davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

TNHE Swiss Fourth of July" cele-
brated August !. is a day that
q Americans, too. should not for
get. since Switzerland is the oldest re-
public among the nations Of today. Her
method of observing her birthday pos
sesses interest. siHce II recalls to every
man, woman and child in every canton
the struggles OF their forefathers for
freedom more than 500 years ago.
It was August /. 1921. that the pact
which acted as the nucleus Of the Swiss
Confederation was formed. TT was a
league Of three communities" said the
chancellor Of the Swiss legation. Mr.
Luti, when reminded of our approach
ing Fourth and asked something of in
dependence day In the Alpine country
a league of three countries-Schwyz
from which Switzerland later took its
name; the valley Of Uri. and the noun
tAins af the lower valley, Unterwalden
The people in Uri were German
serfs. the Schwyz were freemen, with a
few serfs belonging to mobiles and mon
asteries, and the members of the third
party TO the league were both serfs
and freemen. What we call the pact
was formed to destroy as much as pos
sible the tyranny of the foreign gov
errors, the men whom Austria as the
sovereign court sent to rule the various
communities. IT was sort Of mutual
assurance society. at first merely de-
iensive. and each community rsserying
TO itself the right of self-government
Cri. Schwys and Cnterwaiden were
called the three forest states. In 1921
AUooIph. az austrian count who had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

They expected that annexation would
be brought about in few years or
if not. that 1 would organize the
finances and straighten the complex at
fairs of that government. 1t was un-
derstood that nearly a majority of
and that 1T was only necessary to pub
lish a pronunciamento to secure the
object We possessed all the fortresses.
all the arms of the country, their can
non foundries and powder manufac-
tories, and had possession of their
held them in our possession if this ar
rangement had gone into effect
"A published pronunciamento would
nave brought congress right over to
us and with these $1,000 Americans
holding the fortresses of the country.
all Mexico could not have disturbed us
We might have been there to this day
II 1t had been necessary. I loved my
distant home. ] was not in favor of
the annexation of Mexico to my own
country.
Mexico has about 100000 of inhab-
itants and out of these 100000 there
are not more than 100000 who are of
pure European blood. The Indians and
mixed races constitute about 1000 600
They are exceedingly inferior to our
own. AS a lover of my country I was
opposed to mixing up that race with our
own. This was the first objection on
my part to this proposition. May I
plead some little love of home, which
gave me the preference for the soil Of
my own country and it's institutions?
came back to die under those insti.
buttons. and here l am. l believe have
no more to add in reply"
At public dinner in Sandusky. Ohio,
in 1852, Gen. Scott made his last ref.
erence to the offer Of the dictatorship
OF Mexico.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

been the only popular ruler they had
had. died, leaving his son. Albert, who
tried at once to make himself emperor.
AS early as 1910. Schwyz. then a free
province. had been Joined to the en-
ptre, although recognized as a separate
imperial prefecture. SchwyZ was a
bone of contention. therefore, for many
years. between emperors and govern
ors. and suffered accordingly. Conse-
Quently. In 1891. the little state from
take the name Of was not the last to
brave death in daring, with the two
cantons mentioned before. to draw up a
declaration Of independence.
There was no means of communi-
cation in that period and in that coun-
ing through the thickly wooded noun
tains of Switzerland. might fall far
behind his mission If the need for COM
muntcation were immediate. So the
only way the men of the forest states
had of talking matters over or an
nouncing progress of their bold plans for
liberty was by signals.
Under cover of night, and In strict
secret in the shelter of great trees or
some lonely hut in q hidden ravine. the
representatives of the three cantons
had been able to meet few times.
But they ever feared the notice of their
absence by the governors, so came to
seen for many miles as a symbol Of
victory in the state where the IRE was
first seen.
Many Of the men longing to ne
free were men of much wealth, own
ing beautiful estates that covered
many miles Of the Alpine scenery which
has been such a delight to the tourist
OF today. So. on the slope Of q hill
you would call IL n mountain here in
tie United States--where there was NO
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

