The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-07-04

One hundred and sixty five years
ago new political gospel was pro-
claimed among mental men are
created equal possessing the in
alienable right to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness: Further
to secure these rights governments
are instituted deriving their just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned." Pioneer ground was broken
in this Declaration and the courag-
eous action was taken while a hos
tile feet was in unopposed possess
sion of New York bay and the invad-
er was landing tens of thousands of
disciplined troops on Staten Island.
At that moment the skies hung dark
above the thirteen small struggling
colonies but they did not falter and
their achievement has brought
higher degree of liberty to greater
number of people for longer period
of time than the world had ever
known. In 1776 three million people
asserted the Declaration; today one
hundred and thirty million enjoy the
freedom that it brought. To the
south of US through it's inspiration
twenty American republics have
sprung into being and very few
years ago it seemed that in Europe
as in America governments were
coming to depend on the consent of
the governed.
How appallingly different is the
world scene in 1871! Nearly dozen
| liberal European governments have
been overthrow and an autocratic
dictator now dominates that unhap-
/ y continent. Hitler's Germany has
| forged a military machine that has
thus far proved irresistible and his
ambition does not stop at the boun-
daries of Europe. To-day we rule
Germany, tomorrow the whole
world are his words.
Ten days ago Hitler i'm shameless
violation of his pledged word made
a sudden, unprovoked attack ON Rus
sia--a country with which he had
signed less than six months earlier
a solemn treaty of friendship and
4 non-aggression. In this action as on
numerous former occasions it is OBJ
vious that truth, good faith, honor,
justice are words that are meaning
less for the present German regime.
| After Russia, Great Britain, and
after Great Britain America is the
Hitler program. America is ours
say the Nazis and they are convinced
that this accidental conglomeration
of mongrels' will fly apart under
| the impact of German might. De-
generate Yankeedom is the last re-
| voting death-rattle of corrupt
and outworn system" America rich
will presently have a German dose
of "the drastic medicine of war" and
in Hitler will find her master.
On this Independence Day as new
er before our American heritage is
in danger. Through IA century and
half this precious gift has been trans
mitted to us and it is at once our
high privilege and our sacred duty
to keep it safe and to pass it on UNI
| impaired. But while the Hitler sys-
| tenn dominates Germany and Europe
our regime of liberty and justice
can never be secure. AS we respect
our American heritage and love our
American way of life we must give
all possible aid to the nations that
are in arms against the all-devour-
| ing German monster. In very truth
their cause is our cause and our
| government in aiding the Allies is
justly entitled to our firmest sup
port.
independence Day 1871! To the
faith of our fathers, to the preser-
walton of our national heritage, to
the defense of our government our
liberty our way of life let us on this
day re-dedicate ourselves, and in the
closing words of the great Declara-
ton mutually pledge to each other
our lives, our fortunes and our
sacred honor"
William F. PIERCE
|