Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-04
INDEPENDENCE DAY

July 192Z one hundred ana 1Orty-sl3
years later The records do not show
what the residents of Fort Western,
now Augusta. we're doing on that day
when the representatives of the colo
MES, resolved to hang together in
preference 10 hanging separately.
signed the Declaration of Independ-
ence. Surely the Fort Westerners
neither heard by radio the ringing
OF the Liberty Bell nor received by
wire the news of this decisive event,
but We may feel assured their minds
were repaired for it. They had wit
messed the setting out of Arnold's
expedition to Quebec the p evious
fall and we're aware Of its failure.
The gravity OF the situation must
have been appreciated. They were
not unmndful OF the power of Eng
land and any exultation at the fateful
decision could not have been unmixed
with apprehension. Indeed it is
probable that with some there was
more OF confidence in the success of
England.
North's History of Augusta relates
how copies of the Declaration of In
dependence we're printed in Boston
and sent to the ministers of each
parish of every denomination and
that a copy came to Fort Western
endorsed. For Hallowell and Gar
dinerstovn," also how the Reverend
Bailey of Pownalboro-he had pre-
viously been forbidden to pray for
the king-was hailed before a COM
mittee for refusing to read the Decla-
ration. for praying for the king and
for preaching a seditious sermon.
The previous winter the militia had
been organized. All able bodied men
between sixteen and sixty years were
sngOlled and compelled to do military
duty. Those who refused to serve
we're fined twelve pounds. consider
able sum in those days, and we're
committed to prison.
The conditions were such that each
resident felt an individual RESPONSE
billty, knew that his associates recog-
niZed that responsibility and were
looking TO him TO perform It. Every
man. woman and child must have
realized that they we're embarking
In a frail craft on a dangerous enter
prise in which each must give an
account.
How many in Augusta today recog-
nize their individual responsibilities
toward their government as did those
in 1776? Surely the need is as great
today as IL was a hundred and forty
six years ago. The development of
this country taken as a whole has
been as great as that which appears
in the contrast between Augusta of
today and Fort Western of 1875. If
meanwhile We haven't learned that
no country may grow so great as
to run itself, automatically, we have
need of greater apprehension than
had those few settlers in the Ken
ing them with their powerful mother
country we're severed.
There arc grounds for the belief
that the people have not improved
in vigor OF mind and body over those
OF that early day. There is some
evidence 10 show that they are not
the equals. They have vastly more
of information. They can do that
which their forbcars never dreamed
could be done. but have they the
qualities so essential to self govern
ment, the love of independence so
intense the skill of self dependence
IN such measure? OF course, exact
comparison is not possible. When
crises have arisen, the people of
America have met them as resolutely
as the Minute Men of old. We have
learned many things. We have over
come many difficulties, we have much
that our ancestors could not have
used TO advantage. One may well
doubt whether there be any funda-
mental reason for supposing that we
are unworthy OF our birthright, or
For pcssimism respecting the future.
But on this anniversary of the birth
OF the country we now have, it is
advisable &C consider whether, If IL
Is to increase in laudable prestige
IS II has since 1875. We are not
under as great obligation to be as
fully alive to our responsibilities
as were the old Continentals