Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-07-03
l94l independence
Day Address
BY Hjalmar Petersen

BY Hjalmar Petersen
When we think of world conditions
today, and compare them with con-
ditions in America, we have abundant
reasons for being thankful and to
really celebrate this 165th anniver-
sary of the signing of the Declaration
of independence, which made Ameri-
ca a free eountryt The ,Enurth of July
is a great daysxN is a Joyous day in
the lives of all Americans-and it
marks significant day in the history
of all the world.
The Pilgrims came to American
shores at Plymouth Rock back in
1920, because they were seeking re-
ligious freedom. To be sure, these
religious people in the very early
history of our country, encountered
the hardships of pioneer life, but
they were free to worship God in
their own way. That torch of religious
freedom has been held uppermost in
America, ever since 1920, and its
later embodiment in our Constitution.
AS the original Is colonies devel-
oped in farming and industry, and
the population increased, there also
developed friction with the mother
country, England: 1t is we'll for
Americans today that their fore
bears severed connections wi h
England, and that the United States
of America became a free and indie
pendent country. Had we remained
under England, we would likely have
been another Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, or any one of the many other
countries under English rule, instead
Of nation today of 100000 peo-
pie.
Prior to the signing of the Declara-
ton of Independence, the original 10
colonies were obliged to fight in
several wars in behalf of England as
the other English colonies have had
to do all along. Today, there are
forces in America whose purpose it
is to again join us up with the British
Empire. The result of such a union
would be to nullify our Declaration
of Independence.
In the Declaration of Independence,
Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Frank
lin, John Adams, John Hancock and
the other signers, listed a long train
of abuses and usurpations on the part
OF the English Crown. They told the
world that the King kept standing
armies in the colonies without the
consent of the Legislatures. Militar-
ism was made superior to civil power
and in general there was delayed
justice; they burned towns and killed
people; they erected a multitude of
new offices and appointed officers to
harass the people; our trade was cut
off from the rest of the world; there
was taxation without representation,
and tyranny over the colonies.
The Declaration of Independence
was adopted on July 4, 1776, at Phila-
delphia. Not so long ago, there was
another meeting in the City of Broth
erly Love. That was in 1910. It was
the national convention of the Re-
publican party, at which time nomi-
nations were made for the offices of
President and Vice-President. and
party platform was adopted. That
1910 platform states: 'The Republican
party is firmly opposed to involving
this nation in foreign wars
Another national political conven-
ton was also held in 1910. The Demo-
cratic party platform, adopted at
Chicago, states: "We will not partici-
pate in foreign wars, and we will
not send our army navy, or air force
to fight in foreign lands outside of the
Americas, except in case of attack"
There we have the platforms. in
nut shell, from both of the domi-
nant political parties in 1910, with
reference to war and foreign affairs.
The people were led to believe that
either President Roosevelt or Mr..
Willkie if elected President, would
keep us out of the European con-
flict, unless we were attacked.
We are not in the war, and it is
to be hoped that we will never enter
another European war. We had that
experience "a years ago and that is
enough. Those who want war say
that the American people have
spoken, but, certainly, the American
people did not vote for war when
the President was reelected. On the
basis of the political platforms, the
American people would not have