Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-04
lndeperdence Day,

Stcp was TAKEN Dy tne representatives
Of the 13 American colonies assembled
in Philadelphia. which gave our coun-
world. In these later days historians
have arisen who claim to give us proof
that July is not after all the day
which should be celebrated as our Ma
tional birthday. They hold that the
decisive vote was taken by the dele
gates on July 2, but that the declara-
ton was not actually signed by the
members until August 2, and that Ell
ther Of these days would be more prop
erly celebrated as Independence Day
than July 4. The committee to draw up
the declaration was appointed June 10,
Thomas Jefferson being it's chairman
and doing most of the work, though
John Adams and Benjamin Franklin
actively assisted him. The committee
reported the declaration June %, and
the debate continued during the fol-
lowing week. But whatever the dates
most closely associated with the prepa-
ration and adoption Of this immortal
document, July 4 was early adopted by
the young nation as the proper day
to be celebrated and, whatever the ICON
oclasts may attempt, July will be the
day celebrated to the end of time.
1t is our greatest holiday and the one
most generally observed throughout the
country and by Americans wherever in
celebrations Of the day, where great
crowds of citizens solemnly gathered
in public halls and churches or on the
village common, with a ponderous ora
ton as the chief feature of the occa-
sion, is long since a thing Of the past
The modern way of celebrating the
Fourth is to make it a general mid
summer holiday for everybody; with all
business suspended; with the grown up
ball games, horse trots and occasional
ly 10 parades, balloon ascensions and
fireworks, while the younger gen.
Grafton it is glorious occasion on
which all kinds of hideous noises are
permissible, and hourly chances with
death are taken for the sake of snap
ping toy pistols and setting off giant
crackers. 1t is the busy day of the
year for doctors and nurses, and fire.
uuently also for the firemen. OF course
it is a great pity that this sort of thing
characteriZes our greatest national hol-
iday, and there is no defense for this
kind Of celebration.
The period of 100 years is a short
| time in the history of civilization. and
even relatively short in the history of
many Of the nations which exist today,
but when the American citizen pauses
today and considers what growth and
power has c6me to his country from
small beginnings in that period of time,
he is filled with mingled pride and
amazement There has never been
anything like it in the history of the
world, and we can hardly believe that
the wonderful story will ever be du-
plicated in the centuries to come
Sometimes a voice is heard here and
there protesting that the republic is
not following the course which it's faith
ers designed, that we of later genera
tons are forgetting the principles OF
the founders, and that the many dan
gers which menace US are greater thar
We can overcome. This is the
wall of weakness and of pessimism
1.-The spirit of true Americanism speaks
in different tones. It's words are heart
land believed around the world. II
says:-"The republic is success. an,
its future as certain as it is that th'
world will have any future. 1t Is an,
will remain what the fathers of the re
public meant it should be. the land o.
liberty and of opportunity, the hom'
lof a great and contented people, dwell
ing in peace and excelling in the art:
land the industries. 1t is and shall re
main the land which welcomes an'
shelters the oppressed of all the world
1.-THE nation which uses its vast streng' Il
only in the cause Of the right. 1t l
land shall remain a land where the PEG
tple rule and where the voice of tn
iDeOple Is the voice of God"
We have spoken Of the fact tina
Imore miles of new railroad track Wa