Volume 18 , Issue 26

1888 - Our Nation's Birthday by Edwin Jeitles

It is just one hundred and twelve years since Liberty was born. The tones of the grand "old bell" proclaimed its birth to the world. The notes of the bell were a signal that the ties of the colonies with the mother country were broken. How welcome the sounds of the bell must have been to every one, and yet how exciting!

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When an Amercian boy thinks of liberty the name of Washington springs up in his mind,a nd with it those of that band of noble patriots who bravely fought with him, struggling amid many hardships, without sufficient food, without half enough garments and often shoeless. Ho self-sacrificing they were! To them the one object of freedom was ever present.

Turning back to the Pilgrims, who emigrated to this country over two hundred and fifty years ago, they did not dream what the result of their landing here would be, not did their virtuous descendants, who inherited their piety and energy, foresee the great consequences of their action.

It is doubtful whether one of the members of the illustrious body that signed the Declaration of Independence had any idea of the great events that would follow. The merit of these men - and all other true men who helped to bring about liberty - should be measured by the actual result of the undertaking, although the extent could not then have been foreseen.

Of the fifty-six signers to the Declaration of Independence the average age reached was 75 years. It would seem as it was a reward from heaven top e permitted to live long enough to enjoy a little of that for which they "pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor." These bold and fearless men of '76 are all dead; yet their fame shall never die.

Let every American voice from the North, South, East and West cheer the noble work that was done by our forefathers, and let the memories of all those who helped us in that great struggle for freedom be revered and honored.

Yes, it is just one hundred and twelve years ago since liberty was born. It was then that the stars and stripes were first unfurled. Let us on each anniversary of our nation's birthday rally around the good old flag. Let it and its memories never vanish from our minds.

Let us give loud and hearty shouts for our free land while we untie in making this the most important day of the year.

Now, let us watch that we may always be governed by upright Americans, and that we may always have enough pure and patriotic men in our midst to preserve this grand Union of the States.
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