The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-07-18
ARP AS 4 PATRIOT.
HE MOaALIZES ON THE GLORIOUS
FOURTH.

| Let Us Have Peace.
Atlanta Constitution.
asked an intelligent young mar
to- day about tho 4th of July and
what it meant, and he said "Our fore
fathers had big fight with old Eng
land and whipt it; and after it was
all over the colonies got together Oh
the 4th of July, '7G, and formed a
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 u great victory that closes a
war and secures peace and independ-
ence is greater day than 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 CORVALLIS
ut Yorktown virtually closed
the war on the 10th day Of October,
1871, and the treaty of peace was
signed in Paris on the 3Oth day of
November, 1882. This treaty for the
first time acknowledged and estab-
ished the independence of the 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 along the line. Bancroft says,the bat
tle..of Lexington that was fought on the
18th Of April, 1775, was the beginning
of tho revolution. Tho battle of
Bunker Hill was fought in June,
1875. The colonies had rebelled
from Maine to Georgia, and had or
ganized for resistance. Old North
Carolina held secession meeting at
Mecklenburg in May, 1775, and pass
ed a declaration of independence.
The second continental congress met
in Philadelphia the 10th of May,
1775, and issued S2,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 well
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 so back, but on the 7th
Lee introduced resOruJ1uns m unc-
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 on the 4th of July, 1776.
1t is 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 perso-
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
rebelled against him and passed a
declaration of independence for Vir-
ginia, and SO Cromwell sent over n
fleet to subdue them, but he couldn't t
do it, and had to recognize their IN
dependence and make q treaty with
them. The Lees were born to rule,
and they have been ruling for $50
years in this country. 1t is grand
old family. Henry Lee, a cousin OF
Richards, was the father of our Gen
eral Robert f. Lee. He was known
during the revolution as Light Horse
Harry. His father must have been q
very extraordinary man, for he and
General Washingtonloved and court,
ed the same girl, Miss Lucy Grymes,
the ''lowland beauty" and Lee out
generated the general, and history
says that Washington.neve wholly
recovered from that defeat. Some
years after he tried widow with bet
ter luck. She had one son, and that
son married and died, leaving one
daughter, and our Bob married her
| lne Lees III uiu DeISoHatl plluc an'
pride of family. They scorncd to dt
a mean thing. Their self-rcspect
wouldn't permit it. They stood VI
and sat down and rode and walkcC
with princely dignity that com
manded respect and admiration. vii
liam Preston johnson says in re
cent letter that he never saw Genera
Lee take all ungraceful posture. NJ
matter how worn or weary OF sick o.
sad, his bearing was grace and dignity
refined. This was not affected. L
was his nature. A man with q grca
mind and n good heart cant help beins
dignifcd. His body partakes of thu
nobility of his mind He becomes
godlike, rs was said of Daniel Web
ster. If IL mans body is the tcmpl
of the living God, ,as the scriptures say
then it becomes him to be dignitic'
and graceful and courteous. Som
folks affect TO dcspisc all this, bu
they do not They are fooling then
selves. Just let man or n woma