Patricia Seyford of Palmerton responded to our request for thoughts on Independence Day by sending us words from great statesmen.

We Again Need “That Powerful Friend”

Today we celebrate Independence Day, the day our humble, Thirteen Colonies declared their independence from King George III who ruled, at that time, the largest empire ever known to man.

This day began “The Greatest Revolution that has even taken place in the world’s history,” to quote Ronald Reagan, because the principles and truths for which they stood for, and were willing to die for, are the basis for all freedom to this day.

The founders asserted that their rights had been trampled upon by the king. But let’s be clear, there was a lot more meat to their grievances than just “Taxation Without Representation.” (Listed as reason #17 in a list of 27). Some of the others include:

• “ ... He has made judges dependent on his will alone ...

• ... He has erected a multitude of new offices and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

• For imposing taxes on us without our consent ...

• For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of trial by jury ...

• For establishing ... an arbitrary government ...

• For ... altering fundamentally the forms or our governments ...

• ... He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives our people.

• ... has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages whose know rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.”

But it wasn’t the grievances that made the Declaration unique, it was the presentation of a new approach to government established on rights that are self-evident, meaning that there are moral absolutes, and that our right to individual freedom is given to us by our Creator. These rights would later be secured with the Constitution.

This new government would establish that power would flow from God to the people, and then the people would in turn give power to the government as the people deemed appropriate to secure these rights. This is the beauty of the consent of governed. The conventional model of government at this time was based on the idea that power flowed from God to the king, and from there, well, maybe to the people. It’s called “The Divine Right of Kings.”

But if the government does not give you your freedom, the government cannot take it away. So where have our rights gone, and why? Whose responsibility is it to fix it?

“Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. If the next centennial does not find us a great nation ... it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces (giving or refusing our consent).” - James A. Garfield

Personally, I believe that we need to go back to the basics.

Benjamin Franklin, signer of the Declaration and Constitution said, “In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible to danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence (hand of God) in our favor ... (H) ave we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writing, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel ... I therefore beg leave to move - that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business ...”