VALLEY SETTLER, Palmer Alaska.. Carl Rasmussen, Editor.
Published every Friday at Palmer Alaska, by the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Association for the purpose of giving news of the
Assgelation*s work, problems, accomp 1 ishments, local and general news.
Subscription by mail, $1.75 yearly. Box $ 1.00. Single copy 10/.
JULY 4TH, 1943, A NEW INDEPENDENCE, DAY.
One hundred sixty seven years ago a
new nation was formddby a small group of
men, on the newly discovered continent
of North America. These men were the
decendents of the people of Europe and
were trained in the ways and beliefs of
their forebears, but they- were not quite
satisfied to follow the old customs that
had been unchallenged for centuries.
Somehow the idea that Kings re best
for ruining people did not fit in with
their ideas and so a new idea wt s tnlsdj.! -r
in which the people became their own
rulers. Democracy was not unknown as a
theory,but it had never been tri-d on so
large a scale and applied universaly to
all of the people of a large nation.
Of course there were plenty of skeptics
and other people who hold certain rights
by grace of the King>that did not believe
that such a system could work.
General Washington, the Commander of the Revolutionary Armies* did not
have full cooperation from the men who represented the new Nation, on
the contrary it was necessary to combat weak kneed appeasers and outright
tratiors all the time, while the war was being waged against the enemy.
Quislings’ existed then just as they do now, when the mass of the people
try to throw off the oppresors yoke.
Washingtons Farewell Address, given after years of service to the new
Nations development and protection, is worthy of a place in the highest
notch of the. Nations records. His advice regarding foreign entanglements
has been used to advantage to our citizens, and it should be studied by
our presently elected representives, for guidance-, conditions have change
it is true, but it is still doubtful whether we should interfere or try
to cooperate with European nations, who are still just as selfish and
Nationalistic in their treatment to less powerful and backward Nations
that have come under their domination.
h.ignty seven years alter the Declaration of Independence was adopted,
o. new document was dedicated to the Nation by a truly representive
citizen, who also had served his country in trying-times, perh'ps oven
worse than the Revolutionary peroid, and this man dedicated hi;, life to
the establishment of a United Nation, governed by democratic principles,
with freedom for all human beings who made up the mass of the people.
Lincoln’s Gcttysbugs Address is short, there ore no large me?, ningless
words in it, it is the humble pica of a great man for the welfare and
uccess of a great people, just three things stand out in this address,
first:the recension of the idea that all are created equal and that
all are entitled to liberty. Second: that nothing that can be said or
done cr.n repay the aacfrices that the men who were buried in the
Gettysburg had made, a tribute to the comman man buried there,not to
vain, ambitous, selfish politicians and military leaders, who started
and directed the slaughter. Third: the concluding summary dedicated to
the coming generations, ie: -- we qoute, ” It is for us to be h re
dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from there honored
dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they gave the last
full measure of devotion: that here we highly resolve that these dead
shall not have died in vain: that this nation under God, shall have a
new birth of freedom, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE,
AND FOR THE PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.
And now we are engaged in the prosecution of another great war, let us
pray that it be dedicated to just ns worthy,purposes.