Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-07-04
THE JUBILEE OF INDEPEM-
nENCE.

Gnce more we behold the bright dawn Of the
birthday Anniversary Of our Independence. The
return of this gloriors day is well calculated to
awake in the mind and hear, of en- American free
man high and ennobling thoughts and feelings of
deep gratitude to that divine and overriding Provi
dence who guided fathers 10 safety through the
perils of the Revolution, and enabled them to es
tabIish a government upon earth where alone the
"children Of men" can enjoy true liberty Of con-
science. This day should be Nationally employed,
and while give vent to our feelings of JOY, let
us remainder where are, and the halowed
character of the day which surrounds us. Let
recall to our recolections the and of
the Revolution. Let us ponder over the lives and
memories of tho devoted patriots Of that day,
whose sublime energies redeemed our Nation from
bondage, and laid the foundation for ell the bless
ings which we now enjoy. Let us look upon the
patriotic body Of .enlig hiened Statesmen who de-
clsred the world the independence ofthese States,
and learn from them what i, is that makes the true
patriot the safe counsellor, and the good citizen.
lie, US learn from them the beauties of union and
harmony not only in Government and the affairs of
State. but in society aud all social relations and
actions of life. But while we linger around the sa-
cred urn Of the past, and contemplate with pride
the lives and characters of the sages of the Reyolu-
ton. let look, too, upon the present, and see
whether Eve have preserved, in all its purity and
integrity, the character transmitted to by
ancestors" We here quote from distinguished
Marylander some remarks upon "Natonsl PRIDE
which we commend to the serious contemplation
of every who desires the perpetuity of the glo
rous Institutions under which we Ave. and feels
proper pride for his Nations history
"There is certain kind of National
pride, springing from Nations history,
which is essential to its dignity, and emf.
nently, useful in its advancement. IT'S
not the PRIDE which springs upon the mer-
it of the departed like the shoots of GER
tain fruit, where, to use the language of
another, "aH that fruit is uader ground"
1t is the pride which rests upon ssfres.
pect, springng from the consciousness
that we have preserved, in all its purity
and integrity, the character transmitted
to US by our ancestors, and inspiring us
to a noble emulation OF them by striving
to give fresh lustre to the legacy. All
who have observed, the workings of such
a feeling upon individuals and upon Ma
tons, have seen how it has animated them
to deeds worthy of their sires. Ia rang
ing through the history of the most Illus
trious Nations OF ancient aud modern times
and in tracing the causes Of the achieve
ments whichhave given them renown, we
find ths proper National pride every
where conspicuous. Whatever has Illus.
trated and adorned, the Nation becomes
interviewer with The National character;
and the individuals of the Nations, to a
certain degree, feel and move as If they
were clothed with that character. The
bright examples of the past are before
them, aud under the recollections which
belong 10 these, they act as if the spirits
of their iorelaihers were hoverng around
them to behold their deeds. In moments
of exigency they feel as he of old, when
he exclaimed, II am Roman citizen"
and when they cease to feel thus, and the
National character ceases 10 be respected
and cherished, from that instant the Ma.
tional decline commences.