Year: 1873




within the limits Of newspaper article.


INDEPENDENCE DAY.


This is the ninety-seventh anniversary
of American independence. This day
ninety-seven years ego. as every school
boy should know. the representatives OF
the American colonies, assembled in Phil
adelphia. signed and published to the
world their famous declaration of inde-
pendence. The people Of the colonies
were driven to this course by the many
acts of tyranny practiced upon them by
the British government. In those days
there was indeed taxation without repre-
sentation," and historians Of every party
concede that from the earliest settle
ments in America TO the period
Of the revolution. the parent coun-
try pursued o course Of direct op-
preston toward the people Of the colo
MES. Driven from the Old World by the
political and religious intolerance OF the
ruling classes, they sought an asylum in
America for the purpose of remedying
these evils by establishing system of
government that would relieve them of
the prosecutions experienced under arbi-
trary forms Of government. We know it
has been said the settlement of America
and the history Of her revolution are be-
coming a trite theme. But we do
not regard the remark as founded
in truth. We believe the present
generation appreciates the excellence OF
the men who guided the destinies OF our
country in its early days, in its days OF
bitter trial. and estimates too well the
glorious events which have exalted this
country to its present elevation ever to be
weary of the recital Of the virtues Of the
one and the portrayal of the interesting
character of the other. We are aware that
the minuter portions Of our history, and
the humber men who have acted therein,
must pass away; but believe that the more
important transactions and the more
distinguished characters will continue to
grow brighter and become more interest
ing as 1--WE roll down the tide of time
A keen literary observer has said an event
of real magnitude in human history is
never seen in all its grandeur and impor-
tance till some time after its occurrence
has elapsed; that in proportion as the
memory of small men and small things is
lost, that Of the truly great becomes more
bright. We do not believe. there
fore. that any American OF lover
Of free institutions can become
tired of the grand old memo
ries that cluster around the declaration of
American independence and the great and
good men who appended their names
thereto at great risk. and pledged their
lives, fortunes and sacred honor to main
tain it. This glorious declaration pro-
claimed the birth Of a nation Of freemen
and led to a long and terrible war with
England, the history Of which should al
ways prove interesting and instructive to
Americans. because it speaks of men and
events that led to the establishment of free
government and the present great
ness Of the country. In less than
q century the United States OF
America have grown from thirteen feeble
colonies, embracing scarcely three millions
Of people TO thirty-eight fourishing States
and additional Territories, embracing a
population Of over forty millions And
during this time the country has had sew
eral devastating wars upon its hands. and
maintained itself with honor against for
eign and domestic foes.


1t is not the province Of newspaper
article of this kind to be prolix in narra-
ting important events extending into the
early history Of the country. The object
now is to remind the people of the present
day that this is the ninety-seventh ami
versary Of what John Adams-one Of the
venerated patriots in the early history of
this country-delighted to call 'lnde-
pendence Day." The annual return of
the anniversary Of this day is the proper
time to remind the people Of the import
ant events that transpired on the fourth
Of July. l776. Several days previous
to this time committee had
been appointed, consisting Of Thomas
jefferson. John Adams. DR.. Frank
lin, Roger Sherman and Robert
r. Livingston, 10 draft the declaration OF
independence. This was done and re-
ported to the House on the twenty-eighth
of June, 1776. wher it was received, read
and ordered to lie on the table. At this
time there were few men in Congress.
observes an intelligent writer, who
''clung to the pusillanimous idea tina: we
had friends in England worth keeping
terms WITH" and for this reason Congress
delayed final action on the subject: and
for this reason, also, observes the same
writer. "those passages which conveyed
censure on the people of England were
struck out, lest they should give them Of
fense. The clause. too, reprobating the en-
slaving the inhabitants of Africa was
struck out. in compliance to South Caro-
lima and Georgia. who had never at
tempted to restrain the importation OF
Il.