HHHE present trouble in Mexico re-
calls at this time the story of
perhaps the most dramatic cpl
sode in the modern military history of
nations. one in which every patriotic
American feels pride.
When the American flag was planted
over the Halls of the Montezumas' in
1S47. the victorious Gen. Winfield Scott
was offered the crown of that great
twice mentioned the love of his coun-
try's institutions as the prime factor
actuating his refusal of the offer.
Gen. Scott corrected the conflicting
press reports Of this incident in his ca
reer during the presidential campaign
of 1852. as found in Leimer's Civil
Liberty and elf-Government." He
said:
IT have nowhere seen it correctly
stated that an offer was made to me to
remain in that country (Mexico) and
govern it. The impression which gen.
orally prevails. that the proposition
emanated from Congress. is an erron-
eous one. The overture was made to
me privately. by men in. and out of Of
fee, of great influence. five Of whom, of
enormous wealth. offered to place the
bonus of one million dollars (mentioned
below to my credit in any bank ]
might name. either in New York or
London.
ION taking possession of the City OF
Mexico. our system Of government and
police was eStah2aa blob As-Ghe IN
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02
1Acsn1nE Or ORIGINAL DRAFT OF!ThE Bill Or RIGHTS
IN The HAND WRITING OF GEORGE f1AScN

may with truth be called the first writ
ten charter Of equal rights in history.
When. in May. 1875. the virginians
in their convention at Williamsburg
ratified George Mason's bill of rights.
declaring that all political power was
vested in the people of a country, the
republican world was born" said Dr.
Hunt. I'm the bill of rights Mason
said All men are born elually free and
independent and have certain inherent
natural rights of which they cannot by
any compact deprive or divest their
posterity, among which are the enjoy
ment of life and liberty. with the mea ms
of pursuing and possessing property
and obtaining happiness and safety
Government is, or ought to be
instituted for the common benefit, pro-
lection and security of the people =
Whenever any government shall be
found inadequate or contrary to these
purposes, majority of the community
have an indubitable, inalienable and in
defeasible right to reform, alter and
abolish it in such manner as shall be
most conducive to the public veal"
DR.. Hunt sent to the f1reproof cases
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02
GuNs1oN HALL, "a
ME HoMT, OF -
GEORGE MASON

the American Constitution. Incident
ally, it is a curious fact that Mason. a
member of the convention which framed
the Constitution, would not sign it be-
cause, in his opinion, it did not suffi-
GENTLY safeguard the interests of the
people.
The first amendment to the Consti-
tuition. which refers to religious liberty,
is the eighteenth paragraph of the bill
of rights. The second amendment of
the Constitution, relating to a we'll
regulated militia, is from the thirteenth
paragraph of the bill of rights, as is
the third amendment. Amendment four
is from the tenth paragraph of the bill
of rights, and the next five amendments
are also taken from the same source
being from paragraphs seven to eleven
of the bill of rights.
I'm other words, everything found in
the Virginia bill of rights, as drawn up
in May. 1875 found its way into either
the Declaration of Independence or the
Constitution of the United States.
TT is noticeable in all the public
Hunt, that all those early fathers were
very much afraid of a standing army.
The reason for this was doubtless
prejudice formed by the presence of
standing army, under orders from one
man, and sent here to coerce them.
But bringing that matter down to date,
such a standing army as Congress now
proposes would be smaller in proper
tfon to the civil population today than
the smallest standing army which the
fathers were willing to allow.
'If you have given the matter any
consideration you may have observed
the multiplicity of causes given for the
present war. No one has yet been able
to assign one single reason for any
war in the history of the world. So 1T
is interesting to note that there were
twenty-seven separate assigned reasons
set down for the war of American In
dependence. so far as reasons can be
given. But back of them all remains
the fact that governments are institut-
ed to secure the rights of men and may
be altered when they become destruc-
tive Of those ends.
The real, broad reason for the revo-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

