Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-05

with the exception of New York, soon
adopted like course.
Result of Mature Thought.
This obedience Of the delegates to
the wishes of their constituents. which
In some cases caused them to modlry
their previous positions, is a matter OF
great significance. 1t reveals an order
ly process of government in the first
place; but more than that, 1t demon
strates that the Declaration OF In
dependence was the result OF the sea
soned and deliberate thought OF the
dominant portion of the people or the
Colonies. Adopted after long discus
sion and as the result of the duly au-
thori7ed expression of the preponder-
ance of public opinion, 1t did not par
take Of dark intrigue or hidden con.
spiracy. 1t was we'll advised. 1t had
about It nothing of the lawless ana
disordered nature Of riotous insurrec'
ton. 1t was maintained on a plane
which rises above the ordinary con-
ception of rebellion. 1t was In no
sense a radical movement, but took on
the dignity of a resistance to illegal
usurpations. 1t was conservative ana
represented the action of the Colonlsts
to maintain their constitutional rights
which from time immemorial had been
guaranteed to them under the law OK
the land.
When we come to examine the ac-
ton of the Continental Congress in
adopting the Declaration Of Independ-
ence in the light of what was set out
in that great document and In the
light of succeeding events. we cannot
escape the conclusion that 1t had
much broader and deeper significance
than q mere secession Of territory and
IL Itch nF "
Events OF that nature have been TAX
ing place since the dawn Of history.
One empire after another has arisen.
only to crumble away as its constltu-
ent parts separated from each other
and set up independent governments
OF their own. Such actions long ago
became commonplace. They have oc-
Cured too often to hold the attention
of the world and command the ad-
miration and reverence Of huma
There is something beyond the estab-
liShment of q new nation, great as
that event would be. in the Declara-
ton of Independence which has ever
since caused 1t to be regarded as one
of the great charters that not only
was to liberate America. but was
everywheres to ennoble humanity.
1T was not because 1t was pro-
posed to establish a new nation. but
because 1t was proposed to establish
nation on new principles, that July 4.
1875. has come to be regarded as one
Of the greatest days in history. Great
ideas do not burst upon the world un-
announced. They are reached by a
gradual development over a length of
time usually proportionate to their
Importance. This is especially true Of
the principles laid down in the Dec
laration, Of independence. Three very
definite propositions were set out in
it's preamble regarding the nature of
mankind and, therefore, of govern
ment. These were the doctrine that
all men are created equal, that they
are endowed with certain inalienable
rights and that. therefore, the source
of the just powers of government
must be derived from the consent of
the governed.
Consent Of Governed.
IF no one is to be accounted as
born into a superior station. II there
is to be no ruling class, and IL all pos
SesS rights which can neither be bar
tered away nor taken from them by
any earthly power, 1t follows as a
matter of course that the practical
authority of the government has to
rest on the consent of the governed.
While these principles were not alto
gether new in political action, and were
very far from new in political specu-
lation, they had never been assembled
before and declared in such combi
nation. But remarkable as this may
be, it is not the chief distinction Of
the Declaration of independence. The
Importance of political speculation is
not to be underestimated, as l shah
presently disclose. Until the idea is
developed and the plan made there
can be no action
1T was the fact that our Declara-
ton Of Independence containing these
immortal truths was the political ac-
ton of a duly authorized and consti.
tuted representative public body in it's
sovereign capacity, supported by the
force Of general opinion and by the
armies of Washington already in the
field. which makes it the most impor-
tant civil document in the world. 1t
was not only the principles declared,
but the fact that Herewith new
Nation was born which was to be
founded upon those principles, and
which from that time forth in its de-
velopment has actually maintained
those principles, that makes this pro-
nouncement an Incompatible event in
the history of government. 1t was an
termined to make every necessary
sacrifice for the support Of these
truths. and by their practical applica-
ton bring the War of Independence
TO successful conclusion and adopt
the Constitution of the United States.