The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-07-06
C0NNER'S SPEECH.
Continued from Page One.

which their action exposed them. and
while some of them, in spirit OF levity.
discussed the consequences which might
follow the work in which they were en-
gagged, they all clearly understood that
death awaited each and every one of them.
unless the Declaration of independence
should be sustained in the forum of war.
How conspicuously these grand characters
stand out in history before US, as they are
about to take the final vote which is to
settle the destinies of the Colonies. We
find some of them bold and defiant, ready
and anxious to place themselves on
record in favor of the Declaration,
while others were conservative to
the point of timidity, and hesitated
to take the final step. But under
the influence of the unanswerable logic OF
those who favored the resolution. the
measure was carried and liberty was voted
up and tyranny was voted down. After
the adoption of the Declaration of indie
peal which told the world that henceforth
this country was to be devoted to freedom
That old bell nc W is silent.
And hustled its iron Tongue.
But the spirit it aW .kened
Still iyeS-f forever young.
And, While we greet the sunlight,
On the fourth of each July
We'll ne'er forget the belman,
Who twiNt the earth and Sky.
Rang out our Independence
Which, please God, Shall never die
The whole country was wild with de
light on hearing of the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence, and from
that time on greater concert o. action on
the part of the people of the Colonies was
shown The struggle continued year after
year, and eight long years it lasted. Every
privation andhardship incident 10 war the
Americans experienced. Finally the dark
clouds we're dispelled victory perched up
on our banners and proud and naughty
England was compelled to recognize oar
independence.
The war of the Revolution was a war
that only patriots who loved liberty better
than life. could have won The advant
ages were all in favor of England and
against US. With but three millions of
people scattered along the Atlantic coast
and with but limited resources at our
command, it seems Incredible. that we
should have conquered nation so wealthy
and formidable as Great Britain. The
slightest blush of shame should never
country, for what our fathers did. nor for
the motives which inspired them to
ar1ion. l is not my purpose to offer any
apologies for what they did, for none is
neeied. We fully justify them IN their
revolt against the authority of Great
Britain, and appeal to the statement OF
grievances, contained in the Declaration OF
independence to prove that what they did
was right. 1t was England's greed and
imbecility tina; lost to her the affections
Of the Colonies. 1t was her madness and
folly that provoked them to wrath; it was
her oppression and cruelty that drove
them into revolution. We not only ap-
prove of their actions, bat we believe the
Almighty has set the seal of His approval
on all they did. and that He has since
guided the new nation. which they brought
into being, on its successful career Let
US here and now reverently bow our UNI
covered heads in honor Of the patriots OF
70, and pray that this generation may,
in some measure. approach them in
fidelity to country. home and God.
We are not only under obligations to
our ancestors for giving us a nation, but
in addition for the system of govern ment
which we have. 1t was nor by mere
chance that republican form of govern
wisdom and foresight Of the statesmen OF
question arose as to what form of gov, rn-
ment would best enable the states to CO
operate with each other, and govern them
selves The Articles of Confederate n, in
force at the close cf the war when tried,
proved to be inadequate for the purpose
OF holding the Colonies together and sue
cesstully carrying on the government
There was an absence OF strorg central
power to compel the different states to
contribute to the common welfare. The
confederation was nothing more than a
compact or agreement betwa-n the several
states. and not bord oil union between
the people of the whole country What
was for the interest of one state was not
regarded as being for the interest of an
other. There was no provision for reg.
ulating commerce Between the several
states. And none was made for the pay
n,ent of the national dsbt except b nut
nal agreement, and this could not be Sc
cured. The necessity for stronger Cen
iral government was SO apparent that the
leading statesmen in the country became
interested in an attempt to devise some
method or plan by which this result could
be secured cow ntion composed Of as
able a bodyof statesmen as ever assembled
met in Philadelphia to discuss the ques
lion, ana as result Ing CONSTITUTION OF
the United States was adopted Tnis
constitution, unlike the Articles of Con
federation, which We're simply compact
between the states has Its source of pc y,
er in the people. as appears from IT'S pre-
amble, in which it is stated that: We,
the people Of the United States, in or Ter
to form more perfect union. to establish
jnstic e insure omestic tranquility. pro-
vide for the common defense, promote the
general welfare and secure the blessings
of liberty for oursekes and cur 20 ,erity
do ordaln and establ sh this constitntion
for the United States. 1t provides for d
trne central government with power Il
enforce IFS laws and regulations incepea.-
emily of the state Within its sphare, rh
constitution is the supreme law Of III =