Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-04
The Great American Charter.

of the signing of a document which
has meant more for humanity than
any other single instrument ever
penned. 1t meant not only the sep.
aration Of the American colonies from
Great Britain and the setting up of
the greatest Republic the world has
known, but it established an example
OF freedom of action which has in.
spired other peoples to similar courses
1t was the elimination of long en-
dured grievances, the climax of suf-
fering from injustice for which there
was no redress save in resistance and
sacrifice for the sake of self-respect
and that which in long later years
came to be styled self-determination
In it's composition the Declaration
recites the fundamental principles of
human political organization, after
brief statement of the reason for set.
ting forth the course of action, name.
ly, "a decent respect to the opinions
Of mankind" requiring the people to
declare the causes impelling them to
separation. This statement of prin.
ciples is the heart of the Declarations:
We hold these truths to be self
evident. that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable
rights, that among these are Life, Lib.
erty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Govern
ments are instituted among men, de-
irving their just powers from the con.
sent of the governed; that whenever
any form of government becomes de-
structive of these ends, it is the right
of the people to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new government, lay
ing its foundation on such principles
and organizing its powers in such
form, as to them shall seem most like
~ to effect their safety and happiness.
That brief paragraph is the essence
of the Declaration of Independence.
1t is the supreme statement Of de-
mocracy. The Declaration, however,
could not rest upon this pronounce
ment. 1t must go further and define
the circumstances compelling the sep
aration. Thus the greater portion of
the instrument deals with the
grievances under which the American
colonies had suffered. and a sweeping
indictment Of the present King OF
Great Britain" ensues in detail. an
arraignment to which there could be
no answer save by force.
Justification of the extreme action
taken by the colonies is cited in a
brief statement ofpthe fact that petit
lions had been ignored or answered
only by repeated injury" Appeals
to the British brethren" had been
futile, for those brethren had "been
deaf to the voice Of justice and con-
sanguinity." There was therefore no
recourse but to separation, and thus
follows the actual Declaration of In
dependence, the formal statement that
''these United Colonies are, and of
Right ought to be Free and Independ-
ent States; that they are absolved from
all allegiance to the British crown.
and that all political connection be.
tween them and the State OF Great
Britain is and ought to be totally dis
solved, and that as free and independ-
emit states they have full power to
! levy war, conclude peace, contract al
liances, establish commerce and to do
all other acts and things which indie
pendent states may Of right do
Thus was this great charter Of the
American people presented to the
world, brief recital Of sufferings, a
announcement of principles. declara-
ton of the assumption of an inalien-
able right. The die was cast. the
signers, with a firm reliance on the
protection of Divine Providence,
mutually pledged to each other their
lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor, and the American Nation was
born. There were dark hours to fol-
low, desperate needs to be met, tragic
trials to be overcome, but the faith
which impelled the immortal pioneers
4 in independence to sign the Declare
ton was justified and success was
finally won. to the everlasting benefit
Of mankind.