The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1896-07-08
THE FOURTH OF JULY

The fathers of this republic built wiser
than they knew when they constructed
tile Declaration of Independence. They
represented ID small colonies, having
scarcely 5000, 900 OF people, and merely
banded together for mutual defense
against a common foe, one oil the most
powerful nations OF the earth. The col
onies had no navy, no treasury and but
asmall, ill-paid and inexperienced army.
They had not been accorded belligerent
rights by any country, and the men who
signed the Declaration were guilty oil
treason, according to English law, and
might have been hung for their otfense.
These devoted patriots fully realized
this fact, yet not one voice trembied
when the Declaration came up Tor adop-
ton on hat memorable Fourth OF July,
1776, not one hesitated when the i'm
mortal document was placed before them
for their signature.
1t was a declaration to the world that
a new star was to be added to the galaxy
OF nations. Its brezthings went out all
over the land, inspiring the people with
new hope and courage, plainly showing
that the day OF compromise bad forever
passed. They, the signers OF the Decla-
ration, knew they were opening the way
for a new nation, born in liberty, but
they could not possibly have foreseen the
growth in area, population. wealth,
power and influence of the young repub-
lic-the problem Of a government OF
the people, for the people, and by the
people," had been practically unsolved.
They had to build along new lines and
TO explore new fields. But if they could
not preyise the coming glories OF the
republic their wisdom, judgement and
disinterested patriotism combined to set
the foundations SO well that they have
admirably met all the varying con-
conditions, and bid fair tc be as endur-
ing, Jas the everlasting hills.
What man could have dreamed 100
wears ago that the little struggling colo
MES, who nationality was just pledged
in the Declaration of Independence,
would develop into a matchless republic
of : $1,000, 600 OF people, leading all other
countries in wealth, III resources and in
general prosperity? Or could he have
possibly foreseen this same republic
throwing the aegis of it's protection about
the smaller republics of this hemisphere
and boldly saying to the powers Of
Europe that this government will not
permit any further encroachments upon
the domain of the two Americas?
That which is of the republic and
what it may be are due to the wisdom
and courage of the fathers in absolving
themselves from any allegiance to the
British crown and in promulgating to
the world. the Declaration OF Indepen-
dence. This is why Americans regard
the Fourth OF July with such iervid ven
e~ratiol,. The day and the deed are as
precious to them as was the palladium
Of the ancient Trojan, the shekinah to
the Jew, or the holy fire to the vestal
virgins of old Rome. They realize that
with the the massage of time there would
seem to be no limitations to the growth
and development of the country, and,
proud of what has been achieved al
ready, they gratefully and reverently
recall the heroism and rare intelligence
of the fathers Of the republic, who build
50 wisely and so we'll. As the document
is immortal, so are the names appended
to it destined to live in cherished recol-
~lections so long as the United States has
a place in history and her people love
! liberty and the just execution OF equable
laws.
WILLIAM RossER CoBBE.