The Democratic advocate., 1907-06-28
each side of the Atlantic ocean, discharged
their electric contents
Then shook the hills with thunder riven,
Then rushed the steed to attic driven,
And londer than the bolts of heaven,
H.. 1. L.. Il.-r q

The contest seemed unequal. No doubt
the world was astoni>hed, and thought it {
presumptuous task for our few and undis
ciplined troops, though in the worthless
cause. to undertake to encounter single
handed the power and discipline of Eng
land. Nor had they to contend only will
foreign, but also with domestic foes Yes
there were many throughout our country
devoted to the cause of England; whose
slavish souls could not appreciate the value
of liberty; Or who were in hopes that th'
strong arm Of power would soon crush tht
efforts or the friends of freedom, and tha
they might thus rise from their native in
significance over the fallen fortunes Of thei
countrymen. They did not hesitate tC
engage, body and soul, in the ignoble cause
and exceed even British cruelty in prowline
about at midnight hours, to sack the peace
full dwellings of their neighbours, and awaker
their unsuspecting inmates to the reality
of an awful death by the cracking of the
devouring flames. In addition to this, the
tomahawk and scalping knife of the merci
less Indian, then unshorn of his strength
were employed to do their work of deatl
upon our defenceless frontiers
TO present an adequate idea of ''the
times that tried men souls, we woulC
have to paint the widows woe, the or.
phan grief, the parents tears-the busi,
ness of the country prostrate-commerce
stagnant-the ploughshare of agriculture
converted into the implements Of war-and
''the reapers descending to the harvest OF
DEATH - But, thanks to a merciful Prov.
idence, the just cause was not destined tc
fail, for the strong arms and stout hearts
of our ancestors, assisted by the generous
countrymen of Lafayette, humbled the
naughty lion of England; while the Amer
ican Eagle scared proudly preeminent, and
our liberties were established on founda-
ton, as durable we trust, as the primitive
rock of our majestic mountains.
But what advantages have accrued to us
as the result of all this suffering? Our
country is independent, and ourselves free
Our freedom, indeed, does not consist in
that miscalled liberty which prides itself in
trampling on the laws and social duties of
civilized life; but in the acknowledgment
of the natural equality of one citizen with
another; of no nobility but the noblemen
of nature; the right of every citizen to as
pire to the highest offices within the gift
Of the people, and whilst every becoming
respect is paid to the office, no superior
veneratiOn is felt to be due to the man that
fills it. The natural and absolute rights
of men, constituting together with those
arising from the civil connection, the llber-
ties of American citizens, are accurately
defined and amply protected. The con-
stitutions of the United States, and of the
States individually, are made to bend to
the changes of time, and the lights Of ex-
perience. In word, we have a govern
ment Of the people, which necessarily con-
tributes as its sole aim to the good OF the
whole!
Our ancestors, fortunately, left behind
them lie false doctrines and impressions
that prevailed in Europe There, too often,
the will Of the monarch has been the law
Of the people and the claim to regal au
thority as founded on divine right has been
SO long acquiesced in, that people begin to
imagine that the flesh and blood of Kings
are vastly superior to the coarser materials
of their low born subjects. Even in Eng
land, where it has been boasted that the
government and laws have made the nearest
approximation to perfection; the homage,
which is due to the Crown as the represen-
tative of the majesty of the people, Is too
often paid to the person and not to the Of
flee. There an artificial nobility has been
formed, and property so concentrated and
clothed with undue power that popular
exists onl y in name. The
mass of the people owe their liberty to the
mercy of the superior power, or to their
inspiring that power with dread of their
strong arm while their labor is taxed to
support the splendor Of the higher classes,
and the useless and oppressive burden of
an established church.
Our country is Independent, and free to
direct the inexhaustible resources of her
internal energies, which, if not frustrated
by disunion must swell her future grandeur
beyond all Grecian and all Roman fame!
Not that earth remotest kings shall be led
captive at the chariot wheels of our vic
torious and triumphant generals. Her
conquest will be peaceful, but the world
shall acknowledge her sway! The mild
radience of her example will spread its
heavenly light, dispensing the dark clouds
of ignorance and superstition, and display
ing the true form of Liberty to an en-
raptured world.
Why is our celebration attended by those
who minister at the altar? tits, we trust,
that while we pay due honor to those who
fought for our liberties, we do not forget
that supreme honor and devotion are due
to our great creator. To him are we in
debted for our own existence; for the an
cestors whom, this day, we have met to
honor, for inspiring their hearts, and pros
pering their cause. Moreover, He formed
this beautiful world, and suited our nature
to relish Its beauty and ENJOY Its abundance,
He clothes the earth with verdure, the
trees with blossoms, and natures the fields
of waving grain, which even now are ripe
unto harvest!
In conclusion, let us indulge the hope,
that all men having American hearts will
ever unite in the celebration of this day.
That the birthday of American Indepen-
dence, by allaying, yearly, the excitement
of politics. and frustrating the mad schemes
Of blind fanaticism, may be instrumental
in the preservation Of our glorious Union
until the last loud trump shall sound the
signal of departing Time.
TThe above address was taken from the
Carrolltonian Of July 20,