Putnam patriot., 1909-07-02
INFLUENCE OF
 THE OEclARhTi0H.

While we celebrate on the 4th oi each July the adoption of the Deeiara
 ton of independence. we perhaps dd not reflect on the stupeudous influence of that aocuIpent on tue world as a
 whole. il IS safe to say that DO DO litical paper iu ali history Jas had SC universal or radical an effect. Not only did its proinuigation mark tue begin
 ming of the life ot our own nation and
 uot only was 1t the mother of the emancipation reclamation. but its ad
 vent started the wave of democracy and liberty now seen in every nation on the earth Surely Americans have q right to be proud of document that
 has literally inaugurated a new era oi
 humanity.
 Although il would hardly be withiL
 the truth to say that the Declaration
 of Independence had wrought all th.
 marvellous political changes that have
 swept the world since July 1. lIi6. il
 would be entirely within the truth t
 state that Il has been the greatest sin
 gle influence and therefore mas the
 right to be considered the symbol of
 all the forces that have wrought these
 changes. And what a transformation
 II has been. Then liberty was no
 where Now it Is every where. Then
 Enrhnd bad sunk 10 well nigh bel
 lowest stage of despotism. France was
 misgovsrned and hopeless. Germany
 was II coneiomeration of ineboate tx. tt. s15a bondage. Rassia had scarcely emerged from semibarharisus. all of Asia was as she had been for thousands of years Africa and Australia were unknown aud both North and South Ameriea were covered with fringes of colonies and vast savage interiors Today ~ cry land beneath the sun has been touched hy the new fife. the new aspiration. the new freedom.
 France was the first to respond te 1 the call and with her own revolution drove the democratic wedge fashioned
 in America far into the heart of Flu l rope England. the very nation against l which the American Revolution had l been waced. was the next 10 be moved l, toward liberty by the new example. | her two defeats by this country shock [ Ing her into sanity and her own think | CTS forcing her 10 adopt reform bills. 1 eo take up liberal colonial policy and | 10 bring about a real revolution. al though q peaceahle one Germany. too. heard the eall. is yet hearing it and 1 is moving te meet II. Italy shack Of l the thra idom of centuries. united her states and joined the racks of the l prssresSive uastaus one after another
 the states of Europe either necame re ! puHsies CT constitutional tnnnarchies i Even Russia eeald net escape the uni verSal waye ef ceaaoeraey Last cf sli Turkey faces toward the sunrise and stepS iata the ranks ef freedom l rgser Snasn has tried several tinies to 1 sssers renaisi nfsea. NBt tbe reaction ary forces have been tee straag and have hesa ter tnt sn af her colonies . wua most of her anei*af glory have
 hses swept away
 regiawiug the example of the Cuited
 States. af tie Americas threw ef the feresSn yoke and esAcanae rerufsises
 lapaa felt the new impulse. which k
 TOW also awakening Chlna snd India.
 South Afrtea experienced il. as she
 showed in her stubborn light for free
 dom. And Australasia. touehed ny IT..
 has the most enlightened and prc-ress-
 gve governments sn the worsa. Truly the Declaration of independenss nSs