The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-07-01
Our nar...ar An-s.er.ary.


Oar NsttoaaI Ans<ver.ary.
Before another number Of our paper shall be
issued, day will have come, whose advent
must always be regarded with profound interest
IL is a day which commentaries the promul-
cation of a great principle, and, like every other
day which has been immOrtslized by union with
deathless principle, must be cherished with
fond and grateful reverence. Cold, icy cold,
must be the heart. and dull as idiOey the mind,
which do not hail with emotion the return OF
thisgsest anniversary. We rejoice that thedsy,
as il annually draws near, is met with loud, far
sounding tones Of welcome, and We shall trem-
bic for our beloved cOnntry, when II ceases TO
be thrilled BY the thoughts OF its natal day with
itstheazsndc.n associations.
Welcome then, thrice Welcome, TO the day.
Let Il be commemorsted as becomes such day.
And how shall the day be eOmmemorated r.
In gladnessl Surely, for gratitude is always q
spirit Of gIadness, and what nation ever had
more cause for gratitude than our Own1 When
then, the first beams Of the day salute our earth,
let every bosom swell with JOY, and the air be-
come vocal with praise
Bot let not our joyousness be levity. The
day, which we are to commemorate, was one Of
the most serious and earnest days that the world
has ever known. Joy thrilled the hearts OF the
noble band who, on our country's birthday, al
once signed her charter Of existence, and Of
liberty, but il was such JOY az patriots and pro-
phets and martyrs feel, a stern, solemn Joy.
II was JOY that made their cOuntenances radi-
ant, bat radiant with no earthly light, which
broke from their lips, not in songs Of festivity
and shouts Of revelry, but in hymns and ascrip-
tions Of praise, in words Of self-sacrifce and
gOd-like resolve.
Let our JOY be kindred to theirs, the reyeren-
tial Joy which those feel whose hearts are awed
by benign and holy presence.
Nor let this day be celebrated in the spirit Of
self-glOri6catiOn. Too often has il been thus
celebrated, or rather thus desecrated.
The men Of &c uttered no words Of selfglori-
hcatiOn, when they sPake, and a nation sprang
into being. Living words from living souls
alone have creative power Had not these men
forgotten self in their devotion to duty, the day
sacred to all American hearts, would forever
have remained a common day.
Were one to Judge Us by the tone Of our fourth
Of July orstions, be would say that we had re-
versed matters, that ve had forgotten duty in
our devotion to self. Glory, our glory, is the
constant theme. Ii is a bad sign for a nation
thus TO dwell upon is glory, 10 the forgetfnl-
ness Of duty 1t indicates decline, and forbOdes
4 aof In Is a
duty alone, high and solemn duty, can a nation
or individual live, truly live. Great thoughts,
noble purposes, and pure principles, these i'm
part life TO nation, without them it merely ex-
lists.
Our fathers bowed in reverence before the ss-
cred majesty Of duty. Their minds and hearts
were hallowed by the presence Of srihlme, INDY
ing principles. Hence their life, Their glowing
words, their immortal deeds. They sought not
glory, and glorr therefore sought them
We have duties as great and important as
ever devolEed upon our ancestors. To pePetu-
ats nation's life is as great work as to gaze ii
birth Noble and pure souls called cur country
INTO being, noble and pure souls alone, can con-
tinue heri being.
Never was there period, when either for its
own sake OF for the sake of mankind, our coun-
Try demanded greater fdekty than now TO its glo-
nous principles.
The world is wild with connection, its great
heart thIobs with anxiety. Whence this anxiety
and c0rnmotiOn7 Because of the almost univeT-
sal recognition Of the immortal principles an
nOunced by our fathers, and the determination
that those principles shall no longer be regarded
as beautiful distractions, but shall be Teyeren-
ped as living truths, shall become the soul Of so
riety.
At such penOd as this, a penod Of intense in
ierestto humanity, shall we prove false TO the
nemones Of our fathers? Shall we in act deny
heir principlesl This would be sacrilege and
reason. Now, if ever, it becomes us 10 show,
hat liberty is no dream, and that Justice can be
in all its majesty, in the hearts Of a
Zee people.
A glorious privileges now granted TO us. 9th
7 nations are contending for the purpose Of
ecnnng night and Justice TO themselves; We
ave the power and the opportunity Of bestowing
ights, and securing justice TO Others. How ac-
oEdSnt with the spirt Of our fathers, would be
be celebration Of the approaching anniversary,
our citizens through the length Of the land
you'd then meet around their country's altar
nth one heart and mind, to consult as to the
est, and wlsest- and sresulissf neap@ aEs.-.----
ipstiDg three millions Of our fellow-beings from
ondagc. That would be aspectscle grand and