Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-04
OUR NATIONAL BIRTH-DAY.

JUN NATlONAL BIRTHDAY,
To-day is the seventy-eighth anniversary Of
American independence. The immortal in
strument in which that independence is de-
clared, is far dearer and more precious to. the
American heart than the great charter Of Eng
lish liberty which consecrated the 18th of Jnne
in the annals of England, and made Rqnny.
mede immortal, is to the English heart. Thai
charter at Runnymede was extorted from q re-
luctant king by jealous mobiles, who though,
more Of their own powers than they thought OF
the liberties of the people. Peoplel Ther
we're no people in those days. What are peo-
pie now, were cattle then. This charter Of
American liberty, or rather this Declaration Of
Independence, was spontaneous. The op
pressed colonies united in it as one colony:
the people united in it as one man. 1t was
not a charter that secured prerogative to one
man, or privileges to a few men. 1t was o
great charter that seemed the liberty of these
colonies and this people. No king assented
to it. King John subscribed his royal sigma
ture TO that charter at Runnymede But kim
Georges answer to ours was-6re and sword
The Barons presented their charter to Their
royal master. Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia.
wrote and presented ours to the world. Rob
ert Fitz Walter was the elected general of tn,
English barons; George Washington, Of Vir
,inia, was the elected general of the America,
forces. King John was left king by thi
charter, King George was dethroned by ours.
The 4th of July is, and ever should Be, e
sacred day in the annals of America. j,
should be to us what the great day of deliver
ance was to the Jews. 1t should be, and will
be feast. So long as patriotism exists, Sc
long as the wisdom, the courage, and the sacri
fees Of the fathers of the republic are appreci-
ated so long will the4,h of July be held in re
membrance and be joyfully celebrated. Well
did Thomas Jefferson say, many years ago, tina,
30 long as that day was 6tly celebrated SO long
would liberty be secure.
In the great as well as the lesser cities, in
every part of this great country, this day will
be ushered in with the roar of artillery, and be-
celebrated with great military parades.. The
national Congress, the State legislatures, and
| all public bodies will be adjourned in honor of
lit. Places of business will be closed. In the
country there will be dinners and barbecues.
Orations will be delivered and toasts offered
throughout the length and breadth of the land.
The stars and stripes will be unfurled b,
Americans in every foreign country, and be they
few or many, the sons of this free and happ,
country will meet in every cline and in every
country to commemorate our national birth
day.
Sectionalism should hush its clamors, fanati.
cism should cease its TRADES, and the memory
of our Fathers, the Constitution of the country
and the union of these States snow and for
ever, one and inseparabe," should be the toast
|of Puritan and Cavalier, of the sons of the
North, of the South, of the. East and the West.
Iof the old States and the new States.
When the declaration of Independence was
made there were thirteen feeble American col
onies, now there are thirty-one populous and
powerful States. We had no territories then.
we have an almost ilIimitable unorganized ter
ritory now. We had three millions of people
then, we have between twenty fve and thirty
millions now. We had no Treasury then, We
have an overcharged Treasury now, We had no
commerce then, now we are the greatest COM
mercial nation on earth. SelfGovernment was a
doubtful experiment then, its success is now com
plete and triumphant. The clouds of adversely
we're thick about us then; the sunshine of pros
perity gladdens us now. Other Governments
doubted whether they would recognize us then,
we are one of the first powers of the world
now. We have secured the pearl that is above
all price, and shall we, like the base Judean,
cast away that pearl richer than all his tribe p
We have fought good fght-we have achiev
ed great victory, and it behooves us to see
that we do not suffer passion to blast what pa,
triotism won, and sectionalism to blight, wither
and destroy the fruit Of fraternal love and q
general harmony. That the fourth of July
may be sacred and perpetual monument and
memorial of American Independence, we fer
vently hope.