Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-07-03

Our national holidays are too much given to
outward manifestations of observance and too little
to recognition OF the underlying ideas which give these
festivals Importance
independence day should set American people think
ing Of the real and permanent meaning Of the Declaration
of Independence and the vital significance of the Fourth
of July.
The story of the birth of American nationality is
Of the most inspiring in all the annals of mankind. No
vision and unselfish spirit of service to humanity.
The Declaration Of independence was signed by
pany OF greater than before had been joined IN
the founding OF nation Their act represented some
thing far higher and nobler than personal dssats
faction with the existing order. They were men who
would have better served their personal advantage by de-
ssting from this act Moved by the purest patriotism,
they launched defiance against powerful military powe
supposedly capable Of crushing the feeble forces of the
colonies, knowing that monarchy to define their
act treason and probably would punish their act with
death
No mere question Of taxation Of nsubordina-
ton to the British crown moved these heroic to their
historic deed The time had for the American peo
pie to cast off the outworn garments OF Eropeansm and
assume the garb of independent nationality.
The European governmental and social order was
longer suitable to the situation of 100000 cooniss
had left the shores of Europe behind them had here
erected free commemorative and ready to turn
their backs European institutions. The European sys
of caste and class had taken deep root in New
World soil, Circumstances levele conditions and made
equal variations of talent and industry would
permit No arbitrary system of rank based upon birth
could survive the free air of the virgin forest and field
where thrown upon their resources where
even survival depended upon individual quail
ties
And so at Philadelphia on July A, 1776, the hour had
come when Europeansm must end and Amercanism be-
gin. The Liberty bell rang forth message which was
destined to echo throughout the world for all time to
For this Americans to affect not only the
tinenal domain of republic but the civilization of
every land to be penetrated the years to by the
principles proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence
The union Of the states not to be achieved until
the passing of eight of and five years OF peace
but it foreshadowed in this Continental Congress
where the freedom of the colonies proclaimed Unity
in the struggle for freedom to be followed by union
in the perpetuatOn of the results OF that struggle.
The ideal set up in the Declaration of Independence
that of representative republic in which the state
should be the creature of the citizen rather than the ct
zen of the state The Declaration set forth
that instituted to the people, not
people to serve the governments The object OF govern
ment should be the general welfare the furtherance
of the interests and ambitions of dynasty or class
These the underlying principles of Americanism
For their establishment it necessary to cut the ties
which bound the colonies to Europe.
The federal Constitution adopted in 1889 fulfilled tn
Declaration. 1t perpetuated in written charter the
had been fought to establish It ended the menace
of multiplied governments this continent which with
their mutual rvaries and hareds would embroi the Wes
tern shores of the Atlantic in well nigh perpetual wars
the shores of the intervening had been for
centuries and still
Except for 1889, 1776 would have been futile. The
framing of the federal Constitution act OF far
seeing wisdom seemingly inspired The soldiers and
who had Wrested the liberty of the nation from the hands
of tyrant did not follow successful revolution others
had DONE with Utopan experiments destructive OF the
ends sought in struggle for liberty They erected no
military party dictatorship after the fashion OF
French and Russian revoutionaries which their pro-
LESSONS of humanity and love of freedom and justice
given the lie They practical and patriotic men, not
demagogues docrinaires power-mad adventures.
Lowell said of them
Herein they great
'"That they conceived deeper rooted state,
And more devouty priced
Than all perfection theorzed
Than more imperfect, that had roots and grew
Today we are engaged in silent, but not the
less significant struggle determine whether this her
freedom be
remain American in spirit well in name or whether
our civilization is to re-cast upon the European model
Europeanizing influences, out of sympathy with
American ideals, traditions and institutions have long