ing himself "a Virginia Planter" in
response to an address to the planters
of Virginia by the London merchants
after the repeal OF the stamp act. His
River. June s, 1866" and it appeared in
the London Public Ledger of that year.
The repeal Of the stamp act. a meas
ure of simple justice. was considered as
eminent. George Mason laid bare the
true aspect Of the case in the following
words:
IF the ministerial part could inf1uJ
ence the legislature to make SO cruel
and dangerous an experiment as to at
tempt to enforce the stamp act by mill
tary power. would the nation have
heartily engaged in such an execrable
cause. and would there have been no
difficulty in raising and transporting a
body of troops sufficient to occupy a
country two thousand miles In extent?
Would they have had no dangers to
encounter in the midst of the wilds of
America? Three million of people driv-
en- to desperation are not an object Of
contempt"
AS early as 1863 a prolonged and seri-
GUS correspondence-kept up for many
years was going on between George
Washington and George Mason, the one
in his official position as member of
the mouse OF burgesses, the other the
unseen but no less potential ally of his
friend and of his country
George Mason was from early life a
friend of George Washington, and their
intimacy. both as fellow workers and
as congenial neighbors. remained un-
broken until Masons death in 1892. He
also knew Jefferson well and was old
enough to give him the benefit Of his
broader knowledge and fuller expert
ence In the early days of their friend
ship.
Born in 1928. he was seven years older
than his neighbor at Mount Vernon,
and he was eighteen years the senior
of the brilliant young Jefferson, and
both of these men looked upon the sage
of Gunston Hall as a statesman of the
first order. man of clear vision and of
absolute disinterestedness in his desire
for the best for his country.
Before 1774 all thinking men in all
sections of the country were discussing
the serious aspect of political affairs,
and in all the counties. OF Virginia at
least, meetings were held and resolu-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

Of Virginia. where the convention had
been In session, he wrote on June %,
1874, Il had prepared a set of resolu-
lions adopting measures for securing
the rights Of America"
Patrick Henry too. was one of the ar
dent patriots of this period. and his
voice was the first to raise the silence
in the first Continental Congress in
Philadelphia in 1874. when he declared
British oppression has effaced the
boundaries of several colonies-the dis
tinctfon between Virginians. New York
ers and New Englanders are no more.
am not Virginian. but an American"
Two years later it was George Mason
the friend of George Washington, of
liberty and the rights of the people
who was asked to draw up the bill of
rights proclaiming religious freedom
and the rights Of man. The paper was
written in his room in the Raleigh
Tavern, at Williamsburg. while he was
a member of the Virginia convention.
This bill, adopted a month before the
Declaration of Independence. has been
described as containing the quintes-
sence of all the great principles and
doctrines Of freedom wrought out
by the people of England from the
earliest times. and which lie at the
foundation of society" It's scope is
much more extensive than either Magma
Charta or the petition Of rights. and 1t
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02
GoRGEM AsoM,AuTAoR Of
The NRoINIA Bill OF RIGHTS

and had brought to him several large
portfolios holding Mason manuscripts.
They are the most valuable manu-
scripts we have in the library" he said
Here is Masons first draft of the Vir-
ginia bill of rights" He produced a
paper yellow and fragile from age.
This bill of rights. as 1t went from
Mason's hand. was altered somewhat
by the committee who had it in charge.
and of which James Madison was a
member. Mason's paragraph on re-
ligion was made broader by an amend
ment which Madison offered. Mason's
bill called for complete liberty for
Christians. This could have been so
construed that Jews, infldels and nom
believers were beyond the pale; but
Madison offered and carried an amend
ment to this clause which allowed that
all men should enjoy the fullest tolera-
ton in the exercise of religion
"A good part of the bill of rights did
not go into the Declaration Of indie
pendence," continued DR.. Hunt. but
went into the first ten amendments Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

