Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-07-04
Fourth of July Date That
Shall Never BE For
gotten.
when Glad Tidings Were Pro-
claimed to All the
Land.
HEARTS BOUNDED With JOY

Our Independence day counts
from no battle in the field. Bunker
Hill, Saratoga, Lexington-not one
is selected. No, not even the first
victory-the evacuation OF Boston Dy
the British on st. Patricks day,
1775; and, strangest OF all, wash
ington's overwhelming triumph at
Yorktown, when the tyrant's power
was utterly broken and its flag went
down in disgrace and humiliation.
Not one of these anniversaries has
been chosen for Independence day.
But the Fourth of July, 1776-
the day on which a new political gos-
pei was proclaimed to America and
to the world-that is a date that
shall never be forgotten. For more
than a year before that day-from
April 10, 1775-the country was IN
rebellion. But II was only re-
bellion. Had the war ended during
that year. even with the advantages
to the patriots. nothing would have
been won for humanity. America
would still have been a dependency
of England Such would be the
state of things even with success
full rebellion. But on the Fourth of
July. 1875, Thomas Jefferson
unfolded the great chart of the
rights of man. The principles of his
Declaration were adopted, and then
the rebellion became a revolution.
On that memorable day the American
Revolution began. On that day
America sprans into nation. and
the heart of the enslaved world
bounded with Joy.
1t is now impossible to determine
the precise time when preparations
for political independence first be-
came a prevailing sentiment among
the people of the colonies. The
thought no doubt was cherished in
many minds before It found express
sion; but 1t was not a subject for
public discussion more than few
months before II was brought before
Congress. A few men, among whom
were Benjamin Franklin, Patrick
Henry, Richard Henry Lee and Sam
uel Adams, seems to have had an
early impression that political indie
pendence was the only cure for the
evils under which the colonies
groaned.
Ab early dS L u, IdltiCh liChiy
speaking of England. said: "She will
drive us to extremities; no accom-
mediation will take place; hostilities
will soon commence, and desperate
and bloody touch II will be-" Being
reminded that the colonies were not
strong enough to oppose the fleets
and armies OF England, Mr.. Henry
replied: 81 doubt whether we shall
be able alone to cope with England;
but where is France? Where is
Spain? Where will they be all this
while? Do you suppose they will
stand by, idle and indifferent spec
tators to the contest? Believe me,
no! When Louis XVI. shall be satis-
fled, by our serious opposition and
our Declaration of Independence, he
will furnish us with arms, ammuni-
tion and clothing; and not only with
them, but he will send his fleets and
armies to fight our battles for us;
ne will form a treaty with us, Of
fensive and defensive. Spain will
Join France. Our independence will
be established, and we shall take
our stand among the nations OF the
earthi"
How literally these predictions
were fulfilled the pen of history has
already recorded. When England
sent fleets and armies hither TO
coerce submission to her injustice:
ito plunder our seas, ravage our
coasts, burn our towns, harass our
people and eat our their substance"
When England became totally
''deaf to the voice of justice" the
patriots were obliged to "acquiese
in the necessity which compelled
them to dissolve the political bands
which connected them with another.
and to assume among the powers OF
the earth the separate and equal
station to which the laws OF nature
and OF natures God entitled them"
The lightning OF the. crusades was
in the peoples hearts, and II needed
but a single eelctric touch to make
II blaze forth upon the world. North
Carolina was the first to take the
bold progressive step toward tnde-
pendence. On April 90. 1915. the
Representatives OF that State In
Congress were authorized "to con-
cur with those in the other colonies
in declaring independence" Mas
sachusetts, Virginia. New York and
the other colonies instructed their
delegates likewise.
Thus the desire for independence
became a living principle in the hall
OF the Continental Congress, and
that principle found utterance on
June 7. Richard Lee moved. THAT
these united colonies are. and OF
right ought TO be, free and inde-
pendent states: and that all political
connection between us and Great
Britain Is. and ought 10 be. totally
dissolved" The resolution was not
considered until three days after
ward, when II was resolved to post
pone It's further consideration until
!, the first OF July, and that commit
Kee be appointed TO prepare a
Narration TO that effect"