The record-union., 1895-07-05

AS iOuS aS the cIalfm was aS66rL0U Dy Eng
land only as theory the conflict was
postponed, but when she attempted to
enforce the principle in practice the COL
onies resisted. The growth OF public
opinion was in the direction of independ-
ence. The more advanced thinkers came
10 believe that "A complete separation from
England was not only possible, but desir-
able. As early as 100 John Adams said:
in another century all Europe will not
be able TO subdue u.s."
Another cause of the conflict with
Great Britain was found in the personal
character Of King George III, who
ascouded tho English throne in loo. He
was one OF the worst rnonarchs OF modern
times. his Ideas OF government were
entirely deSpOtic. He was stubborn,
stupid, thick headed man. in whose
mind the notion of human rights and
civil liberty was entirely wanting. His
Ministers were, for The most part, men
as incompent and illiberal as himself.
With such Il King, and such a Ministry,
it was not likely that the descendants of
the pilgrim fathers would get on
smoothly. Parliament passed several
Acts destructive of colonial liberty;
among them WAS the importation Act,
which laid heavy duties OH sugar and
malasses. 1t enacted that iron works
should not be erected In America. The
manufacture of steel was expressly for
hidden. In l705 they passed the odius
Stamp Act.
All these laws were regarded by the
colonists as unjust aud tyrannlcal. The
stamped paper sent TO America was re-
jected or destroyed. The refusal to use it
stopped all legal business the Court
houses were closed; not even u marriage
license could he issued. By and by the
offices were opened. and business went
on as usual, but was not transacted with
stamped paper. 1t WAS at this time that
the patriotic society known as the
SONS OF LIBERTY
Was organized, and the merchants of
New York, Boston and Philadsl. .phia en-
tered into compact to buy no moro
goods OF Great Britain until the Stamp
Act should be repealed. The coionists
had their friends i'll England who re-
volted at their treatment by the mother
country. The eloquent Pitt, In power
tul speech on the relations of the mother
country to the colonies, said: You have
no right to tax America. | rejoice that
America has resisted" And again speak
ing on the same subject he said, Instead
of exactng unconditional submission
from the colonies. We ought to give them
unconditional redress"
Edmund Burke, distinguished over all
the men OF his time for eloquence and
political foresight, made an appeal for the
colonies such as Parliament had n5ver
heard before. Through their influence
the odious Stamp Act was repealed but
the English Ministry brought forth new
scheme for taxing America, aud i'll 1907
an Act was passed imposing duty on all
the glass, paper. painters colOrs and tea
that should thereafter be imported into
The colonies. This WAS adding Insult to
injury, and the resentment of Am orleans
burst out anew. Another agreement not
10 purchase British goods was entered
into by the American merchants. The
newspapers were TILED with denuncia-
tions OF Parliament. The Assembly OF
Massachusetts adopted a resolution call
ing upon the other colonies for assistance
to redress their grievances. They de-
nounced taxation without representatio
and swore they would resist it with their
lives.
The celebrated English statesman,
Charles James Fox, said in Parliament.
"Open the port of Boston or YOU will
drive the Americans into rebellion"
But England, unmlndful of his advice,
attempted TO force obedience at the point
of the bayonet, aud the rebellion COM
menced IN dead earnest. There was now
no longer any hope OF a peaceable ad Just
ment. British guards were stationed in
every town. The colonistS were few and
feeble, but their cause WAS just They
were men Of iron wills, who had made
up their minds, rather than tamely SUBJ
nit 10 these outrages, to fight, and if
needs be die TOR liberty. The Colonial
Congress was in session. The immortal
Washington was there; John Adams,
who was TO become the second President
of the United States, was there: that
great leader, Samuel Adams, was there,
who said, ''Our fathers came here to es-
cape from Kings; let Us get along with
out them; independent we are anG inde-
pendent we will be"; Benjamin Frank
lin, whose mighty pen and eloquent
voice made him the colossal figure OF the
Revolution, was there; Patrick Henry.
the orator and statesman, who, when the
crisis came, said, Il am no longer ' If
ginian, l am an American" was there,
and Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the
Declaration OF independence, which
meant not only liberty TO us. but hope
for all the world, was there. 1t was in
deed an assem- bly, OF heroes.
A Communicating Chief was wanted.
George Washington, the great soldier
and statesman, Was selected. The man
WHO had saved the wreck of Braddock's
army was now called upon to save the
colonies. The mCSt pathetic pages of
history record the incidents of that great
struggle. and fully vindicate the justice
of our cause. The rights OF the colonists
were asserted with surprising eioquence,
and the purest poetry of any language
celebrates their valor. \ long line of
illuslrious men suffered death in the
cause of liberty, and yet they willingly
gave up their lives TO leave to unborn
generations
THE PRICELESS HERITAGE
OF civil and religious liberty. In the Ian
guage OF * ossutn, the leader OF the Hun
garian revolution, they were lighting a
conflict destined 10 change the character
OF human governments, and the condl-
lion OF the human race" and like War
ren, whose blood sanctities the soil of
Bunker HUI, they believed 1t 'sweet to
die for one's country"
l shall not attempt to tell you Of all the
sufferiugs and privations of Washington
and the little Spartan band that consti-
tuted his army. We sbudder when We
think OF that dreadful night when he
crossed the Delaware; the river, swollen
by the storms, had become raging tor
reut, filled with floating ice. torbidding
man or beast TO attempt 10 cross it. I'm
mindful OF tie dangers. he crossed to the
hostile forces on the other side; he fought,
be conquered; aud the morning sun
smiled cheerfully on his heroic victory.
The incidents Of Valley Forge are faml
liar 10 you all. The mon were camped in
cold, comfortiess huis, with but little
food or clothing; barefoot OH the frozen
ground, they lett their tracks in blood;
enfeebled by hunger and benumbed with
cold, death seemed lheir only relief.
One day while Isaac Potts WAS OH his
way up the creek near the camp he heard
Il voice i'll prayer. Approaching nearer,
he saw the immortal Washington upon
his beuGed knees. bis cheeks wet with
tears, invoking the aid of Almighty God
To Tree his country from the curse of Brit
ish tyranny. His prayer was answered,
ana rom that moment the tide turned.
The revolt against British oppression was
successful, and from IL emerged a new
republic destined to take front rank
among tie nations OF the earth.