The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-07-01

adoption; but its real purpose was to pro-
claim to the world that man is and OF a
right should be free. 1t was the first dis
tinct utterance heard in all the world that
liberty is the priceless heritage of humanity
and that men are capable of governing them
selves, independent of kings, czars and en-
perors.
During many years too many of our people
mistook the movement 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 ringing
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 col
onists and the United States became one of
the nations that shall not fade from the peo-
Piles of the earth. But rancor should have
disappeared with the proclamation of peace.
The contest was for principle than which
no greater ever engaged the thought of man,
and they who were great enough to enun-
ciate and battl,, for it to victory were too
noble that they should transmit to their
children and children's children heritage OF
hate. 1t is the savage and semicivilized only
who cultivate resentment, as the gardener
cares IOr Lue cuOlCcSL plants VI HIS ColiSClloA.
A people that is absolutely free can af-
ford to be free from prejudice and should be
magnanimous in spirit The genius of Amer
lea is liberty, the unqualified right of each
person to freedom of action and to partici-
patton in government. The Declaration of
Independence was a bold document; it enup-
cated what until then was purely theoretio,
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 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 smile aG
the revolutionary contest was waged. They
regarded the issue as determined in advance
of the fight. So long dependent upon kings,
they felt that no nation could be established
without the Intervention of those imbued
with "the divine right" So the kingy ma
tions have sneered ever since, insisting that a
government of the people and by the people
is an impossibilty. Yet while the mon
arches jeered this nation was born, and as
they have sneered the nation has waxed
strong, until now it is secure, though the
combined forces Of the world assail it. 1t
has overcome perils from within; it has con-
quered enemies from without. 1t has learned
that that people is most secure which loves
peace, land which aims to reach the glory that
is to be won from the highest development
of brain and Drawn along lines thatadd to the
material expansion of the whole people
Without malice towards other peoples, care
fully guarding its own rights, but as jealously
regardful of the rights of other nations, ours
has come to magnificent growth, respected
and feared, where not loved, by the other ma.
tions of the world. And thus the declara-
tion of July 4, l776, unlike most pronounce
than its promise.
WILLIAM ROSSER COBBE,