The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-06-28

Nnnceu In rne laSt lOV years. now mis-
cradle was his condition In all coun-
tries In 1116. One can scarcely realize
low miserable was the human race
amidst the barbaritles OF kings and no
hles ic0 years ago: what tears were
shed: what horrors endured by those
who have since become the sovereign
people. The chief trait of the Eigh-
teenth century was its intense inhu-
mainly. No one cared for the suffer-
ings OF others. and no ore. except a
few philosophers and few Ameri-
cans, had discovered that the majority
of hnen were not born To suffer for
ever. The great seigneurs of France
beat, robbed and murdered their peas
ants with no sentiment even of shame;
the English lords, bishops and princes
defended their cruel laws, while all the
ocean was covered with slave ships,
and the horrible wealth of every civ
iliZed nation was won from the woes
of the helpless Africans. European
cruelty and avarice had forced slavery
upon the fresh fields of America, had
planted among us the supreme pest OF
Civ nstu itlt ltlt tue
that had corroded the freedom Of
Greece and Rome, and had seemed to
make impossible in the new world any
advance beyond the impassibe human
ity OF the past. Yet. in the midst OF
the cruelty, the tyranny, the vices OF
the Eighteenth century, our American
reformers founded a republic in which
FOL ion hun nj n1n
virtue were to be the pillars of the ris-
ing state. Well might John Adams
break into kind of lyric rapture
when he surveyed the work he had
just accomplished. In a letter to his
wife he said:
THE ID days of July, 1116, will be
the most memorable epocha in the his
tory of America. | am apt to believe
it will be celebrated by succeeding
generations as the great anniversary
festival. 1t ought TO be commemorate
ed as the day of deliverance by SOL
emn acts and devotion to God AL
mighty. 1t ought to be solemnized with
pomp and parade. with shows, games,
sport, balls, bonfires, Nominations,
from one end of this continent to the
other from this time forward forever.
You will think me transported with
enthusiasm. but | am not. ! am well
aware of the toll and blood and treas
ure it will cost us TO maintain this dec
laration and defend these states. Yet
through all the gloom | can see the
rays of ravishing light and glory.
Yesterday the greatest question was
decided which ever was debated in
America, and a greater, perhaps, new
or was nor will be decided among
men. A resolution was passed with
out one dissenting colony that these
United States are. and of right
ought to be, free and independent
states
"Of the proceedings of congress up
on this eventful day no record has
been preserved. Not line of its elo-
quence is left to us. We are better ac-
quainted with the speeches delivered
in the Roman senate and the Roman
forum, with the debates of the English
parliament in 1641, with the harangues
of French Jacobns or English reform
ers. than with the grand discussions
of the principles of liberty and prog
resS which made us a free people
I'VE only know that John Adams
spoke with such power that, in the
words Of Jefferson. he moved the
members from their seats 1t was the
voice of the new world demonstrating
against the decadence of the old.
More than 100 years of progress
have raised 100000 of men TO n
new sense of freedom. America is n
republic, Europe has pressed on to-
ward liberty. the world is nearly free.
The Fourth of July has become the
anniversary most noted in the annals
of history.