The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-07-09
TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1901.
An Interesting Talk.

Sunday evening, in Burlington, Francis
B. Lee spoke in the First Baptist Church,
upon the occasion of the celebration of
Independence Day. Burlington had no
formal celebration upon the Fourth of
July, Sunday nights recognition of the
day being the only event of its kind oc-
curing in the town.
In presenting the historical view of the
Declaration, Mr.. Lee said that 1t was but
one of series of human documents in
the history of the Anglo Saxon race, when
from the time of the Magma Charta,
people, striving for better things, have
often protested against the tyranny of
officialism, the greed of the crown and
the error of wrongful economic admins
tration. Directly, the Declaration pre-
sents long list of grievances, such as the
maladministraiion of justice, notable
example being the case of Edward Hyde,
who Lord Cornbury appointed governor
of New Jersey as early as 1909; military
evils, such as the quartering of soldiers,
and wrongful economic policy, illustrated
by the passing of the navigation acts, the
throttling of cottage and farm industries
and the closing of the Mines as we'll as
the imposition of heavy taxes.
Pertinent to these matters, Mr.. Lee
made many illusions to the history Of
Burlington county, saying that the county
derived its spirit of independence largely
from the grants and concessions of the
West Jersey Proprietors, published in
London in March, 1876.
Especial stress was laid upon the atti-
tude of Burlington county at the opening
of the Revolution, and the patriotic
action of the inhabitants.
New Jerseys first constitution, that of
July 2, 1776, was signed at Burlington.
The much neglected literary life of the
period was dwelt upon at length. Among
the residents of Burlington county who
were active in sustaining the cause, by the
pen, were Francis Hopkinson, of Borden
town, signer of the Declaration, who,
with Jonathan Trumbull, Of Connecticut
and Philip Freneau, of Monmouth county,
formed the three great satirists of the
Revolution. Tom Paine, author of the
Crisis, lived in Bordentown, while in
Burlington, Isaac Collins, in TIT, started
the New Jersey Gazette, afterward printed
in Trenton, the official military organ of
the Wings and the first newspaper ever
printed In the state.
Turning to the ethical considerations of
the Declaration, Mr.. Lee said that the
abiding interest in the document was due
to the fact that in spite of carping adverse
criticism, its frailties prove its sincerity
and its verbal weaknesses are the strong
est evidence of an intense spirited strug-
Cling for better things.
The Declaration was statement Of hui
man purpose to succeed through suffering,
and behind the dark clouds of war, to
sustain the patriots, shone light more
glorious than yet shone on land or sea-
the light of the approval of Divine JUS
tice. Under its inspiration we subdued a
continent, and acquired new possessions
amid the isles of the Southern sunny seas;
yet in assuming position as world
power, we must not forget the words of
the state constitution framed in Burling
ton, Allegiance and protection are, in
the nature of things, reciprocal ties, each
equally depending upon the other" nor
neglect the aphorism of the Declaration
that all men have certain inalienable
rights, among others life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness"