The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-07-04
OUR COUNTRY.

|
1890.
| OUR COUNTRY.
L. is appropriate at each recurrence
of the anniversary of the signing Of
the Declaration of Independence, that
the people of this grand and glorious,
free and Independent nation consider
for brief period the path over which
the United States has clambered from
comparative obscurity, from little
handful of patriots. to one of the lead
ing powers of the world, with a popu-
lation of 10000. 900 people. 1t is now
| 120 years since the band Of patriots,
| presenting the thirteen original
| colonies, met in continental congress
at Philadelphia, and pledged their
| lives. their fortunes and sacred honor
| to the maintenance of free and inde-
pendent country. The story Of the
| struggle before this and bravest of brrve
deeds is familiar to every reader of
American history, in fact to every
school boy in the land, hence reiter-
alton of them is unnecessary.
Toescape oppression and the promise
of the privileges of freedom and inde-
pendence were the incentives that drew
our forefathers to America, therefore
the declaration of the continental
! congress on July 4, 1776, that this is
a nd of right ought to be free and
Independent government struck re-
sponsive chord in the hearts of
Americans; it aroused their patriotism,
aid they focked to the support of the
cause of independence, ready to sacri-
fee their lives and their liberty at the
shrine of freedom. The result is known
to all. In the clash of arms that fol-
lowed it was strife between valiant
freemen, battling for the right of home
and liberty, against British mercen-
aries, waging war as hired butchers.
In such contest right prevailed. and
at the end of eight years Of struggle,
the proudest nation on earth was
forced to concede that she was
powerless to crush American freedom
and American patriotism.
After the independence of the
United States had been established,
then came another source of fperplexity,
what form of government to establish.
A monarchal form Of government was
suggested, but met with poor response
from people who had sacrificed their
all to throw of the rule ofemonarchs
and break down the supposed divine
right of kings to govern. A govern
ment of and by the people was de-
manded; but such government, a re-
public with the monarchial and aristo-
cratic elements eliminated, was to an
experiment, and met with some op-
position from the more conservative
minds. However happy compromise
was effected between Hamilton and
Jefferson, and the gradest and most
glorious nation of the world, which
accorded equal privileges to all, sprang
into existence.
But even nation founded upon
such grand principles was not perfect
in it's incipency, nor was 1t free from
besetting dangers from without and
dissensions within. Even Great Bril-
tain was still jealous and revengful,
and forced upon the young nation
another struggle for its rights in 1872.
Then in the formation of the constitu-
tion there was principle left that was
diametrical to the idea of true freedom.
1t permitted holding one class of peo-
pie in bondage by another. This was
held to be contrary to American prin-
ciples. The result was turmoil and
strife, the dividing of the country into
sections, and the engendering Of bit.
terness throughout the nation. Slowly
but surely did this strife grow until
it eliminated in 1861 in the secession
of the Southern states, who were
welded to the belief that the compact
of states was seperable. Whether
right cr wrong in this belief, the fates |
decreed otherwise. And the result Of
the great civil war was that slavery |
was blotted out; bone Of contention |
was removed; the national supremacy |
of the central government was es-
tablished beyond question, and the
nation, at the close of the war in 1868,
was once more inseperably united.
From the sure nder of the Confeder-
ate forces at Appomatox dates new
era in the history of the republic.
Thirty years have elapsed since the
last gun was fired, and during that
period, those who took up arms against
,he government in 1851 have returned
10 the fold Of brotherhood; with true
American spirit they have acknowl-
,dge their error, and have become citi-
,ens whoes loyalty and patriotism
,ann1k be questioned. And as as the
,ycle of time brings around each re.
,urring Fourth of July they are as
eady to salute the stars and stripes
9 are those who fought to defend it.
those sectional strifes that had their
rigin way back In 1882 and culmi-
ated in the civil war are forgotten,
nd we now stand as 10 600, 600 brothers,
roud of our country, loyal to her flag,
nd holding every principle of her
utonomy near and dear to our hearts.
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