Worcester daily spy., 1851-05-13
Feut.h of JuIv.

meeting of the members OF the Free Soil party
will be held this evening at o'clock, at the American
Temperance House, for the purpose of adopting mea-
to.render the celebration of the Fourth of July in
Worcester county worthy Of the great principles
ed BY our fathers in the declaration of Independence,
and which are still adhered to by their descendants p
this Commonwealth.
We are glad that such meeting has been called,
and we have no doubt that the active and energetic
men who are moving in this matter, will propose such
programme as viii restore to this great anniversary
of freedom the purity of its original purpose, that of
keeping alive the memory Of, and cherishag eternal
devotion to the principles Of universal freedom.
The fourth of July is memorable as the day upon
which was formally and solemny proposed by nation
for the first time in the history of the world the great
fact that call men born free and equal, and have
light to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happness''
This grand coroay of democracy designates the char
acer Of the fourth of July, an American day odays
1t keep alive this holy truth which issued in the
inspiration hour Of trial and ibulation from the demo-
cratic hearts and souls of our ancestors that this day
set apart and consecrated liberty and unless we
cherish the Declaration Of Independence as principle
and act it out in politics faith, destroy the
life and character of the day celebrate, and become
sizzled down people into state perfect political
hypocrisy.
What were the circumstances attending this sublime
declaration of democratic principles in I776! The
British government had dared our fathers in de-
nance OF their reasonable opposition and in spite Of
their manly resistanceS and it had commanded that
John Hancock and Samuel Adams should be fuaitives
and vagabonds in the land Of their fathers denouncng
pains and penalties all who should shelter or aid
these atainted traitors'' The declaration Of Inde.
pendence protest against royal tyranny on the one
hand, and against this denunciaten Of outawry towards
men who held their patent Of liberty Immediately from
Almighty God on the other and who had right to
mems hospitality, in spite of all the laws that all the
calous hearted amateurs of cruelty or tyranny ever con-
cocted, from Caligua down to George the third That
the celebration of the Fourth of July may not dwndle
down TO a miserable, meaningless carnival in which
men meet to laugh and chat, and burn gunpowder anc
Kill day. it is necessary that the great thought which
inspires 1t with solemn, religious meaning be con
santy presented to the people, and be also received b,
them, as truth all comprehensive, eternal and perfect
embracing within its arms, all men of all nations names
c!imes, coors OF conditions. The Fourth of julie by
tradon by history, and by the voice of the world has
been designated as the birthday, not of the Federal
onion nor Of any political party, but of democracy made
ta'0 That it shall be truly the representative dav Of
this idea is the earnest desire Of every rue American
and republican, and therefore do hope that the men
OF Worcester county will this year render the Fourth Of
July day and occasion worthy Of remembrance.