The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-07-04

the way down the long vista of the
centuries there is none that marks a
more important event than that which
bears the declaration of our indie
pendence The "divine right of kings"
had been the creed that the world had
preached with fire and sword for CEN
turies, but from the mountains and val
leys of the New World, from humble
cabins in the wilderness, from the
shores of the inland seas and the banks
of mighty rivers the amen of people
who had learned the doctrine of free
dom from nature herself assembled,
when those brave patriots, our fore
fathers made that memorable declara-
ton which caused tyrants TO tremble
upon their thrones and oppression to
grow pale under its gaudy trappings of
robe and crown.
The doom Of l1ing-craft and priest
craft was then and there pronounced,
and in the clear light of the new day,
high and holy truths were revealed that
had long been hidden under the dust Of
superstition and error. Democracy had
been called the dream of the fanatic,
the chimera of the brain of the poet;
but one hundred and sixteen years un-
der democracy has shown to Europe
that it is the throne that is the simu-
lacrum, and that liberty under law, the
law made by the people, is the most per-
feet form of government the world has
ever seen.
The struggle to free ourselves from
the grasp of tyranny was bitter and
long continued, and there were times
when it seemed hopeless. The young
nation, weak in numbers and resources,
was confronted by an enemy whose
wealth was inexhaustible and whose
military strength was enormous, and,
had not God been with the brave men
whose watch-word was Liberty" their
cause would have been lost
The principles they asserted their
posterity has proven, and upon every
anniversary of our nations birth the
loyal hearts of the people renew their
plight of faith to our national institu-
lions.
Our flag has waved over many q
bloody and hard-fought field since the
declaration of independence sent a
thrill through all Europe; but the
wounds are healed, the graves are hid
den with flowers, and peace, mild
eyed and beautiful, broods over the
land, and plenty pours from her horn
the fruits of honest toll, sufficient not
only for our own people, but for the
starving millions of the old world, who
reach out to us hands of piteous appeal
We have conquered not only human
foes, but the desert and the wilderness
have been brought under subjection,
the hidden treasures of the depths of
the earth have been yielded up, and to-
day we have within our land cities that
shame the proudest capitals of the
world, that In one century have out
stripped those whose foundations were
laid before Lief Erickson was born, and
were rich and powerful before Colum-
bus dreamed of a world beyond the
western sea-
1t is fitting, then, on this day Of all
others, that we should pause TO read the
history of our past and the prophecy OF
our future. The eyes of the world are
upon us, and we cannot afford TO make
mistakes, for the future republics OF
America and Europe viii be patterned
after ours.
Those who read the signs of the
times tell us that monarchy in England
Is tottering to its fall, that Norway and
Sweden, Germany, Italy and even I'm.
perial Russia are striving to break the
bonds of their despotism and become
free. The United States, France, and
even the superstition ridden tropical re-
publics of Central and South America
uphold the standard of freedom, and
when the clouds lift but an instant and
the portion of humanity that is crushed
under the iron heel of despotism catches
3 glimpse of the sacred banner theil
hearts thrill with new hope
There is a point where evolution In
government becomes revolution. We
reached 1t one hundred and sixteen
years ago. Europe may reach it in oul
own time, but among all the future re
publics of the earth our own will for
ever be preeminent, for 1t was planted
IN the virgin soil of new continent
and has been guarded by a people tc
whom patriotism is a religion above al
reeds and loyalty their breath of life.