, 1889-05-02

/ feat, of trial, of experiment, of partial
success and Substantial Rains, this i'm.
mortal victory, Hencoforth it had re.
fuge and recruiting station. The oppressed
found free homes In this favored land, and
invisible armies marched FROM 1t by mail
and telegraph, by speech and song, by
orecppt and example, to regenerate the
world
Puritsns in New England, Dutchmen In
New York, Catholics In Maryland. Hu.
Ruenois in South Carolina had felt the
tres of persecution and were welded to
religious liberty. They had been
PURIFIED IN THE FURNACE,
and in high debate and on bloody battle.
fields had learned to sacrifice all material
interests ant 20 peril their lives for human
rights. The principles OF constitutional
government had been impressed upon
them by hundreds OF years of struggle, and
for each principle they could point to the
death attested the ferocity Of
the fight and the value Of the concession
wrunR from arbitrary power. They knew
the Limitations OF authority, they could
pledge their lives and fortunes to resist
tncroachmtnts upon their rights, but it
required the lesson of Indian massacres.
the invasion Of the armies of France
from Canada, the tyrfapy OF the British
crown. the srven years war of the revoln.
tion, and the five years of chaos of the
confederation to evolve the idea, upOn
which rest the power and permanency of
the republic, that liberty and union are
une and inseperable.
The traditions and experiences of the
colonists had made them alert TO discover
and quick to resist any peri to their llber-
A l., ....A
dis'ru-ted power. The town meeting and
the colonial legislature gave them comb
dence in themselves and courage to check
the royal governors. Their interests, hopes
and affections were In their several com
monwealths, and each blow by the British
ministry at their freedom, each attack
upon their rights as EnRlishmen. weak
pned their love for the mother land and
intensified their hostility to the crown
But the same causes which broke down
their allegiance TO the central government
increased their confidence in their respec-
tive colonies. and their faith 10 liberty WAS
largely dependent upon the mt intenance
of the sovereignty of their several states.
The farmers shot at Lexington
ECHOED ROUND THR WORLD,
the spirit which it awakened from its
sumbers could do and dare and die, but 1t
had not yet discovered the secret of the
permaneUce and progress OF free institu.
lions. Patrick Henry Numbered in the
Virginia convention, James Uts spoke
with trumpet tongue and fervid eloquence
for united action in Massac usett,, Ham.
ilton, Jay and Clinton pledged New York
to res, ond with men and money for the
common cause, but their vision only saw II
league of independent colonies. The veil
was MOI yet drawn from before the vista,
VI population and power, of empire and
liberty which would open with national
uuioa. fsss s-----
The Continental congress part tally
Rrasped. but completely expressed, the
central idea of the American republic.
N ore fully than any other body which ever
assembled did it represent the victories
won irom arbitrary power for human rights
In the new world it was the COnsrrvator oil
liberties secu red through centuries of strug'
Gle in the old. Among the delegates were
the desceDda Dts of the rien who had stood
in that brilliant array upon the field oi
Runnymede which wrested from King
John, Magma Charta, that
great chatter of liberty, tc
which Hallam in the nineteenth century
bears witness that all which had been
| since obtained is little more than as con
The grandchildren of the statesmen who
had summoned Charles before parliament
and Compelled his assent to the petition o'
rights. which transferred power from tho
crown to the com mons, and gave represen
tative government TO the ish-speakins
race. And there we're those who hac
sprung from the iron soldiers who hat
fought and charged with Cromwell a
Naseby and Dunbar and Marston Moor
Among it's members were Huguenots
whose fathers had followed the
! WHITE PLUME Of HENRY OF NAVARRO
and in an age of biRotry, intolerance ant
the del eihcation OF absolutism, had securet
the great edict of religious liberty from
French despOtism, and who had become
people without u country, rather than sur
render their convictions and forswea
their conscisnces la this congress wer
those whose ancestors were the country
men of William of Orange, the B-RRar
of the Sea, who had survived the crueltie
of the Alva. and broken the yoke of prou
Philip of Spain, and who had two centur
les before made declaration OF indeppnd
ence and formed federal union whic
were models OF freedom and strength.
These men were not revolutionists, the
were the heirs and the guardians of tn
| pTlCtltss UedSuT"b VI mhuhlHu. 1 VI
British king and his ministers we're tn
revolutionists. They were reactionaries
seeking arbitrarily to tur. back the hand
upon the dial of time. A year of doub
and debate. the baptism of blood upo
battle fields, where soldiers trom ever
colony fought under a common standard
and consolidated the continental army
gradually lifted the soul aud understand
ing of this immortal congress to the sut
lime declarations: I'VE. therefore, tn
representatives of the United States c
America, in general congress assembled
J appealing to the supreme Judge of th
world for the rectitude of our intention,
do. in the name and by the authority {
the good people of these colonies. solemn
lv publish and declare that these Unite
Colonies are, and OF right ought to b,
free and independent states.'
! To this declaration John Hancock, pr,
} scribed and threatened with death, affixe
! ~. uk,,r. NH, h,nh hos .knol g.