Volume 18 , Issue 26

Walking With Sweet Silly Sadie

This week NW Okie is dedicating this newsletter to liberty, Freedom, respect and honor for our Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776, with researched obtained from a Philadelphia newspaper, The Times, dated 8 July 1888, Sunday, page 14, and orations submitted and written by public school students on what Independence Day meant to them, and Why.

Found on Newspapers.com

Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land
This was written by Annie M. Burns, of J. H. Hart Grammar School, in 1888.

Fellow Citizens: We are assembled here today to celebrate the one hundred and twelfth anniversary of one of the greatest events in the annals of history - the Declaration of American Independence. Yes, it was this day one hundred and twelve years ago that gave birth to that noble declaration which, as "Buckle" says, "Ought to be hung up in the nursery of every king and blazoned upon the porch of every royal palace."

But, fellow citizens, that we may not be ignorant of how our independence came about, and the price at which it was purchased, let us have a brief summary.

The colonies had been settled by persons from different parts of Europe, men who left their kindred, their home and native clime to seek an asylum from the iron grasp of tyranny. They landed upon bleak and unknown shores, and, after persevering through countless difficulties, their labors were rewarded by smiling fields of plenty springing up where for ages the hills but gave back the sound of the red man's whoops.

From a few adventurers up unto the period which I am about to speak of they had grown to a nation of three million people, proud of their mother country. The British Parliament, however, began to make encroachments upon their rights and liberties by taxing them to raise money. After several fruitless conferences the colonists perceived that a crisis was approaching. They had done all they could to prevent it, but their entreaties had been disregarded. At length, the spirit of the nation was aroused; they determined to unsheathe the sward and go forth to the fired of battle in the sacred cause of rights and liberty.

A regular enlistment of soldiers was commenced and officers were appointed. But, fellow citizens, we must bear in mind that the most of the American army were farmers and mechanics, men who knew little or nothing about the art of war, but their rights had been trampled upon, so they went forward with a good heart, ever bearing in mind the maxim:

Freedom's battle once begun,
Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son,
Though baffled oft is ever won.

They knew that the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to the active, the courageous, the brave. They knew there was a just God, who poises over the fate of empires; in Him they put their trust, and, under the approving smile of His protection, went forth to battle.

This commenced the war known as the Revolution, which, after lasting over eight years, England was compelled to sign a treaty of peace on September 3, 1783, and today, fellow citizens, the thirteen colonies which were then declared to be free and independent States have been increased to thirty-eight States and ten Territories.

Distinct as the billows, yet one as the sea - Then, fellow citizens, let us this day pledge ourselves to cherish forever the memory of those heroic statesmen who lost their lives in gaining for us the happiness and freedom which we now enjoy. Let us this day resolve to procure a copy of that noble "Declaration" and hang it in our nurseries, that we may instill it into the minds of our children. Let us also pray that ere another generation passeth that all nations may have adapted our form of government and wars be things of the past. This, indeed, would fill the pet's dream of peace on earth.

The echoing sounds grow fainter then cease;
And like a bell of column, sweet vibrations,
I hear once more the voice of Christ say Peasce!
Peace! and no more, from its brazen portals,
The blast of war's great organ shakes the skies.
But, beautiful as songs of the immortals,
The holy melodies of love arise.

Then, indeed, would the motto of the "Old Liberty Bell" be literally understood and its chimes heard distinctly; although in the distance of time.

Good Night! Good Luck!
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