The Washington times., 1912-07-03
TODAY ANNIVERSARY
OF HISTORIC AFFAIRS
IN AMERICAN ANNALS
Important Battles Have
Taken Place on This
Day In Past.

Day In Past.
The great American citizen expends
his great American energies in cele-
brating the Glorious Fourth of July:
but, to the reader of great American
history, the Sd of July Is a day freight
ed with far more glorious memory than
the glorified Fourth. While no glory
should be taken from that great day
that "proclaims liberty throughout the
land" let the modest day before"
come In for its Just need of apprecia-
ton from patriotic citizens.
The Fourth of July has one event
upon which It's claim TO national recog-
milton is based; the Sd of July has
maryland they are all events that, N
their happening, sent through the
great American heart that same swell
Of patriotic emotion that marked the
outburst Of patriotism on July 4, 1776.
1t was on the Sd of July, 1776, that
the delegates from the thirteen colo
nies met in Anal caucus and debate to
determine whether they should take
that last desperate plunge--a formal
declaration of severance from the
mother country. Days before that had
been expended in fearful conference,
compromise with the stiff-necked over
sea PARENTAL amounting to nothing.
On this last day the determination to
declare the colonies free and inde-
| the evening-a late hour for our early
| rising forefathers. 1t was at that hour
| on the Sd of July that the Declaration
was really born.
Debate Question.
1--WE debated long and earnestly today
| on the matter OF q declaration to the
| world proclaiming ourselves indepcn-
dent as of right" wrote the venera BILE
| Benjamin Franklin. on the evening OF
| that historic Sd Of July, in addressing
an intimate friend, and we determined
upon IT, adopting the form prepared by
Mr. Jefferson and others. The die Is
| cast. We are a nation"
THIS form, the famous Declaration OF
| !f.d"pendcnce, was promulgated the fol-
| lowing day, the Fourth OF July. But
4 1t was on the third that the men re-
81 Lonsi6le, for it went through the pain
Of travail. realizing what its dangers
n"w." said Woodbury. when they signed
II s"n'e weeks later-on the 9Th oi
| August TO kc eNact-as he handed the
| quill pen TO FRANKLIN.
"Yes.",replied Franklin. with a grin
emile. If we do not. we'll hang sepa.
the minds Of the patriots met and tn,
'die was cast" the following day wa,
a mCre declaration OF what Lad beer
already done.
Nearly 100 years after this the ara,
of the Union. which. under the trained
eve Of General Mcclellan, had. aftc
more than eight months OF prepari
| tion, marched against the Confederlt,
| capital Of Richmond, was plunged int
the famous AMI disa strous seven days
fight around that city. Through mis-
takes of the War Department, tn,
plans Of months had miscarricd. and
plood- goal. the fatal defects o
the Federal position was disclosed b,
tie fiery attack OF the Southern
l.g!ons.
For seyen disastrous days the North
ern troops struggled to free thenlselve
f. ON the trap in which a combinat!o
OF bad politics and bad generalship ha
placed them. while each day the Nor
therr people hung breathless upon III
Tine ist OF July 10 ok.d black; the IN
: held but hardly more hope
But the Sd Of July carried to tn
North and, first spread abroad throug
1t, the glad tidings that Mcclellan
treat through forest and thicket an
swamp, was at last safe under the CUR
) boats of Harrisonls landing. safe fror
the destruction that for a week ha
'
would have carried with 1t the dt
struction of the Northern cause. beyon
: doubt. The battle of Malvern Hill ha
checked the tide Of Southern victory.
Grant In Action.
I One year later. the dawn OF this sam
, Sd Of July saw the legions of Gran
backed by believing batteries. hu
themselves upon the devoted trenches (
} Vicksburg. Mississippi For months
, had been directing his blows upon tn
! position. the key to the southwest SCI
ton of the Southern Confederacy. Wit
Vicksburg in his possession. the entil
revolving district west OF the Mississip
river was cut Off from the main divisic
Of the seeding States: Unless; Wick
burg fell before midsummer" sa!
Grant in his memoirs. 'the Northei
States would resist the draft and Il
9 Union cause fail for want of troops. "
I With that end In view, Grant. vii
!, his far-sighted generalship. had devote
- months to the accomplishment of th
o one purpose the fall of Vicksbur
Hense. on the morning of the Sd