New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-04
THE FOURTH OF JULY.

Inc seventy -nlutH VI Oul Ndlipudi
Independence, if We may judge from the signs
which meet us in the newspapers, will be cee
brated with becoming enthusiasm in all parts
of the United States. Unusual preparations
appear to have been made in the villages and
cities to honor the occasion as it should always
be hoDored. For, as regularly as the day comes
round, and as commonplace as are the topics
which it's orators discuss, the real significance
of it can never be exhausted and ought never
TO be forgotten.
The day commentaries not merely great
event. but what is more, great principle. 1t
was an era in history for the Colonies of Great
Britain to separate themselves from thu mother
country and assume selfdependent position;
but the grounds on which that separation was
made and that selfdependence assumed were
more than the act, and chiefly gave it its
vital importance. 10 was not o dissolution of
ancient ties brought about merely by conflict
of interests, but by disagreement of opinion.
1t involved an idea, ore of the greatest and most
glorious that was ever conceived or put in force
by man.
This idea was the right of the people-the
natural, ildefeasible, eternal right of the people
to polti sal liberty. The fr sedOm of man, his
equality before the state, his capacity to govern
himself, were the convictions on which our
fathers at the hazard of the broadest interests
and with a sacrifice of almost sacrt traditions,
went out to battle, under prospects that set the
seal of des peration on the attempt. But they
did not falter or fall back. The question was
:. Iof,~ <ho, rhatb he -
Continent of the West should be tamely sur
rendered to old methods of government and
foreign domination, or whether ii should under
take the control of its own destinies under a
new and democratic Inspiration.
We know what their decision was and we ap-
prove it to t3e bottom of our hearts. Our en-
tire people will testify anew this day their
grateful sense of the correctness OF that de-
cision, which the growing prosperity and hap
piness of nearly three-qusrters of century have
confirmed, and which all the hopes of the flu
ture cOnspire to glorify.
AS the inspiring sentiment of the Declaration
of Independence was Freedom, so the Govern
ment that grew out of the struggle by which it
was maintained was Government of Freedom.
1t was union of the States "to establish JUS
"tice and secure the blessings of Liberty"
Those who framed its Constitution were SO thor
oughly animated by this love of Liberty and so
jealousy repugnant to every form of despotism,
that they would not allow the word slavery
even in descriptive and historical sense, to
appear upon the body of the instrument. They
were resolved to institute free nation, or fail
utterly in the experiment Yet their confidence
was that they would not fail. Ii is delightful to
read in their correspondence as it has come
down to u.s. as well as 10 their more public pa
pers, the noble sentiments which gave life to
their efforts, and the glowing hopes which kim
died their future. Washington, Jefferson, Ham
ilton, Jay, Franklin, and their compeers, were
genuine friends Of Freedom, and would have
torn their arms from the sockets rather than
approve the Constitution if they had thought
that it was to become a means for perpstuatlng
and extending human bondage.
Now the spirit manifested b. these immortd
men-the heroes and demigOds of our earlier
history-is the spirit the r children must cher
ish. If we would be their worthy descendants
If we would carry out their vast aud beneyo-
lent desens-if we mean that the grand her
itsee we have received from them should not
perish in our hands-we must prove ourselves
as superior to party influences and mean pnr-
poses as they were, and act under as large, as
generous and as elevatedviews of duty as they
did.
II happens, unfortunately for our country but
fortunately for trial Of our virtues, that the
same question is now before the people which
was presented in the primitive times. Shall
this nation be representative ofFreedom or Of