tons were passed advocating a nom
Importation policy and recommending
a Continental Congress. In Fairfax
county George Washington was chair
man of the meeting. but his friend
George Mason was asked to draw up
the resolutions.
They were twenty-four in number
and they declared the grievances of the
colonies and laid out plan Of boycott
toward the mother country. They also
advocated the calling of congress for
the further guidance of the colonies In
their resistance to the iniYstices Of
England.
says that these resolves constitute
one of the ablest and most luminous,
expositions of the points at issue be-
tween Great Britain and the colonies
which are to be found among the public
documents Of the period"
Edmund Randolph has also left an
interesting, sketch of George Mason as
he appeared to his contemporaries IN
1774:
Among the numbers" he writes.
who in their small circles were prop
agating with activity American doc
trines was George Mason. He extend
ed their grasp upon the opinions and
affections of those with whom he con-
versed. How he learned his indirer-
ence for distinction. endowed as he was
with ability to mount in any line. or
whence he extracted his hatred for
pomp. with a fortune competent for any
expense. can be solved only from that
philosophic spirit which despised the
adulterated means of cultivating hap
ptness. He was behind none of the sons
of Virginia In knowledge of her his
tory and interest"
At this time Rihard Henry Lee, who
two years later was to experience the
distinction of introducing into Congress
the resolution upon which the Declara-
ton of Independence was founded, was
corresponding with Samuel Adams of
Massachusetts. who some time pre-
viously had expressed a desire to dis
cuss the political situation with some
of the prominent Virginians.
From Williamsburg, then the capital
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

The resolution was brought to vote
on the list day of July. when John Ad-
ans was the man of the hour. the
colossus of that debate" Said Jefferson.
Congress postponed the final vote until
next day. when twelve colonies-New
York being the exception-voted in ac-
cordance with the resolution of Rich
ard Henry Lee that these united
colonies are and of right ought to be
free and independent"
On July 4 the Declaration OF hide
pendence was formally taken up, and
after much discussion and some changes
1t was adopted. The alterations. with
the exception of two important items,
were merely verbal, and it has been
conceded that they were an improve
ment in every case.
The criticism annoyed Mr. Jefferson
exceedingly, and the Fourth of July.
1t16. is chronicled as having been one
OF the most uncomfortable days which
this rising young statesman had ever
passed. He chafed under the unheeding
comments and criticisms made upon his
paper; but he had the courtesy to re-
main silent. DR., Franklin kindly but
vainly endeavored to assuage his men
tai torture by telling him amusing
anecdotes. but all to no effect.
That Thomas Jefferson did not APP
prove the changes maze upon MS uTdlI
of the Declaration of Independence is
evident from the fact that he made
several copies of the document as he
wrote it. and, marking in the changes
and omissions made by Congress. he
sent them to his friends. To Lee he
wrote, You will see whether il is bet
ter or worse for the critics."
The general signing did not take
place upon the Fourth of July. John
Hancock. President of Congress. and
the secretary. Charles Thompson. alone
signed upon that day. 1t was espe-
cially desirable to have the signature OF
every member of the Congress, and
there were still a trifling minority who
might have withheld their signatures.
When, a month later. the time came
for all to sign the beautifully engrossed
parchment, every one of the ffty-six
members present walked up to the
liable and wrote his name as witnessing
his Endorsement of the most momentous
words nation had ever produced.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

remain a big feature of the day. for
the lake Is in the heart of these old
states that first fought the battle of
freedom. and across its blue waters was
the hrst message flashed that spoke OF
the hope for freedom.
Bern, too. is getting to have some
thing Of the air of the American In
dependence day. in the matter of
speeches and general Incorporating,
in the country districts. is the LIST of
August. however much venerated. made
into a holiday. Business goes on just
about the same until dusk. when the
fires can be seem"
In 1891. August 1 and 2. in celebrat-
ing the birth of the confederation. q
festspiel. or musical festival. arranged
by the best musicians of the country.
was given with great success. and a
promise to put more music into the
celebration of Swiss independence days.
The music and words Were of the
scenes from which the nation took its
birth. and were SO powerfully depicted
THAT the fires were for the moment
forgotten. William Tell of Uri was.
whether a legend or not. the chief fig
ure In the compositions.
Mr.: Lutf found in the library Of the
legation a book with a facsimile of
the document known as the pact.
drawn up in 1921 on August l. and the
original of which rests In the archives
the following translation Of the paper.
as the substance. of declaration.
though other provisions refer to the
punishment of criminals and the exc
cution of judicial Judgment"
TN the eternal pact of 1921 the rep
resentatives of the Valley Uri. the VAL
ley Schwyz and Unterwalden, pledged
themselves as follows:
In dangerous and bad time. not
safe against complaints and insults.
against force and attacks. we will pro-
tect ourselves and what Is ours. There
fore. We pledge ourselves in good faith
to assist each other as best as posi-
body and with our belongings. and to
bring assistance within and without
the valleys. against all and anybody
using 1oJco aGa1u0$ N or-41V1ng lfa.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

