The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-07-06
tribute TO
The SIGNERS.
By ADLAI {. STEVENSON

NROM Fourth OF July ADDRESS
by the Hon Adlai E. Steven
son. former vice president Of
the United States. the follow
ing vivid appreciation of the signers
Of the Declaration of independence is
taken:
Let US turn for moment to the Con-
tinental congress assembled In indie
pendence hall in Philadelphia on the
Fourth day Of July, lT76. One act OF
insult and oppression upon the part of
the crown toward the colonies had fol.
lowed another in rapid succession I'M
ii the time had come when the repre-
sentatIyes Of the colonies were to de-
eide In favor OF AFFECT submission to
tyranny or to resolve to be forever free
and independent Upon the one side
were the ties Of country and a COM
mon ancestry, upon the other rebellion
against the mother country and the
commencement OF a struggle the end
Of which no man could foretell:
upon the one side unqualified submis-
don to the dogma OF the divine
right Of kings" upon the other war
with the greatest nation Of the globe.
with independence as the prize OF VIC
kory and with defeat as surely the
Vorerunner OF infamy and death.
The men who signed this Declaration
were not unmindful OF the grave re-
possibilities which they assumed. 1t
was no rash act upon their part They
well knew that Great Britain would
never permit these colonies to be
wrested from her grasp without
struggle. They well knew England,
with her untold wealth. her powerful
army and navy that made her mis-.
ress OF the seas, was a foe to be re-
Bpected even By the strongest govern
ment upon the earth. To the imper-
lshable honor OF the signers Of this
Declaration be 1t said that they did not
hesitate when the dread issues Of that
hour were to be decided.
The gospel OF universal liberty had
been proclaimed TO the world. For
ages mankind had believed there was
"a divinity which doth hedge king"
The world was now startled from It's
lethargy by the declaration that re
distance to tyrants is obedience to
Sod" The new gospel proclaimed by
the signers OF the Declaration Of In
dependence was in conflict with that
by which the world for generations
bad been governed. Boldly and un-
eQuivocally It challenged the doctrine
Of the divine right OF kings. The
barons OF England at the point Of the
sword had wrested from IN unwilling
tyrant that Magma Charta which for
ages had been the palladium OF English
liberty. Again and again during the
reign Of the long line OF the predeces-
sors Of George Ill. some darling OF
prerogatve Of kingly power had been
grudgingly conceded to an exasperat-
ed people. But these were mere ef-
forts to restrain within bounds. not to
destroy, the one man power.
Our Declaration Of Independence SOL
EMMY announced as a self evident
truth that all men are born equal 1t
proclaims as the cardinal feature Of
the social compact. as the very con
nerstone OF civil government. the alb
solute equality OF all men. Govern.
mentS We're declared TO have been es.
tablished among men for the benefit
Of the governed. What a glorious in
herttance is this Declaration. What
lofty craftsmanship IS breathed in its
every utterance! Well did the great
commoner OF England exclaim, The
men who can so write deserve to be
free"
Whence came the men who signed
this Declaration? In what school OF
politics or philosophy did they learn
these great truths? Who taught them
the science Of political government?
From what loyal line OF lawgivers did
they spring: Unskilled u the diplo-
macy and craft thar control cabinets
and govern empires. they We're the
people raised up b. IN all wise Provl-
dence TO overcome the obstacles and
grapple with the dangers that threat
ened their liberties.
From the earliest struggles for the
freedom Of mankind to the days Of
Thomas Jefferson the men who in the
halls OF debate or on the field OF bat
tie have been the eloquent advocates
Of human rights or the bold defenders
of human liberty have sprung from
the ranks OF the people.
Fellow citizens, the calm dignity
with which this Revolution was inau-
gurated. the ties OF allegiance sunder-
ed. the solemn declaration made that
henceforth these colonies were TO be
free and independent states and the
solemn appeal OF the representatives
of the people TO posterity for the
rectitude OF their intentions is one Of
the Grandcst and most imposing events
In history. When In Ill time have any
other people inaugurated revolution
and confronted death with such fear