Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-04
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.


This day we celebrate" the Fourth
of July, is written in glory on the
pages of history, not merely for one
epochal event-the birth of the Ma
tion--but 1t is carved also on the
of progress in development
of this great land of ours.
Independence day really dates
from July 4. 1776, when the Declara-
ton Of independence. written by
Thomas Jefferson. was adopted by
Congress and published to the world.
BY that very act the thirteen British
colonies ceased to exist-and the
United States of America took It's
stand among the nations of the earth.
But even. before then the date was
an important one in the history OF
this country. George Washington.
who at the age of Fl was the heater
of dispatches on a hazardous mission
from Gov. Dinwiddie of Virginia to
the commander of the French forts
in the region around where Pitts
burgh stands today. two years later
was sent back to this frontier in COM
mand of n body of Virginia troops
under orders to dislodge the French
at Fort Duquesne. His attack brought
to defer. but Washington was forced
by superior numbers to retire from
Fort Necessity on July 4, 1854.
Washington i'm Command.
On July 3. 1775, Washington took
command of the Revolutionary forces
at Cambridge as general and COM
mander- in-chief He was dressed ac-
cording to the fashion of the times in
a blue broadcloth coat, buff small
clothes, silk stockings and cooked
hat His Army numbered about
14,O00-a motley crowd, badly clothed.
poorly armed, with many unfit for
service.
Then. one year later--on the eve
ming of July 4, 1776-Congress listened
to Jefferson read his draft of the
Declaration of Independence, ordered
n few minor changes to make it's ex-
preston more terse and exact, con.
Guiding with "And for the support of
this Declaration, with firm reliance
in the protection of Divine Providence.
we mutually pledge to each other our
lives. our fortunes and our sacred
honor" The bell on he Pennsylvania
Statehouse, on which was inscribed.
proclaim liberty throughout the
land, unto all the Inhabitants there
Of" was rung to announce that. Con-
gress had approved this American
Magma Charta, asserting the rights or
the people to form Constitution and
a Government of their own.
The original of this immortal docu-
ment is still preserved in the Library
Of Congress.
Again on July A, 1878, occurred the
wyoming massacre in northern Penn
sylvania, when the inhabitants were
cruelty treated and most of the men
killed by Tory and Indian force.
The Battle of Chippewa was fought
on July 4, 1914, when the American
forces were attempting fourth inVas
ion of Canada and Gen. Winfield Scott
drove the enemy as far as Lake On
tario.
July 4 Stands Out i'm History.
In constructive improvements as
well as in warfare the date July
stands out in our history. 1t was on
july a. 1871, that work was begun on
the Erie Canal--the immense task OF
connecting Lake Erie with the Har-
lem River. 1t was called "Clinton's
Big Ditch" by those who laughed at.
the enterprise as impractical.
Also, the first passenger railroad In
the United States, the Baltimore q
Ohio, was started on July 4, 1879. W
years ago. This was two years earlier
than the first steam railroad was
opened in England. Before 1888 there
were 10 railroads built or under con-
struction. So rapidly did railroad con.
struction progress that the census of
1860 shows $1,000 miles of railroads
at a cost of nearly $1,000 900, 600.
Just a half century from the day
when he read to Congress the great
document that has made his name
imperishable in history, Thomas JET
ferson died, on July 4. 1926, and by
curious coincidence John Adams,
who had long been his rival and
political antagonist. died on the same
day. jefferson was author or the
Declaration of Independence, Adams
was the principal supporter. and they
both signed it, Then they quarreled
in 1901, when Jefferson succeeded
Adams as President, but they became
close friends again later. Each dled
supposing that the other still lived
and Adams is quoted as saying JET
ferson still survives.
Another Important Milestone.
JuIv 4. 1914. witnessed another i'm
portant milestone in the progress or
this country, when Congress. with the
expediture of 100000, had established
a trial line of Samuel +. b. Morses
magnetic telegraph between base
ment room in the Capitol and the
railroad station in Pratt street. Bal
timore. The telegraph. with the rail-
roads, opened up new era In the
prosperity Of the country.
The treaty with Mexico was signed
July 4, 184S, at Guadalupe HidalSo'
Mexico receiving S15.000.00o besides
the payment of her debts to Amer
lean citizens amounting to S3,000,Ooo.
The annexation of Texas. the cesslon
of Mexico. and the Gadsden purchase
for $10,O00,000, five years later, added
967,451 square miles to the American
area, and gave the United States the
form and boundaries as at present
same for the subsequent purchase oil
Alaska.
OF particular interest to us here in
Washington is July 4, 1S4S. because
on that date the corner stone or the
Washington Monument was laid. with
Masonic ceremonies, the Grand Master
wearing the same apron and using
the same trowel with which Washing
ton laid the corner stone OF the Capltoi
The present site of this great obelisk,
which is rated as the most beautiful
in all the world was designated by
Maj LLenfant in laying out the plan