Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-07-08
independence Day
Bv HJALMAR PETERSEN


The Fourth of July celebrates the
establishment of liberty in America.
The Declaration of Independence,
great historical document, reviews
the abuses and uSurpation of powers
bv King George III. and amongst 9TH
err things states than when any gov
eminent fails to give certain inalien-
able and natural rights to its citi-
zens. then the people should change
that government to one which grants
and guarantees those rights.
The American Congress adopted
the Declaration of independence on
July 4. 1916, and signed it on August
?. of the same year. After its adop-
ton. Congress advised the various
Is colonies to form state governments
as the old royal colonial governments
would no longer be recognized. Some
colonies had already done this, and
others proceeded to do so.
Patriots hailed the Declaration of
Independence with joy Now that
America had been set off as sep
arate and distinct nation France gave
its sympathy to America and some aid
in the war with our mother country.
Spain. the Netherlands, and others
sy!npathized with the new American
country and aided indirectly through
France.
It was estimated that about one
third of the colonists opposed the
American withdrawal from the moth
err country and the setup of an en-
tirely new government. Those loyal
lists joined the British army, many OF
them went to Canada and some to
England.
Many great patriots and statesmen
were reared on the new American
soil. Amongst those was the out
standing figure of Thomas Jefferson,
the author of the Declaration of In
dependence, George Washington, Ben
jamin Franklin, James Madison and
others. Much of Jefferson's political
philosophy is expressed in the second
paragraph of the great and familiar
Declaration which reads as follows:
1--WE hold these truths to be self
evident, that all men are created
equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable
rights; that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
That to secure these rights govern
ments are instituted among men, de-
irving their just powers from the
consent of the governed"
In these few lines are set forth
most important principles Of Jeffer-
sons political philosophy There is,
for example, the idea that human
beings should stand equal before the
law and enjoy certain equal and in
alienable rights. Here also is enun-
ciated the idea of popular sovereign
ty-all governments should derive
their powers from the consent of the
governed. These great ideals are as
were set forth by this great apostle of
liberty and equality.
Jefferson was not a constitution
worshipper. He refused to accept
the Federal Constitution at all until
the Bill of Rights was appended in
the form of the first ten amendments.
He was far from regarding the Con-
stitution with blind homage, as the
Holy of Holes, the very Ark of the
Covenant. He had little more re-
spect for it than for an average
statute but he believed the Consti-
tuition would have to be changed now
and then if it were to measure to
the expanding needs of our national
life
He was modest man, twice presi-
dent, acclaimed in Europe as ambas-
sador to France-a stateSman-yet
the three achievements which Thomas
Jefferson thought might perpetuate
his name were his authorship of the
Declaration of Independence, his
sponsorship of the Virginia statute of
religious freedom, and his founding
of the University of Virginia.
Jefferson believed that the best
government is that which governs
least. He believed this against a
background of absolutism and autoc-
racy which prevailed in the Europe
of his day.
mere again, tHe InouerH age mas
drifted far from JefferSon's idea. In
stead of limiting government merely
to police and to protective functions
the modern period has greatly ex-
banded the work of government. The
people of all lands are rapidly NOV
ing toward the socialized state, which
does all manner of services for its
o;< 70 ~ ~,
modern government has become the