The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-07-04
BIRTHDAY OF THE NATION

No day in the year sets the red blood of every true hearted Am
erican pulsng and coursing buoyantly through the veins as does the
Fourth Of July, the anniversary of the adoption by the rebel col
onieS' O. their own writ Of emancipation from British rule and the
tyany of George III. 1t is independence Day" the countrys
birthday, the anniversary Of the day when there came into being a
new nation with a new code of morals and ethics destined to be-
come the leader in defense of the right of self determination by the
governed as to their government, the exponent of national righteous
ness.
One hundred and forty six years ago, nearly a century and a
half now, that wonderful document was promulgated to the world
in Philadelphia and the Liberty Bell announced the tidings that
went ringing round the world 50 that Its echoes have reVerbrated
through the halls of time from then till now never losing any of the
volume or intensity Of the sound. The parchment upon which the
words were written has grown yellow and brittle with time but the
words themselves are immortal and the spirit which moved the pa
triots to sever the ties that bound colonies to mother country lives
in Americans today as then. They would not take back one word
of what was written in the early days of July 1776.
Not without hesitation and debate was the momentous step taken
but when on July /, 1776 the motion passed that "these colonies
are and of right ought to be free and independent States, that they
are abSoIyed from all allegiance to the British Crown and that all
connection between Them and the State of Great Britain is and ought
to be totally dissolved" there was no turning back. The adoption
Of the Declaration of independence meant a continuance of blood
shed. 1t meant months and perhaps years of constant warfare with
its horrors and deprivations and suffering, but those signers were
men who dared.
In these later days it has grown to be recognized that the blame
for the conditions against which the colonies revolted lay upon the
British King and some of his close advisers. More and more is it
recognized that there were many in Britain who objected to the
injustice being done to the overseas colonsts. The document it
self sets forth the misdceds and maLgovcrnment of the king but in
those days more than now the king was the government. 1t matters
not where lay the fault, the results that followed are what count.
Years have passed and the feeling of bitterness has all but pass
ed away. The loss that resulted from disagreement was Britain s
at the time, the gain was to the whole world and in that gain Britain
has since shared with-the other nations.
No longer is the United States considered a baby nation. 1t
passed through the ills of infancy, attained manhood, and has step
ped forth into the leadership among nations. 1t is the lover Of peace,
of Justice, of national righteousness and to it's greatest credit it is
the follower of ideals. 1t is called matcrialitic by those that are
jealous of its power and immense resources but it stands prominent
as the country with a conscience.
The birthday of your country, of my country, of the greatest, the
best, the nOblest country in the world.