Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-04
The Inestimable Right.

CAAC Gu anu years dkU
today a body of Americans assembled
in Philadelphia, representing the people
of the colonies Of England In this con-
tinent, signed a Declaration Of indie
pendence which became the corner stone
of American freedom and national ex-
istence. A bitter war was necessary to
secure that independence. It was won
and with the victory was established q
free and independent Government of
the United States which stands today
the strongest in the world.
In the Declaration the citizens Of the
colonies who staked their very lives
upon their demand for freedom from
British dominion recited numerous
grievances against the King Of England,
whose rule had been tyrannical and un-
just. The statement Of these political
and economic cruelties constituted the
body Of the immortal instrument. In
brief compass the case of the colonists
against the King was set forth wildly
and completely. That document be-
came the Magma Charta Of America and
inspired other peoples, in distant lands,
70 strike for freedom. Today, IS for
more than a century and a half, the
signing of the Declaration Is celebrated
In America and by Americans wherever
in the world they may chance to be
placed.
Throughout the Declaration runs the
thought that representation in the law
making and taxing body that const-
tutes the actual Government is funda-
mental right Of 9 free people. In one
passage particularly this principle Is
declared:
He (the King) has refused his as
sent to laws, the most wholesome and
necessary for the public good. He has
forbidden hisSGovernorS to pass laws OF
immediate and pressing Importance,
unless suspended in their operation until
his assent should be obtained; and when
so suspended he has utterly neglected to
attend to them. He has refused to pass
other laws for the accommodation OF
large districts of people, unless those
people would relinquish the right Oh
representation In the Legislature, q
right inestimable to them and tormi-
dable to tyrants only.
Here In this free country, In this land
established upon the principle OF full
participation by the people In their
Government, the principle Of repre-
eentation In the law-making body, "s
right inestimable to them and formida-
bic to tyrants only" half . million
Americans are today as they have been
for more than century and hall
denied this very right, deprived Of this
inestimable privilege OF representation.
They are, by the most singular Of
anomalies, the residents Of the very seat
Of Government.
Today, on this anniversary Of the
birth of the American Republic, on this
day consecrated to the principle Of gov
eminent by representation, the halt
million unfranchised Americans cele-
brate the Declaration OF independence
without any share in the supreme right
Of participation which that instrument
proclaimed. They join in the celehra'
ton because they are by birth or bJ
adoption American citizens. They sor-
row because they are denied that which
all other citizens enjoy without ques-
ton or restriction unless they are Grim
tnals or insane.
These unfranchiSed Americans are
not enduring this injustice In silence
They. are demanding redress Of thi'
grievance Of taxation and administra'
ton without representation. They arr
asking Congress to adopt for submission
to the States an amendment to thu
Constitution that viii enable Congress
In It's discretion to admit the District
to representation In House and Senate
and In the electoral college. They vii
continue to demand this redress o.
grievances. They win continue TO ap
peal to the people Of the country to aiC
then In their plea for enfranchisement
They will persist In the hope and tn
faith that through their complete ad
mission to American citizenship the.
viii eventually be In o position to cele
brate Independence day without reserva
ton and with pride.