Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-07-02

conventions Of time, the precious associa.
tions of kinship and blood, because the
doors held liberty to be the greatest bless |
ing of humanity. They believed that peace
was not possible, and that happiness was
unattainable except through her benign aid
Better the loss of Englands protection, bet
ter the sundering of lifelong ties, better the |
dividing OF father against son and of son
against brother, than that men with long |
ings for greatest liberty should be crushed
under the iron heels of a rank oppression.
The declaration was read to the army a
few days later. Everywhere it was re-
ceived by the people with loud acclaims of
Joy. They stood ready to confirm its words
with their property and their lives, and
to seal it with the kiss of their most sacred
honor. The number of patriots was small in
thosedays. There were scarcely three millions
Of souls in all. But they were as one people
with single purpose. Their watchword
was liberty, with protection for all, the
humblest as we'll as the most exalted. They
staked their all upon the issue, and con-
quered because of the oneness of their
purpose and the holiness of their resolve.
For them to will was to do, for the reason
that they had compelled their masters in
the past to be content with the name OF
tyrant, without any of its privileges.
IN its teaching with the lesson of the Dec.
laration of independence. Every result of
that lesson is but another lesson to be
learned of the beauty and comelness of the
child of promise.
In the struggle for independence, in the
building of constitution, In the second
war with Great Britain, in the wars with
Indians and Mexico, and in the mighty
struggle between the states-in all of these
the glory of the Fourth of July is manifest,
typifying the beauty and strength of ma
ton, which, though born in weakness, pos,
Mssed the elements of endurance and match
less development
Ave, and the Fourth recalls the ability
Of the people and the lawmakers and rulers
Of the republic to meet the requirements OF
MISUNDERSTANDING nation. Whatever the
emergency, and the perils have been many
and great, they are found equal to the du
ties imposed upon them.
The day is of no value, except it be great
teacher Of patriotism. 1t is well to hail and
acclaim it for its memories, SO pure and pre-
rious But these memories should impress
the lessons, not only of JOY and gladness,
because of the heritage that is all the peo-
pies, but also it should teach that what
Is as the cumulative effects of loyalty and
zeal must be used to the greatest good of the
living, and for the supremest benefit ~
those who are yet unborn.
+. As the fathers builded for the unborn,
30 this generation must look ahead and
learn what is good for those who are to
be. The lamp of the past should fash into
the future The nation has grown from
100000 to s0,0o6,000 The close of an.
,ther century may show people of AGO..
100000 or more The improvement of the
present-the holding fast to the conHtitu.
tion and laws with such changes as are
made necessary by existent conditions; in
this way the safety of the republic is as
I. sured and its future greatness becomes con-
frmed
it is an earnest of the patriotism Of the
people that the Fourth of July is com
snemorated. 1t is the liberty day of the ma
ton, and 10 long as 1t is honored, SO long
the people honor themselves, end no fear
need be had as to the violation of the peoples
rights The fathers sow in this day the
harbinger Of future safety They predicted
ats celebration and realized its sanctity. II
is distinctive holiday for all of the people,
and is celebrated in honor of the whole
nation The duty of patriotism cannot BIZ
too emphatically taught people which ha:
assumed the onerous task of amalgamatini
into their life the ignorant and oppressed oil
other nations.
WILLIAM RossER CoBBE.