Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-07-02
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We all know the history of that
pivotal Fourth of July from which all
others have become conspicuous. We
know how conflicting interests and
emotions had contended. How Han
cock and Samuel Adams, who had
burned the bridges behind them. and
been proclaimed traitors by Great
Britain. urged OF their cautious breth-
rem How sagaciOus Franklin, long
headed John Adams and fery-hearted
Richard Henry Lee, together worked
and planned, coaXing, persuading and
arguing with their conservative col
leagues. day after day, until they par
took of their dare-all, endure-aH spirit
How that patriotic Congress eventu-
ally put aside every interest, every
consideration, save that of liberty and
love of the right. How, with bold
John Hancock in the chair, the indy
ing ffty-six, on July A, 1875, signed
the Declaration of Independence. We
know that the deadly seven years
struggle that followed, that carried
that Declaration at the swords point
and made the world accept It as true.
The liberty of America was born on
that July day at the state house in
Philadelphia. That date shines cloft
a blazing star against a darkened
armament. Let the small boy shout
whistles blow, bells ring, and can
non roar. Never too loudly can the
good story be told. At Saratoga and
Stony Point. Yorktown and Valley
Forge. our fathers won lie right for
their children's children to the last
generation to burn powder and make
uproarious din upon this national day
OF days.
John Adams, the second president
first prophesied that the anniversary
of the signing of the Declaration of
independence would become a festal
day. Boston has the honor of holding
the first real Fourth of July celebra-
ton The war was over. The United
States were free and Independent and
Boston proposed in 1888 to celebrate
the event in great style. So there
were marchings and parades and flut-
tering of flags. and shooting of mus
Rets and cannon. The Declaration
of Independence was read aloud. and
DR.. John Warren, Professor of Anato-
my in Harvard college. made strongly
patriotic speech. The custom, so
beautiful and appropriate, was adopt
ed everywhere throughout the land,
and the plan of these celebrations has
always been closely modelled after the
pattern first set.
Exactly ten years after. July A, 1893.
John Quincy Adams was the orator of
the day at Boston. He had not yet
reached lis twenty-sixth year, but his
father was Massachusetts, most
prominent son, and his son was
counted as in a sense his representa-
tive. That day John Quincy Adams
showed that he was something more
than merely the son of his father His
address is yet considered a master
piece, and from that day he was a
power in the land, and eventually be-
came president
The morning of the Jubilee Fourth.
July, 1896, the fiftieth anniversary of
the signing of the Declaration of In
dependence. found four of the signers
yet alive. The sunset found but two.
On that day there passed away the
immortal spirits Of Thomas jefferson
and John Adams. each of whom lad
been president of the nation he had
helped to make.
The morning of July 4, 1926, found
both the old comrades sick unto
death Jefferson sank first, with the
words: Il resign my soul to God. and
my daughter to my country" Mean
while in his mansion. John Adams lay
gasping his lire away. Ninety-one
years had not dimmed his intellect or
weakened his courageous spirit He
heard the noise Of the days ceIebra-
ton, and asked what day it was.
After he had been told, he lay for a
while lost In thought, his mind re-
yerting to those stirring times fifty