New-York tribune., 1903-06-28
EYER GLORIOUS FOURTH.
Nang Historic EUents Hare DC
Cured on That Day an July.

The fourth day OF July has had significant
place in the history Of all ages and nations
more SO. probably. than any other date IN the
calendar II has witnessed the birth OF new
nations, grand scientific discoveries and the eFo-
luton OF new principles. and it has also seen the
fall of proud monarchies and the death OF an
cier+ institutions customs and laws. 1t was on
rhis dav that the Cross trfumphed over Ine
crescent that Christianity vanquished the inf
del. and right and justice achieved a signai
victory when King John of England was COM
,,a11a5 nv his barons to sign the Magma Charta
1s1,+ The c-owning achievement Of this day OF
,5az-s was reserved for this hemisphere, when on
July 4, 1776, the trumpet blast proclaiming
liberty and equality to all men was sent re-
echoiug throughout the world
On July Z 1887 in the battle OF Doryleum' IN
Phr,5gia, the Moslems under Solirnan were de-
fea.ed bv the Crusaders This battle ended the
fss,,ipp in Asia Minor Soliman was a Persian
Sultan. and was succeeded by Sheik Ali KHAN
II WAS Oh July f. 1915 that King John OF
England was compelled by his barons 10 sign
The Magma Charta, the English prototype Oh oui
own Declaration of independence The Anleli-
can continent, just north of Florida IN the year
1884 vas discovered on July by Amdias and
Barlow. English explorers and navigators' VINO
sailed along the Atlantic coast under orders
from Sir Walter Raleigh. Formal possession
was taken for the British Queen, and the lana
WAS delivered over TO the use Of Sir wafer
Raleigh Sixty-nine years thereafter on July
/ the Barebones Parliament assembled at
Whitehall. and Cromwell delegated their chairs
10 them for fifteen years
At the instance Of the Lords the trade com
rnissioners from the Colonies of New-Hamp-
shire Massachusetts,. Rhode Island, Connecti-
cut New-Yorl1. Pennsylvania and Maryiaho
c,1cJsa a
treaty with the Six Nations. They also pro-
ceeded TO consider a plan of Colonial union
proposed by Franklin and adopted in the same
wear on July 4 1t provided for president
general Of all the Colonies, with veto power
and a grand council to consist of from two
70 seven members from each Colony, chosen oy
the assemblies 10 serve three years. These
should have power to control Indian ahairs' 10
raise and equip forces for Colonial defence ana
1o law taxes therefor The Crown rejected the
plan. because & gave too much power to the
Colonies: but It was one of the first ideas OF
national union The plan of this Albany con-
vention was agreed TO exactly twenty-five years
before the Declaration Of Independence, but
was afterward rejected by both the colonists
and the Crown.
On the immortal Fourth of the year lIlo the
Declaration of Independence was adopted by
times before that body until it was finally
adopted Entire separation from England was
not at first thought of by the Colonies. New
England wished il, but the Southern States
were against il. The seat of having in
1776 been changed from the North TO the South
caused the South also 10 change her views The
North Carolina Convention took the first step
toward independence by a resolution to concur
with those in the other Colonies in declaring
indepen dence; this occurred on April ID 1776.
Virginia May IL, 1776, prepared the title Of
the document by directing her Representatives
10 propose in Congress q Declaration OF Inde-
pendence." Thomas Jefferson, John Adams.
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert
c. Livingston the committee appointed 10
draft the Declaration. The draft was forInu-
lated almost entirely by Jefferson. Before July /
Pennsylvania Maryland and New-Jersey had
instructed their delegates 10 vote against the
Declaration. These instructions were re
seinded. South Carolina came over TO the ma
5ority. Delaware's vote. at first divided, was
cast in the affirmative The Declaration was
therefore adopted by the unanimous vote of
twelve States. New-York alone not voting. on
July I776 The New-York convention after
ward ratified the Declaration, and the engrossed
copy was signed on August .. The Declaration
sets forth the rights of man. and the Colonies
enumerate their grievances against the British
Government, and declare that, these United