-07-03

On the eve of the one hundred and
eighth anniversary of our nations in
dependence Is q good time for every
good American citizen to pause and
refiect over the causes which led to our
nations Independence, and az we look
1t the growth of the nation every
American heart should swell big with
gratitude that we live in such favor
ed land. There is no such another In
stance of national prosperity in the
annals of the history of nations than
chat which attaches to our own country.
1t is only eight years over a century
since there was no such nation as the
United States. There was man by
the name of Washington but there
was no city by that name.
There were but three million of
people then in the country, and these
we're confined to the territory of the old
original thirteen States. Even the
Western part of Pennsylvania was
then in the common vernacular the
back woods" Ohio, Kentucky and
Alabama were the distant territories.
and Florida and Louisiana were parts
OF foreign nations. OF these three
million people one third were tories,
men who, though part and parcel of
the people, were enemies to che people.
When We think OF such small
handful of people contending success
fully with such mighty nation as
Great Britain,y and wrestling from them
their independence and freedom, where
Is there true American citizen who
does not recognize IN il all the hand Of
an overriding Providence d? When we
look upon the local injustice and hard
ships of our own State government at
che present time, we are led the more
TO admire the character of our fore
fathers who revolted against the STAMP
act OF Great Britain, and poured the
British tea into the waters of Boston
harbor. But it was more than "A piece
of paper stamped with the British coat
OF arms it was more than the tea of
our grandmothers upon which duty
was required that impelled the colonies
TO strike for liberty. There was some
thing behind all that that was insult
ing to the natural independence of man.
hood. There was in it the principle OF
taxation without representation, n prin.
ctple obnoxious 10 even the commouest
recognized sense of justice.
The people were weak, but they were
not so weak that they would Willingly
submit TO an injustice. They could nay
for the paper they used and the tea they
drank, but they could not pay for then
when it compromised their liberties
They could submit TO suffering ant
want, but they could not submit to ;
great wrong.
They were willing TO be governed bu
not asvassals and slaves; they were will
ing to pay tribute hut they wanted il
return the full recognition of citizen
ship of men entitled to all the right
and privileges conferred by citizenship
"A denial OF these rights to the revolu
tionary war, and that war resulted il
the establishment of the United State
as nation AS the people refrain from
their usual occupations tomorrow lie.
them think ofLexington, the firstreal bat
tie of the revolution
Let them think of Bunker Hill. q
Saratoga, of White Plains, of Lon
Island, of Bennington, of Trenton, G
Princeton, of Valley Forge, of German
town, OF Paoli, of Brandywine, of Cam
den, Of the Cowpens, of Charleston
Harbor, OF Fort Moultrie, and of mum
bers of o-hrr battle fields of the Repub
lie until after an exhaustive eight year
war the enemy surrendered at York
town.
Then we were a nation weak il
numbers, but strong in purpose How
we have grown since then! From tire
million TO tifty-two million, and tn,
strongest and freest nation upon til
face OF the earth This is something t,
be grateful and thankful for, and 70
the great privileges which we enjoy lie
those thanks be shown in a natural an
legitimate manner to morrow.