The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-07-05

lie, tits com
pet n t c
weigh dispassionately and with
out prejudice the issues involved
in the Declaration of Independ-
ence. The impression is ar er-
roneous one that the document
was a blow aimed at any particu-
lar government or people. In
cidentally the mother country
was made to feel the shock of
the crash which succeeded its
adoption; but its real purpose
was to proclaim to the world that
man is and of a right should be
free. 1t was the first distinct
utterance heard in all the world
that liberty is the priceless herit-
age of humanity and that men
are capable of governing them
selves, independent of kings,
cars and emperors.
During many years too many
of our people mistook the move
ment for liberty; they thought it
to be eternal enmity against
Great Britain. The latter country
but followed the rule of the ages
when it sought to hold fast to
that which it had. To the ring
ing protest of the declaration the
only possible arbitrament was
that of the sword. The fight was
long and gallant on both sides;
but the God of battles was on
the side of the colcnists and the
United States became one of the
nations that shall not fade from
the peoples of the earth. But
rancor should have disappeared
with the proclamation of peace.
The contest was for a principle
than which no greater ever en-
gagged the thought of man, and
they who were great enough to
enunciate and battle for it to vic
tory were too noble that they
should transmit to their child
ren and children's children a
heritage of hate. 1t is the saw
age and semicivilized only who
cultivate resentment, as the
gardner cares for the choicest
plants of his collection.
A people that is absolutely free
can afford to be free from preju-
dice and should be magnanimous
in spirit. The genius of Ameri-
ca is liberty, the unqualified
right of each person to freedom
of action and to participation in
government. The Declaration
of Independence was a bold
document; it enunciated what
until then was purely theoretic.
Philosophers had reasoned of
government by the people and
poets had sung of day of mans
deliverance from kings and all
other oppressors; but no people
had been so bold as to put into
practice the teachings of given
schools or the dreams of the
poets. Old Rome was a republic
but in name, being ever under
the domination of that greatest
of all tyrants, the army. just as
our sister republic, France, feels
its iron heel in this day. The
nations looked on with a smile as
the revolutionary contest was
waged. They regarded the is
sue as determined in advance of
the fight. So long dependent
upon kings, they felt that no ma
tion could be established without
the Intervention of those imbued
with 1.-The divine right" So the
kingly nations have sneered ever
since, insisting that a govern
ment of the people and by the
people is an impossibility. Yet
while the monarchies jeered this
nation was born, and as they
have sneered the nation has wax
ed strong, until now it is secure,
though the combined forces oi
the world assail it. 1t has over.
come perils from within; it has
conquered enemies from without,
1t has learned that the people
of America love their country
and win uphold their flag, and
without malice toward other
nations. And thus the declara-
ton of July 4, 1776, has fulfilled
more than it promise.