The Coolidge examiner., 1943-07-02

ers OF the earth. the separate and
equal station to which the laws of
nature and of natures God en-
title them a decent respect 10 the
opinions OF mankind requires that
they should declare the causes
which impel them TO the separa-
tion.
WE HOLD THESE
truths 10 be self-evident, that all
men are created equal. that they
are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights. that
among these are life. liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness.
THAT TO SECURE
these rights. governments are in
stituted among men. deriving their
gust powers from the consent OF
the governed. that whenever any
form OF government becomes de
btructiye of these ends. II Is the
right of the people TO alter or TO
abolish IL, and 10 institute new
government, laying its foundation
on such principles and organizing
its powers in such form, as TO
them shall seem most likely TO ef-
feet their safety and happiness.
PRUDENCE, INDEED,
viii dictate that government long
established should not be changed
for light and transient causes;
and accordingly all experience
hath shown that mankind are
more disposed to suffer. while
evils are sufferable. than TO right
themselves by abolishing the
forms To which they have been ac-
customed. But when a long train
of abuses and usurpations. pursu-
ing invariably the same object
evinces a design to reduce them
To absolute despotism. II is their
right. il is their duty. 10 throw off
such government and 10 provide
new guards for future seeur.
ity
IN EVERY STAGE
of expressions we have pc
titioned for redress in the most
humble terms: Our repeated pc
titions have been answered only
by repeated injury. A prince.
whose character Is thus marked
by every act which may define a
tyrant, is unfit TO be the ruler OF a
free people.
NOR HAVE WE
been wanting in attention TO our
British brethren. We have warn
ed them from time TO time OF at
tempts by their legislature TO ex-
tend an unwarrantable jurisdic-
tion over US. We have reminded
them OF the circumstance OF our
emigration and settlement here.
We have appealed TO their native
justice and magnanimity and we
have conjured them by the ties of
our common kindred TO disavow
these usurpations. which. would
inevitably interrupt our connec-
tions and correspondence. They.
too. have been deaf to the voice
OF justice and consanquinity. We
must, therefore. acquiesce in the
necessity. which denounces our
separation, and hold them. as we
hold the rest of mankind. enemies
in war. in peace, friends.
WE THEREFORE,
the representatives Of the United
States OF America, in general con-
gress. assembled. appealing to the
Supreme Judge of the world for
the rectitude OF our intentions. do,
in the name, and authority of the
good people OF these colonies. sol
emnly publish and declare. that
these united colonies are, and OF
right ought TO be free and inde-
pendent states; that they are alb
solved from all allegiance to the
British crown, and that all politi'
cal connection between them and
the state of Great Britain, is and
ought to be totally dissolved; and
that as free and independent
states, they have full power to
levy wear, conclude peace, con
tract alliances, establish com
merce, and to do all other acts
and things which independent
state may OF right do. And fol
the support of this declaration
with a firm reliance on the pro
lection of Divine Providence. we
mutually pledge to each other oul
lives, our fortunes and our sa
cred honor"
SIGNING OFF
with the thought this declaration
has become the great historical
document of our nation because
we believe as sincerely and firm
ly today in the principles involved
as the original signers did 16i
wears ago and as the greatest ma