Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-18
MRsFEuTONS TALKS
CONDUCTED BY
t{axWH.FELTO
INDEPENDENCE Day

The Fourth of July, 1919, had
ideal weather for pleasure seekers
no furry of rain-no cyclone-noth-
ing but clear summer skies and
were out in force, and I guess there
has never been a day in the his
tory of this country when there
were as many autos out and gong
as on the 4th. About two weeks ago
on one side of what is known as
the "Flatiron Building" in Atlanta,
where the railroad administration
reigns and rules counted thirty
four automobiles parked and waiting
for hire. All over the city there
were great numbers collected Co
gether. All the streets were crowd
ed with Corners and goers and the
auto-drivers were rushing like mad.
Much of this was necessary for
business. On Independence day, 1t
was pleasure-seeking and joy-rid-
ing. Peace had come and that peo-
pie felt inclined to get out in the
open and expand their patriotism
if such thing is possible. I spent
the entire day in quiet and. took
advantage of the leisure to Grad
part of the history of the United
States.
When the declaration of indie
tendance was made and accepted,
the war of the American revolution
had hardly started. England scoffed
at the revolt of these American
colonies. 1t looked like foolish child s
play to King George and his cabi-,
net. England was so powerful ana
the colonies were so weak and the
red Indians were hostile and the
men and women had so little mon
ey, and it required so much money
to equip an army.
The Tories in America were the
aristocrats of that time and they
were assured that the revolt would
come to nothing.
Great Britain did not regard her
colonies with anything like mother
ly kindness, A body of troops were
sent over to enforce the stamp act,
and Great Britain's parliament or
dered the colonies to find quarters,
fuel. cider or rum, candles, and other
necessities for these troops. Asso-
Citations called the Sons of Liberty
were organized to resist this infa-
nous proceeding. The merchants
bound themselves to purchase no
goods and the people agreed to pur-
chase no goods.
Pitt and Burks entreated the Brit
ish parliament to revoke this stamp
act, and their influence prevailed.
But King George decided to tax the
Americans in other ways. On the
night of December 18, 1878, citizens
disguised as Indians seized British
the tea into the harbor.
On the fifth of September, 1874, the
Continental congress assembled in
Philadelphia. Every colony but Geor-
gia was represented. On the nine
teenth Of April, 1775, the battle of
Lexington was fought, and inaugu-
rated the Revolution. On June H.,
the battle of Bunker Hill was fought.
George Washington was a member of
the Continental congress and he was
commissioned as commander-in-chief
of the rebel armies. On July 4, 1776,
congress adopted on behalf of the
colonies a declaration of independ-
ence from the British crown.
Great Britain then proceeded to
the colonies. The situation was
gloomy indeed for a number of years
after this declaration of independence
was accepted and signed by the thir-
teen colonies. One year from the
date of the signing, Washington had
only an army of seven thousand men
to meet the British troops and the
hired Hessians that King George
had dispatched to America.
To make a long story short, the
end of the war did not come until
the nineteenth Of October, 1871. The
final treaty of peace was signed In
1888, six years after the declaration
Of Independence was adopted, on the
fourth of July, 1776.
From my point of view, we do not
properly appreciate this great indie
pendence day. I will only mention
one glazing instance of this over
sight or neglect, when we allow two
priize-fighters to meet in Toledo, O.,
and beat their bodies to a jelly and
degrade themselves to animal condi-
ton, as celebration of independence
day.
We have lately emerged from
state of war, and we have acquired
no territory nor profited by the
bloodshed in a material way. But
we should have gone on Bonded knees
before the Almighty Ruler of Heaven
and Earth and returned thanks for
what we still possess as a govern
ment by the people, for all the peo-
pie Of this American republic.