I.

BIRTH OF THE NEW REPUBLIC.-1776.

Declaration of American Independence and National Sovereignty, July Fourth, 1776.-The Gauntlet of Defiance thrown at the Feet of the British Empire by Her Youngest Colonies.-Vast Disparity, in Power and Resources, between the Contestants.-The whole World looks on Astonished.-Seven Years' Bloody and Desolating War.-The American Cause Triumphant.-Grandest Modern Event. America Resists Unjust Taxation.-Haughty Obstinacy of King George.-Burning Eloquence of Patrick Henry. His Summons, "We Must Fight."-Washington Endorses this Sentiment.-Determination of the People.-War Preferred to Submission-Momentous Action by Congress.-Separation from England Decreed.-Effect of the Act in America.-Its Reception in England.-Excitement of the King and Court.-Lord Chatham, America's Advocate.-His Passionate Change of Views.-Scorching Speech against the Colonies.-He is Struck Dead while Speaking.-Magnanimity of Burke and Fox. -Recognition from France Secured.-Her Timely Aid in the Struggle.-Victories over the British Armies.-England Gives Up the Contest.-World-wide Welcome to the New Nation.

"It will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forth, forevermore."-JOHN ADAMS.

NE HUNDRED YEARS ago, namely, on

the Fourth of July, 1776, there was born in the western world a New Nation, the REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES. Defiance to tyrants was emblazoned in empyreal light upon her brow, and Freedom and Justice were the frontlets between her eyes. Monarchs, crowned with kingly diadems, stood awed at the august manifesto, and at the solemn arraignment of King George before the judgment of mankind, and parliaments and cabinets started in dismay to their feet; but the People, as they descried the eagle of Liberty spreading her wings, and soaring proudly aloft, breathed freer and took stronger heart, as the clear ring of her voice sounded through the air, declaring, with grandly rounded enunciation, that "all men are created equal."

Refusing to pay the tribute of taxation arbitrarily imposed upon them at the point of the bayonet by the British crown,

On the eleventh of June, therefore, a committee was appointed to draft a formal Declaration; this committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.

On the twenty-eighth of June, the com

failing, too, to move the king and his min- | unanimity. isters from their career of haughty and reckless obstinacy,—the thirteen American colonies found themselves reduced to the alternative of abject submission to their so-called royal masters, or of armed resistance. Already there had flashed throughout the country the electric words of Pat-mittee made their report, and presented rick Henry, "We must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us. I repeat it, sir, we must fight!" And as the blood of patriot hearts had now flowed freely and bravely at Concord, and Lexington, and Bunker Hill, Washington declared, in words of solemn emphasis and characteristic brevity, "Nothing short of INDEPENDENCE, it appears to me, can possibly do." He also warmly approved and commended Paine's pamphlet, "Common Sense," written to this end. The sons of liberty shouted their responsive acclaim to this manly summons from the great American soldier-Washington-and, like the sound of many waters, the spirit of national independence which thus possessed the people came upon the continental congress, then in session in the state-house at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

the Declaration which they had drawn up. The first or original draft was penned by Mr. Jefferson, chairman of the committee. On the second of July, congress proceeded to the serious consideration of this momentous paper; the discussion, as to the tone and statements characterizing the document, and the propriety of adopting at that time a measure so decisive, lasted for nearly three days, and was extremely earnest. It was so powerfully opposed by some of the members, that Jefferson compared the opposition to "the ceaseless action of gravity, weighing upon us by night and by day." Its supporters, however, were the leading minds, and urged its adoption with masterly eloquence and ability. John Adams, Jefferson asserts, was "the colossus in that debate," and "fought fearlessly for every word of it." The bond which was formed between those two great men on this occasion seems never to have been completely severed, both of them finally expiring, with a sort of poetic justice, on the fiftieth anniversary of the act which constituted their chief glory.

It was in this temple of freedom, wherein was sitting as noble and august a legislative body as the world ever saw, that Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution, on the 7th of June, 1776, declaring, "That the United Colonies are and ought Well and truly did the mighty patriot to be free and independent States, and that Adams characterize this event as the most their political connection with Great Brit- memorable epoch in the history of Amerain is and ought to be dissolved." Upon ica. "I am apt to believe," said he," that this resolution there sprang up at once an it will be celebrated by succeeding generaearnest and powerful debate. It was op- tions, as the great anniversary festival. It posed, principally, on the ground that it ought to be commemorated as the day of was premature. Some of the best and deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to strongest advocates of colonial rights spoke Almighty God. It ought to be solemnized and voted against the motion, which at last with pomp and parade, with shows, games, was adopted only by a vote of seven States sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminain its favor to six against. Some of the tions, from one end of this continent to delegates had not received definite instruc- the other, from this time forth forevertions from their constituents, and others more!" The result has equaled the great had been requested to vote against it. Its patriot's wishes. Tradition gives a drafurther consideration was accordingly post-matic effect to its announcement. It was poned until there was a prospect of greater known, throughout the city, that the great