timber growing. wood would be carried
and fires started and kept burning by
the joyous liberty lovers.
And now. more than 500 years lat
er, years and centuries which have
been filled WITH struggle and defeat
ana struggle again. and then success
the people of Switzerland celebrate
that first successful effort toward free
dom. which was contaminated August
!, by lighting fires Every household
every village. city and canton Is aiame.
Miles and miles away. in and out
through the mountains and across the
lovely lakes of Switzerland con the
fires that make every Swiss thrill be
seen on the night of the anniversary
OF August l, 1891 In the larger cities
there is often design in electric lights
made just for the day. frequently 1t
is in the shape of a cross. built up and
arranged on slope, so that 1t may
be seen for a great distance. Again.
some large tourist hotel NAV have a
Swiss flag in electric lights erect ed
over the entrance.
"Lucerne always has a great display
OF fireworks. as well as bonflres and
electric light designs. commemorative
particularly the meeting Of the thir-
teenth century patriots on q field near
Lake Lucerne. when they agreed to
let nothing prevent their driving the
tyrants out and away from their be-
loved mountains. Speeches. in mem
DRY Of what is now considered almost
like sacred IRE. are becoming . part Of
the celebration Of the day In Lucsrne
and Bern and other large towns Of
the country But the ores lkindlsd at
sunset In and around Luesrns viii Ieng
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02
A Graduate Type.

DRoF. ROYCE said at a, commence
u ment dinner in Cambridge:
Then there is another type of
graduate. the type who at commence
ment time puts an advertisement like
this in the college papers:
For sale. cheap, seventy-five
mostly in tights; set fencing foils,
ditto boxing gloves, three bulldog pic
lures and seventeen Clarence Under
wood, Harrison Fisher and Gibson girls,
q BARRIERS pole and q mixed lot Of
This Way Out" Emergency Exit"
Presidents ofaoe." etc Also one text.
book - good - ,new,'"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02
Maybe.

ID ICHARD HARDING DAVIS. who was
Nv accustomed to get $500 for each
of his short stories, was lunching one day
in Philadelphia with writer of the pes
simistis. realistic schools, so justly I'M
popular among magazine editors.
Our magazines are all rotten" said
the pessimistic realist. II can write a
short story in a day. but I'll be hanged
If I can sell it in three months
Maybe, though said Mr. Davis, IF
you wrote your story in three months
you'd be able to sell 1t in a day."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

habitants themselves confessed. gave
security-for the first time perfect and
absolute security-to person and prop
erty. About two-fifths of all the
branches of government, including
nearly a majority of the members of
Congress, and the executive, were quite
DESTROYS of having that country annex
ed to ours. They knew that upon the
ratification of the treaty of peace
nineteen out of twenty of the persons
belonging to the American army would
stand disbanded, and would be abso-
lutely free from all obligations to re-
main In the army another moment. 1t
was entirely true of all the new regt-
ments called regulars, of all the volun-
teers, and eight of ten of the rank and
file of the old regiments Thirty-three
and a third per cent were added to the
retained as the nucleus of the Mexican
army.
when the war was over the govern
ment overwhelmed me with reinforce
ments after there was no possibility
of fighting another battle. When the
war commenced we had but one-fourth
the force which we needed. The Mex
leans knew that the men in nay army
would be entitled to their discharge.
They supposed if they could obtain my
services I would retain these twelve or
fifteen thousand men and that / could
easily obtain one hundred thousand
men from home.
The hope was that 1t would imme-
diately cause annexation. They offered
me 100000 as a bonus, with a salary
of $250.000 per aunum. and ave respon-
Atble individuals to become security.