The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-07-04
The Fourth of July.


do we celebrate it to-day? Is it because
on June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee,
moved that "these United States are,
and of right ought to be, free and in
dependent States?1 Or because ON July
4, 1875, the American Congress adopted
the Declaration of Independence? OBJ
servation teaches us how to answer the
above questions.
70 some people, the Fourth of July
has no meaning, while to others, it
means the second greatest birthday in
the year, and these are the people, who
try to Danish all unkindness, try to be-
lieve in the brotherhood of man and
make our Union "the Land of the Free
and the Home of the Brave"
We began to look for liberty from
the year 1861 until it was finally OBJ
tanned in 1776. For number of years
the thirteen original States were in a
continuous state of excitement, caused
by the. colonists resisting taxation
without representation and several
other acts imposed upon them by Great
Britain.
The colonists were justly vexed and
the spirit of revolution was soon made
known. 1t was not long after several
serious collisions between the colonists
and national authorities, that the
former was in open rebellion. With new
forces of government and new powers,
they were now ready to conquer the
rebels; but their enthusiasm in the
work of freeing themselves from the
dominion of Great Britain was un-
bounded.
Sept. 5, 1874, Continental Congress
the first ever held in America was
formed while the thirteen colonies
were yet under British control-met in
Carpenters Hall, Philadelphia, (after-
ward known as Independence HALL to
consider what course the colonists
should take in defense of their rights
as English subjects. Little was &C
complished at this session, beyond Civ
ing earnest hope to secure civil and
political liberty, but that end was UNI
certain, for human blood had yet to be
split before they could retain their
rights. The year 1775 was marked by
several battles. The second Cont
mental Congress met at Pennsylvania
State House, May 10, and continued
throughout the year, encouraging the
men in the field and stimulating the
plan for an early separation of the col
onies from the home government
The war had been going on for some
time, when Congress met at Independ-
ence Hall, Philadelphia, July 2, 1875,
to adopt resolution introduced by
Richard Horny Loe, declaring, "That
these united colonies are, and of right
ought to be, free and independent
States; that they are absolved from all
allegiance to the British Crown, and
that all political connection between
them and Great Britain is, and ought
to be, totally dissolved"
Every boy and girl, on his and her
part, needs to study history, particu-
larry the history of the Declaration of
Independence. He will find that it was
not signed on the second of July, nor
ON the third, but on the fourth, and
then not before daylight. 1t was pre-
pared by Thomas jefferson, and
brought into Congress, and, amid great
joy on the part of the citizens, was
adopted. Aloft in the steeple of hide
pendence Hall, sat an old bellman
waiting, with his hand on the clapper
of the bell, until his grandson gave the
sign for him to ring. Although he was
weary of his work, he was willing to
ring out Independence, (which, please
God, shall never die.'
This historic bell was cracked in 1885,
while tolling for the death of chief
Justice Marshall. 1t still hangs in the
steeple of independence Hall, Philadel-
phia. 1t is now silent, but the spirit it
brought to light, on that glorious July
day, still lives-forever young. July
4, l902,-this is the day we celebrate
and the reason why its joyful observ-
ance is so general throughout the land
and in other countries wherever Amer
leans can assemble in its honor. That
It should be so widely recognized and
is only just tribute to the
oroad-minded men, who secured the |
liberties we to-day enjoy. Citizens of
this generation have discovered that
the signers had mind to gain liberty |
for the people and not license.
Young people, remember these dead |
heroes and their families, their intense |
snfferings and their patience, their I'M
selfish love for their country, and above
al the example of their goodness they |
have set before you.
With vigor and brain and arm, the
men of the Revolution had maintained |