The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-06-30

Af...a
Thomas Jefferson was criticized at the tllne
for lack of originality in the declaration ny
document gained all the greater force from no
statement Of sef-evident truths. Never was
there a more mastery presentation OF Oii Vi
grievances than is contained in the Deeiaration'
which submits the facts to candid world
Arraigning the British king for acts OF tyr
amy II sets forth that he refused his assent
TO laws the most wholesome and necessary ioI
the public good" meaning that George Ill mao
prevented the issue of colonial currency and
had refused representation to his American SUD
jects. ~.
II was desired on the part of the New York
assembly to enter into treaty with the DIX
Nations but the governor prevented the nego-
tiation of the treaty until he could obtain the
consent of the king.
He did not proceed further because he feared
that such an act would lead to independence
Hence the expression He has forbidden MS
governors to pass laws OF immediate and press
ing Importance
Grievances of the Massachusetts colony,
which was deprived of representation and suf-
fered interference in popular elections because
of its wish to trade with Nova Scotia, suggest
ed the paragraph:
HE has refused to pass other laws for the
accommodation OF large districts of people I'M
less those people should relinquish the right OF
representation In the legislature, right ines
Unable to them and formidable TO tyrants
only"
To further humble the Massachusetts colony
and to punish the participants in the tea party
of 1873 the assembly was called in Salem, and
not in Boston. Hence the words of the docu-
ment "He has called together legislative bodies
az places unusual uncomfortable and distant
from the depository of their public records"
Massachusetts colony and others had adopt
ed resolutions in their assemblies that there
should be no taxation without the consent Of
the governed The Massachusetts assembly
was asked to rescind Its resolution in 1853 and
on its refusal TO do dissolved. The as
semblies OF Virginia and North Carolina met
the same fate. This state of affairs is summed
up In the Declaration In the words, HE has dis
solved representative houses repeatedly for OPP
posing with much irmness his invasion on the
rights of the people"
The Declaration protests against the judges
being dependent on the will of the king for
their salaries, and, indeed in some of the col
onies many of the judges had been impeached
for declaring that they would receive their sal
aries from the royal treasury.
Graphically the authors of the document tell
how the erection of a multitude of new Offices
had impoverished the country. referring to the
collectors appointed to carry out the provisions
of the stamp act, The quartering of troops in
times of peace was a substantial grievance COM
planned Of, for the king insisted on retaining
British regiments here after the French and
Indian at the expense of the colonists os-
tensibly for defense but in reality to suppress a
growing democracy.
The words, "He has affected to render the
military independent of and superior to the civil
power" refer to the position taken by General
Gage who. with several regiments of British
troops was in Boston BY order of the king
he had been made superior TO the civil govern
ment
Here and there through the colonies Ameri.
cans had been killed in alterations with Brit
ish soldiers. who were subsequently put on trial
and acquitted The Declaration accuses the
king of Quartering large bodies OF armed troops
and of protecting them by mock trial from
punishment for any murders which they may
commit"
Such were the principles enuncated in the
Declaration. and how well they we're sustained
by the arbtrament of war the world knows
The nation began celebrating the glorious
Fourth from the very beginning. Statutes of 10
cannon were fired by the army in 1877. and the
republic pledged in wine.
West Point saw a significant celebration in
1779 when General Washington issued a par
don for all prisoners in the army under SEN
tence Of death. The last celebration of the
army of the Revolution as such took place on
both shores of the Hudson river and a grand
salute was fired.
More of the nature OF a festival dominated
the Fourth after 1888, for then came parades,
free dinners toasts, the reading of the Declare
ton IN public by citizens and moro and more
the participation of the younger generation
Dignity and solemnity marked these early cele
brations and eloquent speeches were made.
The Fourth is a statutory holiday in every
state and its fame has gone beyond the seas