The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-04
The Glorious Fourth

glorious anniversary-the day on which
brave men decided that they would risk their
lives and their fortunes in the name of lib
erty.
AS matter of fact, the revolution against
tyranny had been in progress for more than
a year, carried on by courageous souls who
were warning on a hundred fronts against
the edicts of a foreign king.
The government of Britain had placed
price upon the heads of two leaders who are
now revered as patriots. They were in hid
ing, protected only by the force of arms Of
outraged neighbors who declared that the
forces of organized law should not reach
them
When King George was unable to check
the uprising in America with his own soldiers
he had hired the Hessians from kinsman
prince to kill his protesting subjects
The men who formed the convention
which signed the Declaration Of Independ-
ence on July A, 1776, were only members of
a convention. They represented no govern
nent recognized by other governments. They
declared for their own right to form gov
eminent, and took that right and defended
it with their lives through eight long years
before they established it permanently.
When they won they changed the destiny
of mankind. Had they lost, Washington and
Franklin and Hancock would have been list
ed in British histories as leaders of a mob
which failed to check the imperial will of
benefcent monarch.
1t is we'll to remember these facts today,
even though we would like to believe that the
foundation of this country came from
spontaneous uprising of those who had an
ideal in their souls.
AS matter of fact, out of the three
million of people who then comprised the
population of all the colonies, a majority
were either timid or in sympathy with King
George.
The Tories helped the king. After the war
was won more than hundred thousand were
compelled to leave this land and find protec-
tion under the British flag.
But because the courageous men who
founded this country could not be subdued,
terrified or conquered, we today have liberty
the right to select our own government, the
right to rule ourselves.
New forces are at large in the world
which challenge this theory of government.
There are those who say with bitterness
that the country needs dictator to lead us
from the present economic chaos which has
taken work from millions and lowered the
earning power of all. There are those who
are so sceptical of the ability of the people
to rectify matters by wise use OF ballots
that they suggest Mussolini is needed and
more power given to some individual whose
judgement would replace the combined will
of the majority.
There are others who look with friendly
eyes upon the Communism of Russia where
Drawn has supplanted brain in leadership
and the heavy hand of authority replaced
the power of individual decision.
These strange ideas are struggling for
a place in our land. And that they gain con-
verts suggests that today there is need of
the same courage. and vision to save the
ideals of self government which the found
ers had when they established it by force
of arms.
It is well to remember the courage of
these men. 1t is well to remember what they
established.
It will be better to examine our own con-
ditions and declare again that all men are
bv nature created equal and entitled to equal
opportunities.
Then it will be really Glorious Fourth.