Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-18

nent Of the people to their free institutions,
sooner or later restored II to Its proper state.
ana the tyrants were made to know that the
people were vested with the supreme power.
But the English people were not yet pre-
pared to enter upon the theater of the new
world, on which they were destined to play
so grand a part. One thing was yet want
Ing to flt them for the heritage which had
been prepared for them during the ages. and
tnat came in the great reformation of the
church which resulted from the revival of
learning and translation OF the Bible. By
the last Of the sixteenth century the doc
trlnes or the reformation had pervaded
England, and soon II could be said that the
English had become the people of one book,
constitutes the noblest example of the Eng
hsh tongue. and from its first appearance IL
became the standard OF the language. 1t
was eagerly read by the people, and they
enoeavored to shape their lives by its pure
precepts. great Puritan movement began.
ana had gathered immense volume, when
the far-seeing Raleigh, the most accom-
piished man of his day, infused into the ma
ton his own enthusiasm for the scheme of
planting an English nation in the part of
North America not occupied by the Span
fards The colonists came not to rob and
murder the natives. but with a desire to
Chrfstianize them and to plant English insti-
buttons In the virgin soil OF the new world.
Old Richard Hakluyt expressed the convic-
ton Of the English poole when he wrote.
God hath reserved the countrys lying north
ity by the English nation"
The English Colonies.
In due course Of time thirteen English
colonies were firmly established along the
Atlantic coast, but not without constant
struggles with the French. who had settled
| in the north and west. and the Spaniarls
on the south, who, with their Indian allies.
attacked them from their several quarters.
But Providence had decreed to the English
the possession Of North America, ami they
could net be crushed nor their limits re-
dnced- The victory Of Wolf at Quebec in
llss and the subsequent treaty OF Paris OF
1763 destroyed the French power IN North
America, gave Canada TO the English and
extended the western boundaries OF the
colonies to the Mississippi Thus the way
was opened for the colonies, when they be-
came Independent states. TO extend their
possessions to the Pacific, and to fulfil the
manifest destiny Of the English race on this
continent.
1t was a century and a half after their
FIRST planting before the colonies were suf-
dcfently developed In population, In wealth
and In tree Institutions to assume for them
serves the great trust which awaited them.
At their planting they brought with
them the rights and privileges Of English
men secured by their charters. Separated
from the mother country by a wide ocean,
only to be crossed by tedious and danger
Gus voyages, local self-government sprang
up and entered upon q vigorous growth.
County Oh township government was copied.
with improvements. from county govern
ment In England. Assemblies elected upon
a broad basis OF suffrage. were the faithful
representatives Of the people and guardians
of their rights, while the governors ard
councils. In imitation Of king and lords.
were united with the assemblies In me en-
actment of laws. A supervisory control
was retained by the English government
but In practice was seldom exercised. And
thus the English colonies were left, in their
laN1 80 %lAfw
merit, directed by the race characteristics
OF the people and their new surroundings
These conduced to the formation of a noble
manhood. The people were in the main
agricultural. and lived on their farms. The
task Of subduing the earth and defending
their homes against treacherous AMI saw
age foe stimulated their courage and self
reliance. while they learned the lesson of
individual freedom. The Bible taught them
that every man was responsible for his con-
duct to his Maker. This necessitatef in
dividusl freedom Of action, and so a Divine
sanction was given to the free institutions
which they had inherited from their heather
ancestors.
The great charter. wrested from><he weak
and treacherous John. had been made i'm
pregnable by the statute Of Edward j,
which confirmed to parliament the exclu-
sive right OF taxation. These two formed
the sole basis Of the English constitution.
The statute was a bulwark of defense for
the charter. for with the power OF taxation
poSSoSSAoA
the people the castle Of their liberties was
improbable.
The colonists claimed the exclusive right
Of taxing themselves. through their assem-
blies. as they were not represented in par
lament; and In no part of the kingdom was
this right more highly valued or more close
ly guarded.
After the colonies had become firmly root
ed their growth was rapid, and their de-
velopment In material wealth was truly
wonderful By the middle OF the eighteenth
century they numbered one-fourth Of the
population of the mother country. ami had
become rich and prosperous, contributing
largely to the wealth Of Great Britain by
their commerce. They had also advanced
in their ideas Of free government far be-
yond what was entertained in England, and
were not behind her In the education and
Intelligence Of the people. There was a toll
erance In religion which was not known in
the mother country or In Europe. and
which was one Of the strongest induce
ments Of the emigration which crowded the
ships leaving the ports Of the old world.
1t was now that pasliament under the
dictation of a weak but stubborn king, and
in contravention of the English constitu-
ton, determined to tax the colonies with
out the consent of their assemblies. They
respectfully demonstrated, then vigorously
protested, and finally took up arms in de-
tense Of the great bulwark of their liberties.
God gave them the victory, and the de-
pendent colonies became independent states.
In framing their state governments they
had The advantage not only OF their OWE
experience, but Of the experience OF the
world, and most wisely did they use IL. No
great revolution was ever led by ADLER men
or by purer patriots. Virginia was the nrst
colony to assume independence. and her in
comparable statesmen, following English
precedent, framed a bill of rights setting
forth the fundamental principles of her
new government. This remarkable paper.
the greatest of its kind ever penned, marked
the growth OF free Institutions in America.
1t was copied more or less closely by the
other states, and became the foundation OF
American government. OF IL Mr.. Bancroft
says: The Virginia bill Of rights formed
the groundwork OF American Institutions
1t announced fundamental principles for
all peoples for all time. 1t WAS the voice of
reason going forth to speak a new political
world into being"
The Virginia Dill of Rights.
Magma Charta and the bill of rights of
1858 had been drawn by great statesmen,
and had been accepted as the best presen-
tation OF the rights of freedmen ever
penned. But the Virginia bill of rights
drafted by George Mason, q Virginia
farmer. while embodying all that was OF
them In the fuliness and clearness with
which II states the rights OF freemen and
the fundamental principles Of q free state
Let us glance at its provisions upon which
has been built the the fabric OF American
government. The first four sections read
as follows:
1. THAT all men are by nature equally
free and independent and have certain in
herent rights. Of which. when they enter
into state Of society, they cannot, by any
compact. deprive or divest their posterity;
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