The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-07-04
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX YEARS
AGO TODAY.

There are certain days in the year which
have peculiar significance, and it is our
custom to mark their annual recurrence in
some special manner.
The cold blooded tell US that each day is
like every other day, but they are mis-
taken. They have neither imagination or
sentiment. The worlds heart may retain
its regular beat for months at time, but
when some notable anniversary dawns,
with its solemn or its joyful associations,
the pulse naturally quickens and the
memory of heroic deeds, whose glorious
results still remain, mantles the universal
cheek with pride and gratitude.
There are landmarks in the history of
every nation, periods of monumental i'm
portance when all the people cease from
their usual employment, surrender them
selves to the magic spell of the orator, and
listen to the music of the band.
These occasions could not be blotted out
save at great loss. They are reminders
of our indebtedness to the dead and our
duty to the unborn. They break the mo-
noting of life as with the shock of a trum-
pet blast and force upon us sense Of
obligation to deliver our heritage unfair
nished by any act of forgetfulness to those
who take our places.
The Fourth of July is an anniversary of
that kind. The declarations of the Colo
MES in 1776 is the central point around
which the political system of the Republic
revolves. Our fathers cast the die and
were ready to abide by the consequences.
Their course would indicate disloyalty to
the Crown of England if it were unsuc-
cessful, and the leaders might suffer an
ignominious death. Washington would
be deported to foreign prison or shot as
a recreant and migrate and his compeers
disgraced beyond the reach of pity. If
they could win in that desperate struggle
every Monarchy of Europe would feel the
blow and stagger under it, but the rest of
the world would enter upon an era of
popular rights and constitutional liberty.
While the Colonies were hesitating to
take the step the very heavens must have
bent down in curiosity and solicitude. We
doubt if in the whole history of mankind,
of civilization, religion, progress, there is
another hour which equals that in its pos
sible effect on the race.
But the die was cast, not in bravado,
but with unparalleled moral courage. The
pigmy Colonies defied the giant; it was
David gathering five smooth pebbles,
while Goliath looked on contemptuous.
Poorly armed, undrilled, poorly fed and
clothed, the exchecquer so exhausted that
Washington asked for even gift of five
hundred dollars to relieve his pressing
necessities, they took the field against the
best disciplined army on the planet. 1t
was preposterous and apparently hope
less task.
But the courage of patriots was more
than a match for the daring of hirelings,
and King George, chagrined beyond ex-
preston, put his autograph on the docu-
ment which insured independence.
The Fourth of July divides the old from
the new. The world is on higher level
because of the self sacrifice of our fathers.
Their memory is a rich inheritance and
their heroism lies at the foundation of our
prosperity. We are what we are because
they were what they were. Rejoicing
mingles with responsibility and we face
the future with a glorious background.
The Republic has taught mankind that an
educated people is its own King.