The Pittsburgh Press (June 28, 1941)
JULY FOURTH
Religious News Service
On Friday, July 4, we celebrated the birthday of our nation, the 165th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Throughout history, nobler words have been spoken in the interests of human freedom, and among these, our American Declaration of Independence – simple, relevant and courageous – is an utterance that has never been surpassed.
Here is a yardstick by which government and citizenship alike may be measured, even in these bloody and chaotic times:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
Today, these words are inestimably precious to Americans, of every race, class or creed. Because they are precious, let us, on this Fourth of July in public gatherings, in our homes, and in our churches – Catholic, Jewish and Protestant – rededicate ourselves to these sacred principles. And let us, as individuals, live these principles in all our dealings with our fellow men.