The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence

heart." Lincoln went on to explain that the Declaration's promise of "liberty for all" is what "clears the path" for all, "gives hope to all," and, "by consequence, enterprise and industry to all."

In other words, it is the astounding economic success of our country that, at least partially, testifies to the enduring effect of the Declaration of Independence.

Lincoln acknowledged that with or without the "expression of that principle ['Liberty for all'!] ," the Declaration of Independence could've fulfilled its purpose of severing ties with Britain. But without that principle, "we could not, I think, have secured our free government and consequent prosperity."

Unfortunately, economic prosperity has led to complacency toward public affairs and materialism in private life. There is a growing detachment between Americans in their everyday lives and the history that brought them to where they are. People know much more about what's happening with their stock portfolio or in their favorite TV show than they do about what occurred in the summer of 1776.

Echoing the words of Lincoln and mindful of this societal trend (evident even in his day), President Calvin Coolidge had this to say on the 150th anniversary of the Declaration in 1926: "[Material abundance] did not create our Declaration. Our Declaration created [it]. The things of the spirit come first. Unless we cling to that, all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren sceptre in our grasp."

Indeed, unless we as Americans carefully reflect upon and rededicate ourselves to the principles of the Declaration of Independence - those principles that the members of the Continental Congress pledged their "lives," "fortunes," and "sacred honor" to perpetuate - we not only do a profound disservice to those who have gone before us, we run the risk of losing that which we enjoy as a result of their sacrifice and success.

This July 4th, perhaps you will take a few moments to truly reflect on the meaning and significance of the Declaration of Independence. The more Americans do so, the more we can know that the Declaration will continue to fuel our success and inform our national conscience in generations to come.

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