The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-07-10
OUR GLORIOUS FoREFATHgRs

SeH-gONernmenJ was then an I'M
tried experiment. There had been
attempts in that direction; there
had been more or less pretexts and
for a republican form of gov
eminent; but in its true sense, in the
sense in which We know it. there had
been no republican form of govern
ment known to the world
PraisewOrthy as the ambition was il
was almost fOrlorn hope 1t had been
cOmbatted throughout the
ages. The church believed in kingly
and the subjects had been
ground in me faith. Every attempt had
come to nOught. Brave men had be-
come hopeless. In making a last des-
perate attempt on these shores il was
like the voyage of Columbus across
an unknown and untrodden sea. The
perils were as great and the end as
Why was the attempt made?
The men living on this hemisphere
al that period were men OF education,
and refinment. They knew
that they had a goodly land. TIC use
a biblical expression, a land flowing
with milk and honey" Why should
they depend on men three thousand
miles away TO govern them? Why
were they not capable of self-govern-
ment? Why should not all the offices
peculiar TO government, with their rich
belong to themselves
and thier children after them?
That is the way, no doubt, our fore
fathers reasoned to themselves silent
ly if not openly-because to have done
50 openly would have been treason
against the king.
In a word, our forefathers were tired
of "carpet-bag" government and want
q" to do the governing themselves.
How, then, should they proceed to
throw on the yoke that was CALLING TO
them?
'TaXtatiOn without representation, ''
was nothing new in the depen-
dences of kingly governments.
And what cared they for that little
tax on tea?
These things served merely as pre-
texts. but glorious ones. nevertheless.
1t gave our forefathers an oDpOrtun-
ity TO appeal TO the world for a JUST
ticatiOn Of their acts in severing the
bonds which united them to the moth
er country.
The real object was not to have rep
in the British parliament
not to get rid of the little tax on
10 get rid of paying homage
to the kingly crOwn-to set up a gov
eminent of their Own-a government
by themselves without in
from across the seas.
A "free government" that is what
our sires wanted to establish and that
is precisely what they did.
And Severing the bonds which
bound them 10 the mother country
was a brave and desperate perform
ance and has few if any parallels in
history, and no need of praise sung
by poets or by sages is greater than
those fearless men deserve.
They were few in numbers they had
no arsenals for the manufacture of
guns and ammunitions of war. no gun
boats. and had no right to expect the
friendly help of other powers.
They had 10 depend solely on the
bravery and patriotism OF q sparseIy
settled territory.
1t was a big undertaking. Bat the
people. were brave, heroic and united.
They were inspired by the love of self
animated with the
hope of government of the people. by
the people and for the people" In a
word, they took their lives in their own
hands and come veal or woe. were
determined to hang together or Rang
if needs be
They fought a good fight and won
the race!
They changed the current of the
world and set up lamp on these ives
tern shores that continues to throw
out its Illuminating rays that give
hope and inspiration to the struggling
millions of all the earth.
Let us try and preserve this govern |
ment in its purity and hold it along
the lines Of its founders.
Don't let's become bigoted. tyrani- |
cal reckless, eXtravagant and forget
full
Let's cOnsecrate ourselves in max |
ing it government of democratic /