The state herald., 1915-07-02

luk.lyd6Sgl the people of our land. Many an
lotE7l5ll American considers 1t part of
a patriotic duty to muse upon the
Imaginative picture entitled The First Fourth
of July" which historical writer has painted
upon his vision.
In fancy he sees Independence hall in Phila
delpha and the Continental congress with its
rufed shirts. long cloth coats, knee pants silk
stockings and low shoes sitting with dignity, but
listening spelbound to wonderfully strange and
entirely new document called THE Declaration OF
Independence"
In fancy he hears the popular acclaim
OF That is Just what we all say!" and 1T is
well 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 al
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.
pha happy because he is no longer a British
subject having become a free American in n
single day
Such vision pictures heroic scene: but the
true record OF events does not affirm that those
so-eased happenings took place on that mo.
morable day. By blotting out the imperfect 40
tails OF the picture the Fourth of July is In no
way robbed OF any OF its glory.
An authentic account of what trnnsniraa =,
that time changes the meaning OF the Fourth y,
July from one day to about sixty in which tho
whole history OF our national liberty Is told nnd
the heroic heartthrobs of the sorely tried colo.
nists are keeny felt
The day itself properly symbolizes the IIbor,v
for which the patriots of that time stood roaS.
TO sacrifice their lives in order TO launcb ,bo
United States as n national craft which sbouid
be anchored by no weight of foreign despotIsm
II was time OF danger when brother friopd
and nelghbor became estrnnged by reason of
political opinion. Some colonists stil 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
D. During the latter part of i774 George Wash.
ington himself wrote that no thinking man
among the colonists wanted 10 separate from
England, and Franklin ridiculed the idea
During the early days OF the revolution tho
hluecoats never dreamed OF separating from the
beloved land OF their ancestors. In fact. suob n
course would have been condemned by AmorI.
cans themselves as 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 sprlnr
OF l77G. when local assemblies began formal dis.
oussion regarding the liberty OF colonlsts These
legislative bodies possessed but little power bu,
they did great part In crystallIzint the genti.
mont for Independence in many quarters and
forcing those opposed to the idea to declare their
inlmioal attitude
The good work OF these small Legislative bodIes
was reflected and magnincd as soon as the dele
gates were sent 20 the Continental congreaa
Then the spirit OF liberty permoated the very nj
mospherc Of the national assembly and many mn
individual received the courage TO align himself
with the new cause
II. June T. 1916. there had been an extra
paper TO have Informed the public Of the lntest
political news one might have read the narIng
headlines Richard Henry Lee Of Virginia the
Man Of tho Hour" for II was he who on that day
started the Fourth Of July. II was this south.
orner who introduced the first declaration Of In
dependence In congrcha declaring tho American
people free
Good Judgment dictated the caution Of omit
ting John Adams namc from the minuten, us
the second 20 that motion, yet the fact II known
today whom there is no army Of fcdcoats walt
inR to seize patriots NJ rebels
Too much praise cannot be- given 10 tho iu.
PRODUCTION Of Loo'n rorolutIaH, yot II was 10 the
credit ~ tho Continental congress that action
was not forced upon such Bn important measure
NJ that time II could not have succeeded until
all objections had boon silcnccd. all fears Of
Enrlanda success allayod until all were con.
Hcicntlouuly convinced that tho cause Of liberty
wan lust II was imperative that all should look
tho Goddess of Liberty aqunrely In tho face with
Il devotion to follow whore she should lead
A. no agreement could DO reached on June
the resolution was laid over until tho neft day
when n was again postponed for confederation Nm.
m July T.
IN order that The cause of liberty should not
be retarded during this wait congress AT that