INDEPENDENCE

From Agepedia

INDEPENDENCE, in politics ; the sovereignty of a people or country, as distinguished from a former dependence upon another country. When a successful attempt is made, by a portion of a people subject to a common government, to establish a separate government for itself, the struggle is generally closed by the acknowledgment of its independence on the part of the government from which it has seceded, though, in some cases, a complete separation is effected without any such acknowledgment, when the old government is too weak to undertake any thing effective against the revolted provinces or colonies, and yet will not formally renounce its authority over them. In such a case, it cannot be supposed that such an acknowledgment is necessary to entitle the new state to be treated by other powers as independent. This was the case with the United Provinces and Spain, the latter not acknowledging the former for a long series of years. The South American republics, too,have not yet been acknowledged by Spain, but no one can doubt their independence. The just rule would seem to be, that a colony or province is independent whenever it declares itself so, and is able to maintain its independence, or is left in undisturbed enjoyment of it. In a complicated political system, like that of Europe, the acknowledgment of independence on the part of the old government, is diplomatically important; and without it, other European states are averse to enter into political relations with the new state. The government of the U. States, on the other hand, considers only whether the revolted country is in fact independent; and in their own case, their diplomatic agents called upon foreign powers to acknowledge the independence of the revolted colonies, before any such acknowledgment was made by England. (See Lyman's Diplomacy, also the Diplomatic Correspond, of the Am. Revolution.) It hardly needs to be mentioned, that no sovereign power is obliged to wait for the acknowledging of independence by the mother country, because the idea of sovereignty excludes such an obligation. The political era of the. U. States, in public documents, is the year of their independence (July 4), 1776; accordingly, the present is the 55th year of American independence. o INDEPENDENTS ; a Protestant sect in England and Holland,which originated towards the end of the 16th century, during the reign of queen Elizabeth. The Independents declared the ceremonies of the Anglican church popish abuses, and hea thenish. They agreed only in this point, differing among themselves on many points of doctrine. The most zealous sect were the Brownists, whose founder, Robert Brown (q. v.), in 1580, attacked the discipline and ceremonial of the church of England, as unchristian. The name Independents is derived from the circumstance that each congregation formed an independent community, subject neither to bishops nor elders, nor any other ecclesiastical powers ; the minister was elected and dismissed by the votes of the congregation, and every member had a right to preach. The principles of church government inculcated by the Independents, spread rapidly, and became a subject of alarm to the government; some were arrested, some executed, and many fled the country. The sect survived in England, under the name of Congregationalists ; but the principles of Brown were modifled. The name of Brownists they disclaimed, calling themselves Congregationalists, and consider John Robinson (q. v.) their founder. In the civil wars of England during the 17th century, the Independents formed a powerful party. (See Cromwell, Great Britain, and Puritans.) The English Independents now differ from other Protestant sects in rejecting any formula of faith, requiring only a profession of belief in the gospel; and their pastors are not ordained. Among them are several distinguished men.