The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-07-17
ARP AS 4 PATRIOT.
HF MORALIZES ON THE GLORIOUS
FOURTH.

Some Important Historical Facts Recalled
Lot Us Have Peace.
Atlanta Constitution.
1 asked al Intelligent young man
to-day about tho 4th Of July and
what it meant, and he said ''Our fore
fathers had bis fight with old Eng
land and whipt it; and after it was
all over tho colonies got together on
the 4th of July, '76, and formed
union and made declaration of in
dependence" A good many young
people have an idea that this day
celebrates the whipping of the fight,
and the beginning of new govern
ment. This is mistake, but it is q
very reasonable supposition. The
day of a great victory that closes n
war and secures peace and independ-
ence is greater day tnan the one on
which it was declared.
'Let not him boast that putteth
his armor on like him who taketh it
Off The surrender of Colnwallis
at Yorktown virtually closed
the war on the 10Th day Of October,
1871, and tho treaty Of peace was
signed i'll Paris on the 3Oth day of
November, 17S2. This treaty for the
first time acknowledged and estab-
hshed theindependence of tho United
States, and the day it was signed
should be observed as very notable
day. The 4th of July was not the
beginning of the war. The colonies
had been fighting for year or more
all lalong the line. Bancroft says.the bat
of Lexington that was fought on the
18th OF April 1775, was the beginning
of the revolution. The battle of
Bunker Hill was fought in June,
1775. The colonies had rcbclled
from Maine to Georgia, and had or
ganlzcd for resistance. Old North
Carolina held secession meeting ut
Mecklenburg in May, 1775, and pass
ed a declaration of independence
The second continental congress met
i'll Philadelphia the 10th of May,
1775, and issued $2,OOO,OOO Of CONT
mental money for war purposes. Cana
da was invaded and Montreal was
taken in December, 1773. Our faith
ers were getting along pretty we'll
with the war long before the 4th of
July, but the colonies were fighting
on their own motion, ynd had not
cemented any settled union. Some
Of them thought that England would
soon get tired and beg their pardon
and invite them back, and perhaps
. they would go back, but Oh the 7th
day of June, 1876, Richard Henry
Lee introduced resolutions in the
continental congress that cut the last
cord that had bound the colonies to
Great Britain. The resolutions were
passed and n committee appointed to
draw up more formal declaration
of Independence; and SO it was done,
and was reported to congress and
was passed Oh the 4th Of July, 177G.
| It's well for the children and youth
to understand these things, so that
when they are asked what all this
racket is about, and these annual
celebrations and fireworks, they can
answer.
Richard Henry Lee was the pcrso-
nal friend of Washington, and when
Washington died Lee was chosen to
pronounce his eulogy, and it was in
that address that he said of him:
"First in war, first in peace and first
in the hearts of his countrymen."
Don't forget that.
Those Lees were terrible rebels.
When Cromwell was dictator they
rebellcd against him and passed a
declaration Of independence for Viz
ginia, and so Cromwell sent over q
. fleet to subdue them, but he couldn't t
do it, and had to recognize their in
dependence and make treaty with
them. The Lees were born to rule,
and they have been ruling for $50
years in this country. 1t is q grand
old family. Henry Lee, q cousin of
Richards, was the father of our Gen
eral Robert Il. Lee. He was known
during the revolution as Light Horse
Harry. His father must have been q
very extraordinary man, for he and
General Washington loved and court
y ed the same girl, Miss Lucy Grymes,
, the 'lowland beauty" and Lee out
generated the general, and history
=, says that Washington,- never wholly
, recovered from that defeat. Some
years after he tried a widow with bet
ter luck She had one son, and that
, son married and died, leaving ono
ltttiBllIcI, tlllt Oul DOD lllulIl4u Ilcr.
The Lees all had personal pride and
pride of family. They scorned to do
a mean thing. Their sclf-rcspcct
wouldn't permit it, They stood up
and sat down and rode and walked
with n princcly dignity that COM
manded respect and admiration. Will
liam Preston Johnson says in re-
cent letter that he never saw General
Lee take an ungraceful posture. No
matter how worn or weary or sick or
sgd, his bearing was grace and dignity
refined. This was not affected. 1t
was his nature. A man with great
mind and n good heart can't help being
dignifed. His body partakcs of tho
nobility of his mind. He becomes
godlike, as was said of Daniel Web
ster. If mans body is the temple
of the living God, as the scriptures say,
then it becomes him to be dignificd
Il r--1