New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-07-01
THE FOURTH,

The seyentyeighth anniversary of the Declaration
Of independence occurs next Tuesday, and it, cec-
braton will be unusually spirited and general From
oratons in the Crystal Palace and in nearly every
County down TO free drinking at all the GROCERIES
and incessant explosions of powder almost every
where the manifestations of popular gratitude and
admiration for the bravery and endurance which con-
Quoted our foreathers through peril and suffering 10
the Independence happily enjoy, will be heart
felt snd universal.
Alas that we know no better mode Of atesting our
devotion to Liberty than through the explosion of
inter and the inOrdinate consumption of dainty food
and poisonous liquors Alas that we could not al,
on an occasion 20 fit this unite in tracing out the
essential principles of fathers Revolutionary strug
gle the fundamental ideas which led them over linty
paths tracked with the blood of their unshod feet
and through winters Of suffering by frost aud famine
to the magnificent destiny we have inherited
For the grandeur of the American Revolution must
be sought in its principles rather than it, incl
dents Our fathers noby did their work bu, they
won no great battles with srnally inferior f)rces
did the Greeks in their resistance to Xerxes; and
neither their achievements nor their suffering be
compared with those of the Swiss in their struggle
for Independence against the immensely superior
forces Of Austria, much less with the Neither
lsnders' prttracted resistance to and final
triumph over the legions of naughty Spain at the
Light Of her power Take away from our Revolt
ton much as is abstract and uniyersal-debase il
to mere popular resistance to the payment OF odous
and Illegally levied taNes-and it dwndles into very
common place matter. Our Washington was d noble
leader, admirably adapted to the cxgency; but he
was no genius; bis campaigns added nothing to what
was previously known Of Military Art; and be was
eminent in limiting the evils OF defeat than in
achieving or emphasizing trumph,. To STRIKE from
the record Of that struggle the preamble to the De-
claration Of Independence would be little II mere
than the humiliation of all it, victories from Ben
DiDgton TO Yorktown
That oil menare endowedby their Creator with equsl
and inalienabIe Riehts-that each human being has
clear right to use bis own limbs and faculties for biz
own and bis familys benefit in any manner which dses
rot diminish or lmper the happiness of ctbers-that
goyernmentsderiye all their just powers from the act
oreSPrcss consent Ofthe governed-at power assumed
without consent used for any purpose inconsistent
with the greatest good of the greatest number is
usurped invalid, and may be rightiully resisted
such are the ideas which cxat the struggle for Amer
can Independence above all National stres for mere
dominion or privilege. Ia view Of these propo-
sitonsr the Revolutionary contest was by no means
ended in l7c2-on the contrary il is still in progress
with very much to be achieved before it can be brought
10 conclusion Whose voice shall eucidate and en-
force these vital truths in the celebrations OF next
Tuesday,