Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-04

sent him as wearing this medal
symbolic of the friendship between
the two countries.
&EPTEIRER Is Is Independence
day for those five countries which
in 1921 made up the vice royalty of
Observation-Disclosures FL Salvador
Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala
During the years from 1871 to 1921
there were thousands of victims to
the cause of independence throughout
all of Central America. although nc
great war was fought and no large
army involved.
BY the Fall of 1921 the majority Of
the people of Guatemala were ready
and anxious for change. Even the
| representative of Spanish authority
Senior Gainza, had consented to call
meeting of delegates from the diff
| ferent provinces to consider the
| formation of new government.
Early in the morning of September
| ii the government house in Guate
mala was crowded with delegates and
streets and plaza were overlooking
| with patriots who were ready to hiss
and groan at any sign of opposition
| to the idea Of immediate independ
ence Frightened at the sentiment
displayed, the royalistS withdrew from
the place and an act of independence
was drawn up, sworn to and signed
by all the delegates who remained
This act was publicly proclaimed the
next day amid great rejoicing.
| The five provinces named ratified
this action on different dates and have
since had other revolutions and cele
brated other anniversaries, but, like
the province which still bears the
name Of Guatemala, they have, one
by one, decided that September Is is
for them, the only truly national an
niversary of independence.
Not SO many years ago we were
told that national birthdays were dis
tinctly American, older nations hav
I ing attained their present state b,
the slow process Of evolution. There
are now, however, numerous coun
tries in the old world which celebrate
a day that marks the birth of indie
pendence.
KINGS were often the leaders ii
Az the patriotic wars Of European
nations. 1t was Charles Albert o
Piedmont, whose son, Victor En-
manuel was to be the first king o
United Italy, who said in 1916: II
Providence sends us a war of Italian
independence I will mount my hors
with my sons. What a glorious da,
it will be when we can raise the or.
of a war for the independence o
Italy,
About the time the early wars o
independence in America were end
ing Greece began her struggle agains
the despotism of Turkey. In tn
nounced for Lord Byron at Misso
longhi, where he was alluded to a.
the most valuable friend of Greece,
it was said that almost all nation!
of the world have fallen from tn
hands of one master into that Of an
other. but that the insurrection o
a nation enslaved by baI-bar1ans, root
ed forever in their soil, was a phe
nomenon which stands alone in tn.
political history Of nations. TIL
manifesto issued by the leaders o
the rebellion on Independence day
March rs. 1921, refers to this ''long
accustomed bondage" in the follow
ing remarkable paragraphs:
Our arms-shackled up to this hou
with chains Of iron, now burst thei
bonds and eagerly grasp the sword t
annihilate the enforced tyranny.
Our feet-that have labored da.
and night at the most cruel tasks
now hasten to vindicate our rights.
Our heads-which bent the neck t
the yoke. now plan our freedom.
Our tongues-which before dare
not utter a sound except vain suppl
cations for clemency, now cry with
loud voice and make the air re-ech
with the sweet name Of liberty.
I'm one word, we are unanimousl.
resolved on liberty or DEATH
They were not empty words, TO
the scenes described by our own poe
enacted on the red field, where Marc
Bozzaris found death for liberty
pleasure and not a pain, were repeat
ed many times before the war Of in
dependence was over.
Very different were the circum
stances when, on an anniversary Q
the first declaration, Greece was for
mally declared a republic. A write
describes the scene in Athens, Marcl
25, 1924. where 283 members of tn
National Assembly voted resolution
proclaiming Greece a republic and de
claring thesdynasty deposed. "Whil
the vote was being taken there wa
a great demonstration on the floor an
in the galleries, and when the resul
was announced 10 white doves wer
released in the chamber as a symbc
Of peace. The city burst into a mas
Of blue and white bunting and CAV
itself over to joyous celebration"
Two other nations, Rumania an
Bulgaria, which have gained indepen6
ence from Turkey, are still monarchie
and crown is reyerenced as the en-
blem of Rumania's liberty. Her indie
pendence day was May 10, 1877, dul
ing the Turko-R Russian War, and whe
Prince Charles was to be crowne
King at Bucharest he asked that
crown should be made from the mets
Of Turkish gun taken by the RI
manian forces at the seige of Plevns
At the coronation, Charles, taking tn
crown in his hand. said: IT assum
with pride this crown. wrought fror
cannon sprinkled with the blood {
| our heroes and consecrated by tn
church. I accept 1t as symbol q