Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-07-03
The GREAT NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

az Outht w shsy ~ VI ~
Of our c0untry's independence. will
be ushered Ia tomorrow. There will,
Of course. be the usual amount OF
local excitement-fring OF guns, Chin.
ese crackers, and other noisy demon.
STATIONS. Fags will be hung out from
our private buildings, and every n
will feel that we are In possession
OF q great national holiday, made such
by the common and universal impulse
and patriotism. Work will be sus-
pended. and the usual routine OF bust.
nes will be discontinued for that
day. The stores and shops will be
closed, for at least part OF the day.
and the workmen and men OF business
will engage In some favorite pursuit
OF pleasure. A number OF social par.
ties and picnics will repair TO the
parks and groves In the vicinity Of the
city, while others will HE away to
other towns and places.
On the west side and at Gallinas
Park a spectacular series OF sports
win be celebrated.
The coming Fourth will be the 10th
anniversary OF the heralding Of the
declaration and birth OF the nation.
Our forefathers met In Philadelphia
10 devise means TO sunder the ties
that bound them to the mother coun
try. which had become burdensomc
through the tyrannies imposed upon
them by the arbitrary and h~igh-handed
course OF George III. They met In
.n4.n.~ ~~u.csfn- sx 1anynr1 xvnfnrt
the outrages and u%surpations OF a
ministry drunk with power. who had
oppressed the American colonies by
burdens0me taxation. and by quarter
ing large armies In their midst to
overawe and subject them to all man.
ner OF petty tyrannies. These bur-
thens they bore until to bear them
longer wonid have been q sin against
God and posterity. A convention
composed OF such men as John Han.
cock and his patriotic compeers con.
vened on this memorable occasion Ia
the city Of Philadelphia, and issued to
the world a declaration renounclnG
Ill allegiance to the crown Of a hated
and despotic tyrant.
At 2 o'clock p. m. July 4th, 1916,
the great bell In the dome Of In.
dependence hall, Philadelphia. rang
out It's peals. Proclaim Liberty
throughout the world, and to all the
Inhabitants thereof" At that hour
. nation was born. Three millions Of
white men. previously slaves to Brit.
ish rule. were declared to be free by
the Continental Congress. 1t was a
glorious day The whole land re.
sounded with the cheers OF a people
determined TO be free.
And for the support Of this declara-
ration. with the firm reliance on the
protection Of Divine Providence. we
mutually pledge to each other our
lives, our fortunes. and our sacred
honor" said the representatives OF
thirteen united colonies Of North
America. The declaration they thus
pledged themselves TO support pro-
claimed to the world that the colo.
MES oppressed. that they were
determined to throw OF the oppres-
sion: that life. liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness were among the In
alienable rights OF man. and that the
colonies and Of right ought to
be free and independent states.
This declaration and this pledge
were not mere words. To maintain
them both. brave men. few In num-
bers. III equipped, and slender In re.
sources. went forth to the field OF the
most di%scouraging circumstances. A
long and bloody war ensued.
They who fought for the declara.
ton and the pledge we're the v~ictors,
and on the 18th day Of September.
1887. the representatives OF the anne
colonies again assembled In congress
and said: I'VE the people Of the
United States OF America. in order to
forr a more perfect union, establish
Justice. insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defence. pro-
mote the general welfare and secure
the blessings OF liberty to ourselves
and our posterity. do ordain and es-
tabIish this constitution for the Unit.
ed States Of America"
Let us keep the fires If patriotism
ever burning, and never let th, Fourth
or July pass without leaving a record
will make our national life
more dear to the heart OF every true
We should all endeavor
10 observe this day appropriately and
cheerfully. None Of us should prove