Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-28


1t part of patriot
&c duty to muse upon the imaginative pic
ture entitled The First Fourth OF July"
which some historical writer has painted
upon his vision.
In fancy he sees Independence Hall in
Philadelphia and the Contin entail Con-
gress with its ruffied shirts. long cloth
coats, knee pants. silk stockings and
low shoes sitting with dignity, but lis
tening spellbound to wonderfully
strange and entirely new document called
The Declaration Of Independence"
In fancy he even hears the popular ac-
claim of That is just what we all say!'
and TT is we'll worded. Mr.. jefferson"
Then the mind pictures the various dele
gates to Congress fastening forward
eager for the honor of afaxing their sig
natures to a sheepsktn document
The scene changes to the ringing Of the
great liberty bell. to the assembling OF
the people at Philadelphia who applaud
the reading of this bill of rights and to
the final closing Of the day with every
man. woman and child in Philadelphia
happy because he is no longer a British
subject. having become free American
IN a single day.
Such vision pictures an heroic scene;
but the true record of events does not
afirm that these so-called happenings
took place on that memorable day. BY
biotting out the imperfect details of the
picture the Fourth Of July Is in no way
robbed Of any Of its glory.
An authentic account of what trans
pired at that time changes the meaning
Of the Fourth of July from one day to
about sixty in which the whole history of
heart throbs Of the sorely tried colonists
are keenly felt
The day itself properly symbolizes the
liberty for which the patriots Of that time
stood ready to sacrifice their lives in or
der to launch the United States as a ma
tional craft which should be anchored by
no weight of foreign despotism.
=.
II was a time of danger when brother.
friend and neighbor became estranged by
reason of political opinion. Some colo
nists still loved the mother country with
true English pride, while others were so
emhittere dby the injustice of the SOW
ereign across the seat that they willingly
gave their all to the cause of the people
of the new land
Many were clearly convinced that It
eighty of George III but they feared to
be considered rebels when there was such
probability that England's wealth and
power might resubjugate the revolution
lists
The desire for Independence had come
to the colonists gradually. For six weeks
before the war Boston paper denounced
such thought. contending that II was
Islander to accuse any one in the province
of painting after independence" During
the latter part Of 1774 George Washing
ton himself wrote that no thinking man
among the colonists wanted to separate
from Ensland. and Franklin ridiculed
the idea. He said that he had never
heard any one drunk or sober express
any sentiments for making a new nation
During the early days Of the revolution
ing from the beloved land of their an
eestors In fact. such a course would
have been condemned by Americans
themselves as treason. Jefferson declared
had heard no whisper Of the disposition
Of any one to stand from under the
governmental power OF Great Britain.
The inevitable, however. came with the
began formal discussion regarding the
liberty of colonists. These legislative
bodies possessed but little power, but they
CID great part in crystallizing the SEN
timent for independence in many quar-
tiers and forcing those opposed to the
idea to declare their inimical attitude.
The good work Of these small legisla-
tive bodies was reflected and magnifed
as soon as the delegates were sent to
the Continental Congress Then the spirit
Of liberty permeated the very atmosphere
Of the national assembly and many an
Individual received the courage to align
himself with the new cause
II. June Z. 1776. there had been an