The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-07-02

llNl HSN1 IlI has become common heritage OF
lIlll%E<AHLlI the people of our land. Many an
ltoi=-1loll American considers it part 1f
a patriotic duty to muse upon the
imaginative picture entitled "The First Fourth
of July" which some historical writer has painted
upon his vision
In fancy he sees Independence hall in Phila
delphia and the Continental congress with its
ruffled shirts long cloth coats, knee pants, silk
stockings and low shoes sitting with dignity, but
listening spellbound to a wonderfully strange and
entirely new document called "The Declaration OF
Independence"
In fancy he even hears the popular acclaim
OF THAT is just what we all say!" and at is
well worded, Mr.. Jefferson" Then tie mind pic
lures the various delegates to congress hasten
ing forward, eager for the honor of fixing their
signatures to a sheepskin document.
The scene changes to the ringing of the great
liberty bell to the assembling OF the people at
Philadelphia who appauded the reading of this
bill of rights and TO the final closing of the day
with every man, woman and child in Philade.
phia happy because he is no longer British
subject having become a free American In u
single day
Such vision pictures a heroic scene but the
true record of events does not affirm that these
so-called happenings took place on that me.
morable day. BY blotting 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 one day to about sixty in which the
whole history of our national liberty is told and
the heroic heartthrobs OF the sorely tried colo.
nists keeny 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 as national craft which should
be anchored by no weight OF foreign despotism
1t was time of danger when brother, friend
and neighbor became esranged by reason of
political opinion Some colonists still loved the
mother country with true English pride, while
others were embittered by the injustice of the
sovereign across the seas that they willingly
gave their all to the of the people OF the
new land.
During the latter part of 1774 George Wash.
ington himself wrote that no 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 Amerl-
themselves treason Jefferson declared
that prior to April 19, 1775 he had heard no whis-
per of the disposition OF anyone 10 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 colonists These
legislative bodies possessed but little power. but
they did great part in crystazing 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
reflected and magnihed 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.
IT, June T. 1776, there had been an extra
paper to have informed the public OF the latest
political news might have read the naring
headlines Richard Henry Lee OF Virginia the
Man of the Hour" for Il was he who on that day
started the Fourth of July II was 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 as rebels.
Too much praise cannot be given to the I'm.
PRODUCTION OF Lees resolution, yet It was 20 the
credit OF the Continental congress that action
was not forced upon such important measure
all objections had been silenced. all fears of
Englands success allayed. until all we're con.
scientiously convinced that the cause OF liberty
was Just. IL was imperative that all should look
the Goddess OF Liberty squarely in the face with
a devotion to follow where she should lead
AS no agreement could be reached on June 7
the resolution was laid until the next day
when IL was again postponed for consideration un.
I'll July 1.
be retarded during this walt congress at that