The daily tribune., 1908-11-24
PLANTING the SEEDS OF LIBERTY.

low ing the landing of the Pilgrims at
Plymouth the Atlantic coast from
Nova Scotia to Florida was settled by
migrants from England. Holland.
Scotland, Ireland. Sweden. France
and Englard's warning in the old
world had left the colonies compare
lively free to establish industries.
build up commerce with other coun-
tries. establish institutions and make
laws. But the sucress Of England in
war. by the treaty Of Paris. placed
her in absolute control Of that part of
the American continent east of the
Mississippi river. She WAS no more
lust to her colonies on this side OF
the water than she had been to the
founders Of the new world before they
left the mother country. For some
years after the reign of England 8
tyranny began anew. the colonies
grew in population and wealth; but
rs the seeds OF general and personal
liberty had been sown by the Pilgrim
Fahers. the fruits we're being reaped
by the people century and half
later
In the establishment of public
school at Cambridge. Massac usetJs,
by order of the General Court in 1886,
the foundation WAS laid for the Amer
ican system of common schools. This
was the first time in the history of
the world where the state took upon
iisslf the task of educating its You ,g
citizens. establishing the schools and
providing for their maintenance. Ed.
uction WAS made free for every child.
This was in thorough accordance with
their belief that an ignorant person
would not make a good citizen.
In every colonial assembly spirited
words were spoken rebuking the Off
GERS Of the king and when the COM
mon interests and common necessities
of the colonies demanded unity, this
was made manifest by general con.
gress which met at Carpenters Hall
in Philadelphia. September ., IVA.
There were delegates to the number
of fifty five representing every colony
except Georgia This was essen tally
an advisory body. 1t WAS at this
time that Patrick Henry uttered those
famous words, 1.-THE distinctions be-
tween Pennsylvanians, ViIginians,
New Workers and New Englanders are
no more. am no more a Virginian
but AN American. This congress
but set forth the rights Of the colon es
and the grievances which they had
sustained, and paved the way for the
meeting Of the second congress In the
following year But 1t holds an
honorable place in the annals of
American history for it is virtually
the beginning of our federal union
In 1775. Congress met again in
Philadelphia, but it WAS not until
July 4, 1916. that the Declaration of
Independence was adopted. 1t was
then ordered to be published and was
read at the head of every regiment of
the army. Is it not strange that the
bell in the steeple Of the state house
that heralded to tine world the news
of the adoption Of the Declaration OF
Independence should bear the inscrip-
tion, proclaim liberty throughout
all the land. unto all the Inhabitants
thereof?"
1t took seven years for America to
grow from a body Of subordinate col.
onies into nation. The confedera-
tion, however weak. was the strongest
then in existence. There is not an
other nation that history credits with
the unparalleled opportunity of estab-
fishing constitution, Fundamental
in its principles for themselves and
all who should come after; and the
men who framed this constitution in
all it's details we're the originators of
it. There we're no old institutions OF
the country to abolish. They had
but few traditions to conform to.
They had no business under which
they had suffered In their independ.
ence. Yet their work WAS most diff
cult because there WAS no established