The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-19

~eSAiSN' pit*CH'
In the struggle for Independence
which, after seven long years of trial
and suffering, the Colonies succeeded
in wrestling from Great Britain, North
Carolina was the first to oppose the
exactioas of her Mother Country and
to resist with open and organized
forces the troops of King George.
AT Alamance, Greek May 10Th. I'LL,
the first blood shed in resistance
to English misrule and oppression
was poured out, four years before
Putnam and Prescott engaged the
army Of Howe at Bunker Hill, IN
which according to the official report
of Governor Tryon who commanded
the royal troops of his government
he sustained a loss il killed and
wounded of seventy men, whilst
his adversary whom he defeated, left
upon the field twenty dead and many
| wounded after an action, of two hours,
duration.
This event, which the records Of
the State Paper Office in London,
unalterably preserves affixes the
tie credit,to North Carolina for the
first appeal to arms against the tyr
amy of England and Of watering
with the blood Of her sons this germ
of American liberty. Massachusetts
does well to record the valor of her
sons by the splendid monument she
has raised in her chief city to COM
memorate the bate in June 1775,
vet the modest shaft which stands
on Alamance ground has the greater
glory, in that it preserves the mem
DRY of far preceding time when
North Carolina fought, the first. to be
free.
Mecklenhurg follows close behind
in furnishing the third great event
which marks the story Of Cardinals
greatness in those "brave days Of
old" and which, despite the efforts
of some to detract from her credit,
she has nobly maintained by the
truths of history, as the first to
formulate and declare the first
great resolve that they we're ga free
and independent people," to main .
tain which they pledged their LIVES
FORTUNES. AND MOST SACRED HONOR.
Throughout the entire colonies
. the spirit of resistance to English
control had been unmlstakably
shown in number!ess instances. and
nowhere with more determined yigor
than in North Carolina. In Meek
lenburg more particularly. the SEN
tlment Of hostility prevailed with
greater force. whose people as Tar
Teton him self de;iareY "were
more hostile to England than any
others in America" and here, after
long and repeated attempts to have
the grievances they complained
of redressed in vain,-the handful
of patriots whose names are cherish
ed with heartfelt pride TIN oughout all
our borders determined no longer
to euhmit to the English yoke and
in a spirit Of daring which the
world has never seen surpassed for
high and heroic courage, boldly
proclaimed on the 10th Of May. 1875
their separation from Great Britain
and gave to the world their Dscia.
ration of Independence. What
;,rouder memory has any land than
tliis-to have been the first to ding
defiance to its oppressor and sea-
their devotion in the cause: of theiE
liberties with patriots. blood to win
, tlem. And this too ls-another great
heirloom Of our past which the re-
curing years still find our peopls
delighting to honor. and which will
continue to be revered among US sc
+ long as men are left in onr land who
cherish the sublimity Of great action
I and feel thrill in. the inspiration O
, liberty.
I So tina. in the early life Of our good
g old State, we have uncomfortable rea
\ sons tor feeling the highest and no
blest pride il her shistory-strong
: earnest and full as the lessons Of
r her real grandeur are learned ano
+ the heart beats faster in remember
ing that these we're our countrymer
: and this, our native land.
e In her history among the sister
i, hood Of States she has gone forward
;. writing her name grandly alongside
: Of those who have renown and lief
"iinmortal names that were not: borr
!, to die.' Space win not allow mention
: of all her illustriOus sons but thi.