Published every Thursday at Palmer, Alaska, for the Matanuska Valley Farmers’
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Problems, and Accomplishments,
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ON OUR ONE HUNDRED?' 'AND SEVENTIETH ANNIVER SAITS',
One hundred and seventy years ago—the patriots of the little
handful of American colonists urged the Independence for the
thirteen colonies which had settled along the Atlantic seaboard
during the previous one hundred and seventy years.t A little
group,who dared to pit their strength against’the
strongest nation m earth, demanded freedom.
On June 7,1776, Richard Henry Lee made a motion in
the'Continental Congress that ”These united Colonies
are, and ought to be free and independent states.”
This resolution was not adopted because there were
cautious men in the Congress who were afraid to make
the break. However, a committee of five members
which \\included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin -cranKiin were
busy framing the now famous document known as the "Declaration of Independence.”
Thomas \\ Jefferson made the first draft which was reviewed by the committee and
later by \\ the Congress. A'few changes were mado, but it still remained largely the
work of \\ Thomas Jefferson.
This Declaration is comprised largely of a long list of grievances directed toward
King George III particularly. It is not these grievances, but rather the throo main
principles as set forth in the beginning of the’document that makes the Declaration
so much a part of our .American government today. Lot us review them,
1. "All men arc created equal and endowed by their Creator with'certain unalienablo
rights, among which are life, liberty, and pursuit.of Happiness;
2. wIt is to secure these rights thut governments are instituted, and they derive
their just powers from the consent of the governed,
3. Then any form'of government becares destructive of these ends, it is the right of
the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its
foundations on such principles and organiz ing its powers in such form as to thorn
shall'seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."
fought the Revolutionary T7ar to gain this freedom and permanently establish these
principles in American government. fought the War of 1812 to further secure our
liberty and pursuit of hanpinoss. Later in the Civil War Abraham Lincoln in his
Gettysburg address gave new life to theso- principles when he said—
"Four.score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new
nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all meh are created
equal." During the 20th Century we have taken part in two wars to still further
preserve our American way of life, and government.
In this Inst war President Roosevelt in his annual messago to Congress in January
1 Ml'again emphasized theso principles when he listed the four essential human free
doms. i; Freodom of speech and expression
2'. Freodom of every person to worship God in his own way,
Freodom from want^
4. Freedom from fear.
For one hundred end seventy yoars:these principles have been the backbone of the
American people-perhaps not as much in practice as a part of the idecls of a nation,
We know full well that we fall far short - of the attainment of tho four freedoms our
selves. Thon why. have them if we cannot, live up to them. Perhaps the best answor to
this ,is that' life ceases.to be worth living when there is nothing more for which to
strive.' We always will have'ideals that are never quite attained and so long as this
is true, we will, forge ahead. Remove the American principles and ideals and you re
move tho heart of America. Thoroforo—wo con bo thankful that we arc still freo to
work toward the goal of a highfer plapc of living for all mankind—and as Lineolh so
well expr.os.scd. in his last scntenco of the Gettysburg address.—
"—that We hcro*>M0|(ly\reBorvd that .thos* dond shall not have died in vain—that this
nation; undor God,- dihll have a new birth of freedom—and 'that government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the ..earth," .
Let us rcmombcr on this Fourth of July that wo orb"celebrating something for which
hundreds of thousands have died to proservo for us.