Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-07-09
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE.


tory is fraught with such sacred memo
rics as the Fourth Of July, and no day in
tho history of the world marks so great
an event in the onward march Of civili-
zation. For the first time in the history
OF the world the inalienaDlc rights of
man, summarized IN the comprehensive
terms Of "lifc, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness" were proclaimed as the cor
ncr stone and foundation of govern
mcnt July 4th, l77G, and from that day to
this, and We hope and believe for all time
to come, that sentiment will find ready
response in the hearts OF the people OF
tins nation and the courage to defend and
MAINTAIN il wherever and however as
sailed. Tue seed 81 liberty and human
rights that was sown by the colonial con-
vention IN Philadelphia one hundred and
nine years ago has been nurtured and has
spread until 1t finds Judgement in every
nation and cline, and we believe IS des-
tined to become the universal rule Of
government "from the rivers TO the ends
OF the EARTH
The moral grandeur Of the courage and
character of the immortal fifty SIX signers
OF the Declaration Of independence can
only he approximately realized by this
generation as the circumstances by which
they were surrounded are otscurcd by the
intervening past with lis continued series
of changes following each other IN rapid
succession and destroying the old land
marks.of the revolutionary period. The
immortal band Of three hundred Spartans
who died in Thermopyl;c Pass, whose
fame has come down with uudiminishcd
lustrc through the generations Of over
two thousand years, were not more he
roic than the immortal fifty-siX who
signed the American Declaration of In
dependence with the full knowledge that
II would he their death warrant il it fail
cd. On the spot that drank up tie blood
Of the martyr band of Spartans was erect
cd q monument. which bore this lnscrip-
t,on: "Strapgcr, tell tic Laccdrmoni.
ans that We he here, obeying their laws"
and while no monument has been erected
to the memory Of the signers of the Dec
larat,tn of Independence. the recurrence
of every Fourth of July witnessCs the
united heart Of the greatest and grandest
nation on earth giving honor and glory to
their names.
There is no document in tho political
literature of this or any other nation that
EQUALS the Declaration Of Independence
in force and grandeur Of dlct,on, and
lofty appeal TO sense of justice. AS en-
arra,gnment Of the British ministry, 1t Is
,iigniiied yet terrific, and at once enlisted
the sympathy of the civilized world. Its
earncstness impressed the whole people
| with the justice Of their cause and i'm
bucd them with that spirit which comes
of the might of right and winch IS invin-
chile.
The immediate author Of tho Dcclara-
ton of Independence is not certainly
known, nor is it material, except as q
matter o. curiosity. 1t went out to the
world as the product of the convention
as body. Every signcr of it was per-
sonally responsible to the British govern
ment for its declarations and sentiments,
and every one Of them is now entitled 10
the gratitude of the nation for its results
The manuscript Declaration OF lndcpen-
dcnce, signed by the members of the con
vention, was in the hand writing of Thos.
Jefferson, but it is claimed by many
that the original draft was made by Thos
Paine. However this may be, 1t was
formulated and perfected in secret ses.
sion with closed doors and no one mem
bcr is entitled TO the honor Of It's author.
ship.
From more than twice ten thousant
platforms and rostrums this Declaration
which is old yet ever new, will be reat
today The causes that led TO and iusti
fled it will be discussed, and the strusgl,
which re-wrote its every line in hloot
will be portrayed in eloquent words b.
the great orators Of the country from
ocean to ocean and from the lakes to thu
gulf. No monument If granite or mar
ble could &c we'll honor the lmmorta