Machias High School - Margaretta Yearbook (Machias, ME)

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12 THE MARGARETTA win. They asked each other, How? We were a new nation, untried, without an army, navy, or enough supplies. Only one thing stood in our favor. We were fight- ing on our own ground. It was men like George Washington, Thomas jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, who believed we could gain our freedom, who carried us through. Finally on july 4, 1776, the Liberty Bell rang out announcing to the people of Philadelphia the signing of the Declar- ation of Independence. It is hard to take a group of people with different interests, living in different parts of a country, carrying on different indus- tries, and bring them together to work for a common cause. How much more diffi- cult then must it be to band together a group of states! Though the earliest attempts to unite the American colonies failed, the fact that each attempt came nearer to success spurred on the Coun- try's statesmen, and led at last to a glorious success. The Articles of Confederation were tried and failed. Since this gave Con- gress no power, each state could do as she pleased. The individual cared nothing for the weak government represented by the Articles of Confederation, All he was in- terested in was his own state. Soon it became apparent that something would have to be done. In 1786, some of the most brilliant men in the land met at a Philadelphia meeting, known as the Federal Convention. Washington, jeffer- son, Franklin, james Madison, and Alex- ander Hamilton were there. It is well that such strong-minded men attended because they had important work to do. The sessions were stormy and progress was slow but each agreement reached brought the men a little nearer their goal-a practical government for the United States. Those men accomplished in a few weeks what has governed the people of the United States for more than a cen- tury and a half-The Constitution of the U. S. Then came the problem of getting all the states to adopt the Constitution. Within two years nine states had joined. Soon afterward the other four states joined and all thirteen states became a single nation. Long years after the Atlantic Ocean had been crossed and the Atlantic Coast of the United States built its civilized and progressive country, the adventurous spirit of the pioneers lived on. Westward their descendents went leaving the com- fortable cities and towns of the East, to advance through forest, and deserts, over mountains and across rivers, to push the frontier ever farther into the wilderness. This great western migration was sure to have important effects on the new nation of the United States-and it did. From a little group of thirteen states spread along the Atlantic Coast of North America, the United States had grown into a mighty nation of forty-eight states, extending across the entire continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It took suffer- ing. and sacrifice, and daring, and im- agination to gain under a tremendous strain. How it was done, and how the investment has yielded a golden harvest, make a most inspiring story. Within two years the Constitution was amended ten times. These Amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, and guarantee certain privileges to the citizens. Now came the struggle of proving our- selves to thc other nations of the world. This was not easy. It took bravery and a fight to gain the respect, and honor of these nations. However, this respect was not long in coming. We proved ourselves equal not

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THE MARGARETTA ll we called my father's attention to it. After hesitating a minute, he told us that it was sugar cane burning. He knew himself that this was war. When we returned home, our radio was going full blast: programs were inter- rupted every few minutes. This was it. Pearl Harbor had been attacked by the Iapanese. Iapanese planes were circling Fort Shafter and near-by places. Being only three miles from Pearl Harbor, we could get a good view of bombs floating down by the hundreds. My father then reported for duty in Schofield: and to reach his base, he had to drive right through Pearl Harbor. What were we to do? Immediately all families at our post were ordered to seek shelter in a large electric power plant. which would serve temporarily as an air- raid shelter. There we spent three days and three nights, frightened and not knowing what to expect next. Food and clothing were brought by the soldiers during this time but very little of the food was eaten. Many prayers were said while we waited patiently for the outcome. The fourth day came and we were told we might go home. Every night we were alerted by air- raid signals warning us to go to near-by tunnels and to await the all-clear signal. Many a night was spent with our clothes still on from the day before in preparation for leaving for shelter. In order to be up instantly when the alarm went on, we took our bed covers and mattresses and slept on the floor. This went on for two months. School at the time was still running but we did not dare leave the post to go to the city. Tunnels were built in every yard for pro- tection. February rolled around and many fam- ilies were given the opportunity to go to the states if they had relatives there. Due to the fact that my father's family lived in Maine, he thought it best for us to come for fear of another attack. We left on February 17, 1942, on the Lurline and arrived by train on March 7, 1942. All I can say is-that was one experi- ence that I shall never forget! ALMA CHADWICK '51 OUR CONSTITUTION - ORDAINED BY FREE MEN, SUSTAINED BY FREE MEN. Prize winning essay in American Legion Contest. Since the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, we have fought for freedom and what we thought was right. What made the Pilgrims start out on that terrifying journey in August, 1620? You know the answer as well as I. They wanted Freedom. Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, and Free- dom of Assembly: those are what they fought and died for: those are what we are fighting for today, and future genera- tions will Hght for them. As long as the Four Freedoms exist, they will be fought for by Americans. It was difficult for our forefathers. Some gave up the fight and returned to their homelands, but there were others who dreamed and planned of what would come. Many of these people did not see their dreams come true, but gave up their lives striving for these dreams. First, there were the Indians, who had lived for centuries undisturbed. They did not like having white people crowding them out. Second, was the Revolutionary War. That was the greatest fight for American Liberty. In that war we first won our freedom. Few people thought we could

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THE MARGARETTA 13 only in warfare and government but in industrial and social development, Today we can hold our own with any nation in education, literature, and invention. We are now an industrial leader of the world. As the United States developed into a great and rich nation, her leaders found themselves faced with many serious prob- lems. The farmers were calling upon the government for relief. The railroads were making money by unfair means. People in many parts of the country were loudly demanding a better tariff system. Labor and Capital were at swords points and their quarrels were making coopera- tion impossible. Government positions were being awarded to incompetent peo- ple. Several of the leading cities were being robbed by dishonest politicians, Courageous and honest statesmen and public spirited citizens have helped to right some of these wrongs. We still have some of these problems today but they are rapidly being ironed out. Soon another problem of Freedom arose, freedom of Race, This brought on the Civil War when the South and the North parted. It seemed the end of the Union was near. Finally, the war over, this big question arose: should the South be punished or treated as though there had been no war? The latter was decid- ed upon. Today, no matter you are, you are equal to all whether white, black, or yellow, In the last eighty years we in two world wars, defending our own freedom and helping other people to be- come free. Now some men predict a third world war. If there is, we will do as we have done before help other people regain their freedom, and protect our own. We are up against one of the biggest what race other men have been trials of our career. Can we down Com- munism? Without a war? In the earlier days of our country, the United States was more or less isolated from the other countries of the world. It took months to cross the Atlantic Ocean in vessels and this was the only way of traveling from one continent to another. Today a person can go from one contin- ent to another in a matter of hours. This was what brought on the big problems of world peace. More and more nations have come to realize that war has no place in a civilized world. The death, destruction, and suf- fering involved more than off set any gains in riches and territory. The desire for peace is growing constantly and in recent years the leading nations have been working together to eliminate war as a means of settling disputes, Throughout all countries, people are watching the efforts of the peace-makers with intense interest. The United Nations is striving for world peace but, up to the present time. they have not had enough authority, The United States will help for world peace and will go more than half way, but if any country tries to overcome us, we will light. Many nations have patented their Con- stitutions after ours and probably many more will. We want to spread democracy as we are doing today to people behind the Iron Curtain and if these people want to adopt our way of life, we will help them attain it. ln the years before us, the people who come after us will uphold this tradition. As long as our freedom is threatened, the American people will defend it. REBECCA CARROLL '52