They brought with them many Old-World prejudices which retarded early growth. But the desire for representative government; for tolerance of worship, each according to his own conscience, for justice, and for peace, was strongly inherent in all the Colonies. Throughout two centuries of growth and development the need of a Union to secure strength and protection became increasingly apparent; but such a Union was impossible so long as the Colonies remained subject to a foreign power. Finally, in 1776, independence was declared; but the mere declaration alone did not secure it. Only after long years of war, entailing untold suffering, hardship, and deprivation, during which the Colonies were held together by the force and character or and fortitude of Washington, Franklin, Samuel and John Adams, Robert Morris, Madison, Hamilton, and other patriots of equally high ideals, determination and enduring fame, was the enemy forced to surrender and the war terminated. But even then Independence was not concealed by the mother-country, which a quarter of a century later forced upon us a further effort to defend our birthright.
The same men who were so instrumental in winning independence for the country were prominent in the early welding of the Colonies into this Nation—the United States of North America. Not until eleven years after independence had been declared was a Constitution agreed upon; and two years later it was ratified by all of the thirteen Colonies. Thus was born in 1789, or one hundred and thirty-four years ago, this great free Nation which always has been, is now and ever must be the envy of the oppressed throughout the world—a land of the free!
In any study of American history it will be noted that through all the trials, tribulations, and growth of this country its development has been accomplished only through strict adherence to the high ideals which gave it birth. Real devotion to the idea of “Union” reached its height a considerable period after the adoption of the Constitution. The settlement of one of the great questions which the new Nation fell heir to—the question of slavery—rent ties asunder, cost a million lives, and rocked the young Nation to its very foundations. But the question was settled for all time, and happily settled, as not conceded alike by North and South. And
