Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-07-22
THE DAY OF LIBERTY.
By W. B. HOLDEN.

ave hold these truths to be self
evident" wrote Thomas Jefferson,
"That all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable rights; that
among these are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness; that to secure
these rights governments are instituted
among men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed"
Now it is a singular fact that at the
dine the Declaration of Independence
was promulgated these truths were by
no means "self-evident," indeed great
many colonists, in common with tae
royalists, held exactly the contrary
view.
1t is not difficult to trace the rise of
nations. First, the little colony, all of
one family, or nearly rela' ed; then
the village. with an elective ch eff; then
q district, with an hereditary ruler,
and finally nation, with king, or
perhaps an autocrat.
There is not the slightest doubt that
n the beginning all men tOere equal
and that governments did derive their
powers from the consent of the people
governed. but when Thomas jefferson
wrote these truths had, long since been
forgotten.
From fear, ignorance or motives of
4elf-interest, it was held by the vast
majority of mankind that the king was
the source of all power; that liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, even life
itself, was a gift from the king; and
that all men were created in classes, ar
ranged like a pyramid, with the king
on top, and every class having the
right to oppress all others below 1t.
Not only did the ruling classes, as
they were called, believe in these ideas,
but the peasants, the lowest class of all,
dutifully accepted such teaching, and
submitted to fate with only slight muir
muring.
1t was this state of affairs that the
Revolutionary leaders were confronted
with. At different periods in the
worlds history, the people had risen
and deposed or killed their ru ers, and
there had been republics formed, but
the people had never before dared to
assert or strive to maintain that they
were the source of power, and the De-
claration of Independence was unique.
AT the present day the condition of
affairs has been almost completely re-
versed. With the exception of Orien-
tal countries, or those still sunk in bar
barism, the majority of mankind vigor-
ously deny the divine right of kings.
Even in Russ a, where the Gar rules
with autocratic power, the people are
not deceived; they submit, mply be-
cause the times are not yet ripe for re-
volt.
With this single exception, all civil
lzed people have now established their
right to make the laws that govern
them; and, except the Gar, all rulers
have admitted that they derive their
Just powers from the consent of the
governed.
Better than all, we have to chronicle
the wonderful growth of true republics
and the consequent downfall of mon
archies.
For years, the little republic of
switzerland stood alone In Europe; but
now that it has been joined by France,
there is every reason to believe that
other nations will follow their example.
Spain and Portugal have a strong re-
publican party, while Italy, Greece
and Seryia are very restiye under
monarchial rule.
America is now continent of repub-
lies. Some European nations have de-
Tendencies on this side of the Atlantic,
bnt the people are dependent only il
name.
Inc British possessions in North
America are virtually independent, and
can be actually so at any time without
provoking any warlike measures on the
part of the parent government. Nova
days, revolutions are mainly peaceful,
as witness the recent deposition of the
Emperor of Brazil.
Africa has three republics in Libeiar,
Iransvaal and the Orange Free State,
while Asia, alone of the continents,
possesses no republic within its limits.
Australia, which is a continent in
itself, is practically a republic, holding
only nominal allegiance to Grea,
Britain, ana recently the question OF
an Australian confederation has been
freely discussed.
1hus the day of liberty may be said
90 have fairly dawned. Americas In
Day was the first gleam of
light that has never been extinguished,
and 1t Is not too much to anticipate
that when our country closes its second
century of existence there will not be
an hereditary monach, much less an
absolute ruler, on the face of the earth.
Days.