Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-07-06

IIlIfHEHAa NH Inc happenings VI IHoI 6AC1I ~0J
IIlH USm Hill has become common heritage Of
IlllkllRI6Glll the people of our land. Many an
ltotT=@l0ll American considers it part Of
a patriotic duty to muse upon the
imaginative picture entitled 1.-THE First Fourth
Of July which historical writer has painted
upon his vision
In fancy he sees Independence hall in Phila-
dephia and the Continental congress with its
RULED shirts, long cloth coats knee pants, silk
stockings and low shoes sitting with dignity, but
listening spellbound to a wonderfully strange and
entirely document called "The Declaration of
Independence"
In fancy he even hears the popular acclaim
OF That is just what we all say!" and ct is
wen worded Mr. Jefferson" Then the mind pic
lures the various delegates to congress hasten
ing forward, eager for the honor of fixing their
signatures to sheepskin document.
The scene changes to the ringing of the great
liberty bell. to the assembling of the people at
Philadelphia who applauded the reading Of this
bill of rights and to the final closing of the day
with every man, woman and child in Philadel
phia happy because he is no longer a British
subject, having become a free American in a
single day
Such vision pictures heroic scene; but the
true record of events does not affirm that these
socalled happenings took place on that me.
morable day By plotting out the imperfect de-
tails Of the picture the Fourth of July is In no
way robbed of any of its glory.
An authentic account of what transpired at
that time changes the meaning of the Fourth OF
July from day to about sixty in which the
whole history of our national liberty is told and
the heroic heartthrobs of the sorey tried colo
nsts are keenly felt.
The day itself properly symbolizes the liberty
for which the patriots of that time stood ready
to sacrifice their lives in order to launch the
United States a national craft which should
be anchored by no weight of foreign despotism
1t time of danger when brother friend
and neighbor became estranged by reason of
political opinion. Some colonists still loved the
mother country with true English pride while
others were so embittered by the injustice of the
sovereign across the seas that they willingly
gave their all to the cause of the people of the
new land.
During the latter part of 1774 George Wash
ington himself wrote that thinking man
among the colonists wanted to separate from
England. and Franklin ridiculed the idea
During the early days of the revolution the
bluecoats never dreamed of separating from the
beloved land of their ancestors In fact, such a
course would have been condemned by Ameri-
cans themselves treason. Jefferson declared
that prior to April 10, 1775 he had heard no whis-
per of the disposition of anyone to stand from
under the governmental power OF Great Britain
The inevitable however, came with the spring
of 1776, when local assemblies began formal dis
cussion regarding the liberty Of coonists. These
legislative bodies possessed but little power but
they did great part in crystallizing the senti-
ment for independence in many quarters and
forcing those opposed to the idea to declare their
inimical attitude.
The good work of these small legislative bodies
was reflected and magni1ed soon as the dele
gates sent to the Continental congress
Then the spirit of liberty permeated the very at
mosphere of the national assembly and many an
individual received the courage to align himself
with the new cause
If, June 7, 1776, there had been an extra
paper to have informe1 tie public of the latest
political news might have read the farng
headlines Richard Henry Lee Of Virginia the
Man of the Hour" for 1t was he who on that day
started the. Fourth of July. 1t this south
erner who introduced the first declaration of IN
dependence in congress declaring the American
people free
Good judgment dictated the caution of omit
ting John Adams name from the minutes, as
the second to that motion, yet the fact is known
today, when there is army of redcoats wait
ing to seize patriots rebels
Too much praise cannot be given to the in
PRODUCTION of Lees resolution, yet 1t was to the
credit Of the Continental congress that action
not forced upon such an>important measure
at that time. It could not have succeeded until
all objections had been silenced all fears of
Englands success allayed until all con-
scientiously convinced that the cause of liberty
just. 1t was imperative that all should look
the Goddess OF Liberty squarely in the face with
8 devotion TO follow where she should lead
AS no agreement could be reached on June
the resolution laid over until the next day,
when it was again postponed for consideration I'M
I'll July /
In order that the cause of liberty should not
be retarded during this wait congress at that