Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-07-31
THE FOURTH OF JULY.
pioneer Press.

Pioneer Press.
The fourth Of July has come and
gone, and the American people have
again been reminded Of the struggles
and hariships which or forefathers
endured in order to redeem our be-
loved country from British oppres-
sion. One hundred and ten years
have passed away since that immor-
tai declaration, penned by the patri-
otic Jefferson, was adopted, and the
United States became free and indie
pendent. The right of all men to
.slife, liberty and the pursuit Of hap
piness" was indeed the GROWING aim
Of that sacred parchment. England
had long ruled Our country with ty-
ranical hand, until the limit was
reached, beyond which ''forbearance
ceased to lie 4 virtue and America
was compelled. for self-defenee. TO
"appeal to arms" The revolution
at last came in long and bloody
struggle for the eternal principles of
right. America, long PROSTATE at
the feet of tyranny felt an instructive
impulse to arise and protect herself.
"Trnth crushed to earth will rise again,
The eternal wears Of God are hers,
But error, sinking. writhes in pain,
AMI dies amid her worshippers.'
From farm, from workshop, and
from desk came the eager, liberty
loving sons Of America, willing to
give up their very life's blood in or
der to drive back the approaching
enemy, and protect their homes from
foreign invasion. Liberty, the de-
sire of all mankind, was the object Of
their search, and fired with loyal
zeal and holy enthusiasm, they went
forth TO meet their fate Amid the
fierce conflict of shot and shell amid
the deafening din of cannonade, amid
the instruments Of death, they went
forth bravely to eight, believing that
.sFreedom's battle once begun,
Bequeathed from bleeding sir to son,
Is seldom lost bat always wonH
On the fields Of Bunker Hill, Con-
cord, Lexington. Cowpens, Benning-
ton, Yorktown, and other battle
fields they gave their lives, cheer
ful sacrifice to the sacred principles
Of liberty. The remembrance of
their heroic struggles should ever
remain fresh in the minds of all true
and loyal Americans. And with
thankful hearts for the blessings thus
vouchsafed to us, we, rs true Ameri
coHs, should 40 al in our power to
retain the glow Of patriotism and
valor in the hearts Of the rising
youth. Let them not forget the
memory of Washington, of Adams,
of Jefferson. Of Franklin, of Henry,
OF Gates, Of Green, of Sumpter, of
Marion, and hundreds ofothers who,
in the halls of legislation and on the
field of battle, strenuously laborcd
and fought for American Indepen-
dence, perish from the American
heart. Over one hundred years of
national prosperity, unequalled by
that Of any other country, fully at
tests to the wisdom Of our forefa-
theirs, in purchasing, at such q dear
price, the blessings and glories of
liberty. Let, then, the duties devol-
wing upon us in remembrance ofthis
day, be fully discharged. and let all
with enthusiasm celebrate the i'm
mortal Fourth of July. And when
in the years to come our national
life shall be jeopardized by foreign
enmity and jealousy, may there be
sufficient patriotism burning in every
American to eXclaim:
"Woodman, spare that tree,
Touch not a single bough,
In youth it sheltered me-
And I'll protect it now.'