The Delta independent., 1891-07-08
fHE DRlTA INDEPENDENT
wItttAX JAMES, Proprietor.
~ <tAAtAsA kAtiSstea ~ Han. rhos.
QleSk st D$isa, Jdly Fourth.

this July day. ASain the people meet. and
with reverential joy, listen as one man to
the reading VI that grand old charter of our
libefties. the Declaration Of Independence.
1t has been well called the graudest political
!docunent ever penned by man. Four hun.
dred years ago. this broad land that is now
she home Of sixty millions of happy people
was the domain Of the wild beas. and the
AAyage. Discovery slept. TIE p,any mil.
lions of the old world toilcd and were rob-
bed Of tue fruits of their labor. The idea of
liberty scarcely come to then III dreams, and
the whim of the tyrant was their only law.
For thepa there was no star Of hope. But
Columbus conceived the idea that by sailing
west the shores Of Asia might he reached; a
new continent was not In his thoughts. He
was poor, spd his project vas to all the
people Of the old world rank hsresy. For
twenty years he sought means to buy the
hhips with which TO measure unknown seas.
The kings end queens were too busy with
their sncred wars; the wise men of the time
Thought hin, r,ad. and by the theolosians he
was told that his theories were in opposition
to the word of Gsd. For :wenty years he
carried the grand thought is his braii--tor
twenty years he toiled and reaped only dis
appointment, seorn and derision for his
pains.
At last, woman, Isabelle, queen of Spain,
sold her jewels aud bought him ships; he
sailed, and after many iardships. Gains and
storms, he sighted land. To the down.trod-
den and oppressed Of the old world, his dis.
covery gave land of promise.
The history of the old werld is largely
story Of robbery. blood.hed and. suffering.
Th. wars were for plumber, conquest and
revenge. it was patiently admitted for cen.
surieu that ths title Of the king rested upon
divine sanction; that the king chuld do NO
wrong, and was above the law. Religion
was a matter to be judged solely BY some
royal rut-throat who had hanged. beheaded
Or poisoneh his kinsmsn in order to reach
the throne. Royalty spread itself over the
face of the esrth-the plant of liberty with
erred In its shade.
Ia the old world, the sun above sud the
earth beneath were not for it, ney con.
tinent must be found--Columbus found it.
The people came, slowly at first. and many
were the obstacles that confronted them.
BY sea were frail ships and cruel storms, and
when the land was reached, the struggle had
bJi just isgun. The forest, the wild beast
End the savage, sickness, famine and mis-
fortune ip q Thousand ferns were met and
Overpome. The people who 50 heroicslly
struggled and suffered in order to establish
homes IN this country, were not led to come
by hope Of gold or conquest; they did not
iEnorantiy expect that born,eous nature
would supply their wants without effort On
their part.
The Pilgrims who landed ut Plymouth
Rock, - rule, were educated, thoughtful,
and intelligent. In their native land there
was NO hope. Rather than longer submit to
the Indifference and oppression from which
there was no escape y hoHe, they we're will
ling TO brave the hsrdshirs and suaeripgs Of
ths new would They oa'qs as matter Of
principle, that they might enjpy the natural
rights Of man. that they might educate their
ehildren and Worship God in their own way,
that they might gather their harvests and en-
Joy the fruits of their labor without fear of
robbery at the hands of the king. The story
ef their trials spd struggles is a !ons ONE, but
success canir Al last. The forrest was felled,
the lndisp driven back, the Canadian made
TO understand that they were capable Of de.
Tending thenselyes. The land Was cultira.
ted, they made their wearing apparel; their
ships, and many Of their tools and impls.
ments In comn,o use. They raised large
quantities of tobacco, which was an article OF
commerce and : source Of great profit.
Our fore-faihers we're hard.warking. in.
dustrious and saving. Soon they were more
than selfsrstsining. When England leokc ed
across the sea aud saw tlIat they had moi
only conquered the wilderness, hqs had
thrift besidss, she sent oyer her governors
judges, tax=gatherers and soldiers; she at
tempted to force upon the people tie oil
system Of royal r"hlery and subject thcu, te
every iajusti.e ami indignity. To this oul
people conld never submit, and with AZ
appeal to Ged. humanity and justice, they
siaots the Rock Of Liberty, and the Declara
ti"n Of Independence gu.led forth. Thi,
declaration dealt simply with the old truths
the natural rights OF men and the dictates Of
humanity and justice. The doctrines it an
nOunced we're not uew-for ages suffering
humanity hsd known the truth, but dared
not speak.
The clearness, fra,ness, boldness and
granduer with which thi, declaration wa,
made, touched the Conscience of the world
For the support OF this Declaration. with Z
firm reliance on the protection Of divin,
Providence, the siEnsrs mutually pledged
their lives, their FORTUNES and their SACRED
honor. II ever war wa. waged for home
firsside. family and liberty, the revolution
was. With ,l,s coloaists it way ''liberty o.
DEATH" The six year, between Lexington
aud Yorktoyn were filled with struggle
heroism and desth. Msn were tried Ms b,
Are, and victory " last was with the right
To day We have met to rejoice at tn,
yietaries af on: forefatliers, to give thankl
that the right triun,phed. While we giv'
t,aaks let W. re,nember that vigilance il
the price Of liberty" Let US not forget tina
the benefits arising from the Efforts of oul
ANCESTORS may be los. through our iadolenc,
and inactivity. The affairs of men arc fet
by lifs and action, no uiatter how many
great actions have been performed by YOU
ancestors, no matter how good their deed
werU, 70 be great or good today yonrscIf