Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-07-03
republic Of the United States
II NAV be said to date from the adop-

may be SAID TO date from tne aoop-
III ton of the Declaration of Independ-
ence. Until this time the ID strug-
Cling colonies, rent and torn by internal
jealousies, without a clearly recognized
leader and having no treasury or mint,
scarcely knew what they desired OF the
mother country.
A very obstinate king and decidedly
shortsighted prime minister denied the
very reasonable demands made by the
patriots Two or three battles had been
fought between the royalists and revolu-
tionary troops, but very strong and in
fuential party within the colonies still be-
lievcd that all differences might be har-
moniously adjusted and that the former
status could be restored. In the number Of
representatives in the congress at Philadel-
phia We're several members who had hoped
for a change of heart in George III.
The declaration, when adopted, changed
everything. As soon as it became the unani.
nous expression of the representatives of
the people, who had full powers to act for
their constituents, not doubt was left
in the minds of any. 1t was understood
thenceforth that the war was to be one
of subjugation, or that it should end in the
independence of the colonies.
The subsequent events were secondary
to this great and heroic action ON the part
Of the congress. The. articles, of confedera-
tion, the adoption of the federal consti
tuition and the election of an executive head
were necessary and logical results Of the
casting off of allegiance to Great Britain.
The leaders in the movement, Adams,
Franklin, Jefferson, Hancock and the 9th
ers, understood fully the gravity of the act.
They knew that from the standpoint Of
the crown every representative who signed
that document was guilty Of treason and
might be hanged for the offense. They
knew that in the day of the adoption OF
the Declaration of Independence nation
was born, or that humiliation and degra-
lation would be the lot of the participants
in it.
These brave men did not act hastily.
They had counted the cost. They had no
precedent for action, and no encourage.
ment OF success from the pages of history.
Similar struggles for release from typranny
| usually had resulted in the forging of heav-
Ter chains. They lacked harmony in do
mestic affairs; they needed money, cloth
| ing for their troops and money to pay them
their due. In effect they had no capital ex.
cept sense Of the Righteousness of theil
cause and an abiding faith in the loyalty oil
| the colonists to the cause in which they had
engaged.
The words elderly" Independence
and Gree" must have sounded strange in
the ears Of the people of Europe in thai
day. In Great Britain the press was muz
zled effectually. The common people of the
German states were scarcely more thar
slaves; Russia was despotism; Italy wa!
composed of number of petty sovereign
ties, each vieing with the other in crush
ing out the liberties Of its subjects; SPAR
and Portugal had not heard the words be
fore, save in derision. Poland was then
engaged in a dying struggle against OPP
pressors from without. France was in the
| mire of ignorance and tyranny.
Nowhere in all of the world could the
trainers and signers of the Declaration of
Independence see the light of that liberty
which they sought to give to their people.
They were as people groping in the dark
IN country that was strange to them. Yet
nowhere in this immortal document is there
q suggestion of doubt or fear. The justic,
of the cause is set forth in words that burn
and the determination of it is left conf
IDENTIFY to the issues of battle.
The declaration is q great light rising out
| IF infinite darkness. 1t was the first prom
Use of rule of the people by the people
where no tyranny might be found, and
where the highest distinction awaited the
worthiest, without reference to the acct
lent Of birth or the power of wealth. 7,
was new gospel Of government, the like Of
which had not before entered the hearts
Of men-a gospel of peace and good will,
Of non-aggression and of highest possible
development for the individual man.
| The Fourth Of July, then, is the birth
day of the great republic. All honor te
the fathers who had the sublime courage
to frame and to sign the declaration. From
the hour of the signing of it liberty had 8
new name and fresh sweetness. The exc
cution of the document signed and sealed
for all time the divine right of liberty of The
lperson and of people to govern them
selves by laws of their own enacting. May
| the anniversary of it always be hailed witt
Joyous acclaim and by every outward mani
festation of enthusiasm.
WILLIAM RossER CoBBE.
L