White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-07-04
INDEPENDENCE DAY

One hundred ffty-n years ago today-July
4, 1776-representative of twelve of the thirteen
colonies gathered to afix their signatures to
of the most important documents ever written.
That document proclaimed the political indepen-
dence Of the thirteen colonies later to become the
United States of America.
That these men who drew up the Declaration
of Independence, and who in signing it committed
their colonies to course which no doubt seemed
foolhardy and impossible Of achievement were re-
luctant, and did so only under the utmost provo
cation, is read between the lines of the document.
For in breaking with England they were re-
nouncing the country of their birth, their spiri
tual home; the institutions and traditions Of their
forefathers.
The text of that declaration propounds social
and political philosophy which has endured for
more than a century and half and which changed
the history of the world It is recitation of the
rights of man as fresh and enduring as man him
self
When in the course of human events, declared
this group Of men, it becomes necessary for one
people to dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another, decent respect for
the opinions of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which inpel them to the sep
aratlOn.
The second paragraph of the declaration con-
teen struggling colonies into unit later to be
welded together by the fires of the revolution from
which they emerged a nation:
eve 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 life, liberty and the pursuit
OF happiness That to secure these rights, govern
ments are instituted among men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed that
whenever any form of government becomes des-
tructive of these ends, it is the right Of the peo
pie to alter to- abolish it, and to institute new
government, laying it's foundation on such prin-
ciples and organizing it's powers in such form, as
to them shall seem most likely to affect their safe
ty and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate
that governments long established should not be
changed for light and transient causes; and ac-
cordingly all experience hath shown, that man
kind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are
sutferable, than to right themselves by abolishing
the forms to which they are accustomed"
That philosophy, at that time unique the first
expression OF an opinion long smoldering both
here and In France placed this document next to
the Magma Charta in historical literature and has
since been the standard of the American people,
1t was by it's measure that our Constitution was
written and it's philosophy has permeated the fur
Their actions OF our governors Its pages were in
deed the birth of our nation.
On this Independence Day when we observe
the anniversary Of the day on which our forefa-
theirs declared themselves an independent nation
defying the world to withhold their rights let us
more particularly pay homage to the foresight,
the wisdom and the unalloyed courage of that
group Of men which gave to the world new pol
itical philosophy that will forever live in the
hearts of mankind.