The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-06-15
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED
IN THE AMERICAN WAR FOR IN
DEPENDENCE.
q Paper Read Before the Harrisburg
Chapter, D. a. R, by DR.. Jane
Kimmel Carver.

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Ia discussing American political
idess, Mr.. Fiske and others, have pre-
dicted the ultimate triumph OF these
principles overall other political forms.
The optimistic tendency Of Americans
is illustrated by story of toasts given
at a Fourth OF July dinner ia Paris, 10y
a party Of Americans during our Civil
War.
Here's to the United States said
the first speaker, bounded on the
north by British America, on The south
by the Gulf Of Mexico, on the east by
the Atlantic, and Oh the west 10y the
Pacific Ocean,
"But, 4" said the second speaker, "this
is far too limited view of the subject;
in assigning our boundaries we must
look to the great and glorious future
which is prescribed for Us by the mani
fest destiny of the Anglo-Saxon race.
Here's to the United States, bounded
on the north by the North Pole, on the
south by the South Pole, on the east
by the rising, and on the west 10y the
setting SUM- Emphatic applause greet
ed the aspiring prophecy. But here
arose the third speaker very serious
gentleman from the Far West. "If
we are going, said this truly patriotic
American, 'to leave the historic past
and present, and take our manifest
destiny into account, why restrict our
selves to the narrow limits assigned by
our fellow-eountryman who has just
sat down? l give you the United States
-bOunded on the north by the Aurora
Borealis, on the south by the procession
of the equinoxes, on the east by the
primeval chaos, and on the west by the
Day of Judgmentr'
The principles for which the war of
the American Revolution was fought,
and upon which the Government of
the United States is founded, did not
rise suddenly in l776, nor did they be-
gin to live in the ten or twelve bitter
years preceding the war. That time
was merely the elimination of long
years, yes, centuries Of preparation. 1t
was the towering time of plant
whose root had been set in the earth
many, many years before.
Learned students of constitutional
history trace the germ of our free in
stitutions to the "village mark" of the
ancient Teutons.
Under the clouded skies and by the
cold waters Of the Baltic Sea lay the
''little district of Angeln in Sleswick." +"
Here was the rude cradle of Popular
liberty. Inthe following lines one can
see in fancy the wild. home of the
Northman, and hear the prophetic
note of blessing to future generations,
unconsciously uttered by the free as
sembly of the people:
Dash high, roaring surf,
On the rock-b0und coast Of the North land
Shout in thy glee, foaming wave,
Borne on in the clasp Of the north wind,
Thunder in echoing tones
Through the caves OF the guardian SEA ellis
But when thou dost lull thee 10 rest
. lis; 10 the Angelus blest,
And the chant which floats over the deep"
The "village mark" was an assembly
Of the clansmen of the tribe. BY it
land was allotted to individuals, and a
portion marked Off for public use, and
other affairs of common interest de-
cided.
This primitive assembly OF the po
PIE for purposes of selfgoyernment is
believed to have been the forsehadowirg
o. the great development Of free gov
ernment which grew up gradually in
England, and later on, in mere mark
ed degree. in the United States of
America-''government of the peo-
pie, by the people, and for the people,
These remote forefathers OF ours, who
are familiar TO US as Angles, Jutes, Sax
ons, Danes. descended upon Britain
and gradually appropriated the coun-
try. So complete was the suhjugation,
and almost determination of the Brit
ons, that the country fell entirely into
the hands of the conquerors, and in
doing so, the ancient customs of the |
island were overlaid by the customs OF
the newcomers.
Here, then, was the spot where the
seed of liberty, brought from its rough |
north, IN home, was destined TO grow
into majestic proportions. Britain b.
came the land OF the Angles-Angltt
land, aud finally England.
In England more than any othfi
country overrun by the German race2,
the HTeutonic ideas Of government
had chance to grow. 4
On the continent OF Europe, as IA
Gaul, for instance, the vbliterationsbf
the native population was not 80 neat-
ly complete as in England and the co,-
querors became fused with the peopf
of the country, gradually adoptinl