s in 1776 had adopted any other spirit
than this? Does not the answer immediately echo that we would be today
English?

History tells us that while the British red coats with their muskets
were invading the colonies, a handful of bold liberty loving men met at
Philadelphia and signed the Declaration of Independence. You may read
that instrument and you will see that it declares for American liberty
from an American point of view, without waiting for the aid or consent
of any other nation. When bold old non-international agreement John
Hancock read that declaration, he made a speech to the multitude in
front of Liberty hall, in which he implored them to throw aside trivial
differences, and on the main question of independence, all good liberty
loving people should hang together. Benjamin Franklin replied: "Yes, we
must all hang together or we will all hang separate." In Franklin's
witticism, I think I can see the solution of our present financial
trouble--the good people of all parties must solve the problem, then we
must all hang together or we will all hang separately to the tail of
the old British lion, and while we voters are thus suspended, the cubs
of that lion will devour the young Anglo-American eagles before they
scarcely have time to scream for mercy.

Not only did that spirit of independence pervade in Philadelphia in
1776, but it was foremost at Bunker Hill. But Benedict Arnold and Major
Andre seemed to have taken a different view, and the former fled to
English assistance, the latter was executed because of his attempt to
do likewise. But the spirit of independence, without waiting for the
consent of any other nation, shone forth like a plumed knight or a
mighty gladiator on the 19th day of October, 1781, at Yorktown, when
the British gave up their swords and surrendered to the liberty loving
fathers of America. Do you think Cornwallis would have surrendered to
Washington if the Colonial Congress had declared that they would
promote independence by international agreement, and until such
agreement could be obtained, the existing will of King George must be
maintained, and if Washington and his army had fought for English
instead of American supremacy?

I want to say to you that it was not the international agreement spirit
that won in the war of 1812 at New Orleans. General Jackson told his
Kentucky riflemen to keep their powder dry and guns well loaded, and
when they were close enough to see the white of