Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-07-04
1.-THE DAY we CELEBRATE.' ,

ming of our Great National Sabbath, that we
should reflect moment on the past history of
our nation, regard its presentposition, and, if
possible, anticipate its future. Seyenty-nine
years have rolled away to-day, since we took
our stand among the nations of the world as an
independent power. At that time a feeble
people, without an organized government, and
without resources, our ancestors laid the foun-
dations of this Republic. Three quarters of a
century have but little more than elapsed-the
brief period allotted to the life of man-and it
has already grown to an ocean-bound empire
The proud bird of Jove, our national emblem,
now rises with the morning sun, ffom the blue
waves of the Atlantic, and soaring with that
sun throughout the day, retires to rest where
the peaceful billows of the great Pacific, break
and die away, having, during his entire fight,
surveyed the fruits Of our republican progress
From unexplored and unbroken wilderness,
we have a country embracing almost every va
riety of natural products, and extending thro'
almost every zone. While the evening sun
tips our Eastern hills, the broad plains of the
West are Sill shrouded in midnight darkness.
The rapidity Of our progress is without q par
allel, and commerce, and manufactures, and
agriculture, and railroads, and schools, and
telegraphs all attest ourindomitable enterprise.
Upon the bosom of continent, within two and
quarter centuries converted to the use of
man, has arisen the noblcst empire on the
face of the globe.
But if the rapidity of our progress has been
without precedent. so too, the great causes of
our national development exist in no other
country-we mean our almost perfect hom-
ogeneity and nationality. In the Old World
| thre is no great principle of cohesion. Europe
is made up of different nations, speaking diff
ferent languages, with different manners, Gus
| toms, religions, and habits. But here, to a
great extent, though composed of more than
thirty separate States, We speak but one Ian
guage-we have but one literature-one great
national soul. And it is this unity and this ma
tionality, that form the true foundation of our
greatness and prosperity as PEOPLE. Destroy
these, and our national ediice falls TO the
earth shattered into thousand fragments.
How important is it then, if we desire to
guard and to enjoy the rich boon secured to US
by our Fathers, and which this day commemo-
rates, that We should maintain the integrity Of
the Federal Union and preserve oUr American
Nationality? The first grows more stable with
our growth, and was never more firmly rooted
in the affections of our people than on this An
niYersary of our Country's natal day. True,
selfish demagogues raise the senseless cry of
danger, but ssthe rains may descend, the winds
blow, and the storm beat upon it, yet our glo-
riOus edifce Will not fall for it is built upon a
rock
| But our nationality is in danger, for canany-
thing be more detrimental than the introduce
| tion of an undue proportion Of dissimilar peo-
| pie among our citizens! Tell us not that we
can preserve that nationality, by the infusion
of an undue proportion of foreign sentiment,
! foreign habit, and foreign influence into the
American mind. The laie census shows US that
about every third, certainly every fourth man
| in this Country is a foreigner, or the descend
ent of foreigner, since 1870. And how are
we to estimate the vast influence, social, moral
and political, which they are daily acquiring ?
Is there no danger Of the ascendency of for
| eign influence in our American councils? Our
government lives and acts by public opinion,
and what effect must this vast body OF foreign
ers, increased by the arrival of nearly quar-
ter of million within the last year, have up
on its theory and action?
Then, we love liberty and appreciate the
works Of our venerated ancestors,-as we love
ourselves and posterity, let us resolve to pre-
serve and maintain our American Nationality
as the great sheet-anchor of our safety-the
chief cornerstone of our National edifice
| II oil
come up to the work and sacrifice party tram.
els on the altar of ur country's liberty. Al
Americans are brotherS,-sailing in the same
gallant ship of state, and all must ride into the
haven safely together, or together be swallow
ed up on the voyage.
If the time ever comes when our starry flag
shall be rent in twain-when the bright record
of this day, upon which is Inscribed the fifty
six signers of the Declaration of independence
is to be divided, it will be when our nationali
ty is weakened and destroyed. But if that un
ity and that nationality be guarded with jeal
Gus care, what glorious future will be ours
The time is not far distant when, if we keeI
the lamp of liberty burning brightly upon oul
| altars, shall behold the millions who nov
bow their necks to the despotism of Eu
rope, free and happy as ourselves.-When he
kings and titles, and hierarchies, and priests
shall become extinct; when Church and State
shall be torn from their harlot grasp, and ruined
Athens, with her frescoed palaces, Oppressed
Italy, the land of Brutus and Dante, of Colum
bus and Gallileo; and down-trodden Hungary
will all be redeemed from the night of dark
ness and ofdespotism, by the mild and genia
influences of our Republican liberty. Then
and NOT till then LicrI, ,,,isSicr, I.n