Evening star., 1937-07-04
With Apologies to jefferson

When, IN the course of human events.
II becomes necessary for one community
10 dissolve the political bands which
nave connected it with others and to
assume among its neighbors the separate
ana equal station to which the Laws of
Nature and Of Natures God entitle it.
decent respect to the opinions of man
KIND requires that it should declare the
causes which impel it to the separation.
we hold these truths to be self-evi-
dent, that all men are created equal
even II resident in the Nations Capital
IN their maturity; that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, among which are Life, Liberty
and the pursuit of Happiness-without
regard to specific place of habitation:
that to secure these rights Governments
are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the gov
erned; that whenever any Form of Gov
ernment becomes destructive of these
ends, it is the Right of the People to
alter or to abolish it, and to institute
new Government. laying its foundation
on such principles and organizing its
powers in such form as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their Safety
and Happiness. Prudence, indeed. will
dictate that Governments long estab-
lished should not be changed for light
and transient causes, and accordingly
all experience hath SheWn that man.
kind are more disposed to suffer, while
evils are sufterable, than to right them
selves by abolishing the forms to which
they are accustomed. But when a long
train OF abuses and usurpations, pursu-
ing invariably the same object, evinces
a design to reduce them under absolute
Despotlsm, it is their right, it is their
duty to seek other forms of Government.
and to provide new Guards for their
future security. Such has been the pa
tlent sufferance of this Federal District.
and such is now the necessity which
constrains it TO alter its former system
OF Government. The history of the Con-
gress Of the United States is history of
repeated injuries and usurpations, all
having in direct object the establishment
and arbitrary maintenance of an abso-
lutte Tyranny over this District. To prove
this, let Facts be submitted to a candid
world.
Congress has refused to pass Laws, the
most wholesome and necessary for the
public good of the Capital City;
1t has subjected us to jurisdiction
foreign to our Constitution and unac-
knowledged by our Laws, in violation of
our Traditions and repugnant to our
instincts OF social Freedom and Progress:
1t has imposed Taxes on us without
our Consent
1t has treated us with the contempt
commonly reserved for Aliens, Lunatics
and Criminals, denying us our natural
privileges Of self-government and our
rights as citizens of the Union predicated
as it is on the principles of practical
Democracy;
1t has mismanaged our fiscal affairs.
so that the cost of living in the District
has risen to the point where thousands
OF our neighbors are well nigh pauperized
and our Nations Capital is paralyzed in
the full development which is its due:
1t has needed not our Appeal for a
correction Of our disabilities and handi-
caps, and neglected our Petition for the
equitable ration of Justice which is guar
anteed under the terms of our Sacred |
Charter of Freedom, adopted one hun
dred and fifty years ago and still precious
to our fellow-citizens throughout the
Nation;
1t has indicated in recent months that
it has little if any. intention of reform
IN It's treatment of the District. For ex-
ample: debating methods and processes
OF Taxation with at times a positive at
titude of indifference toward such
spokesmen for the community as have |
had the hardihood to protest against its |
policies OF tyranny.
We, therefore, the representatives of |
the United Neighbors of the District of !
Columbia-all the people thereof-though |
not in general convention assembled. |
appealing to Heaven for the rectitude of |
our intentions, do solemnly publish and |
declare that this District is and of Right |
ought TO be. Free and Independent; and
for the support of this Declaration we
mutually pledge ourselves and solicit the
support Of our brethren wherever within
the Union they may be.