Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-07-02


FouRTH OF JuLY.-We are again st the
threshold of another Of our National Anniver-
saries. In a few short hours, the booming of
Cannon, and the peal of bells will remind us
that we are once more to celebrate the day in
which the Old State House bell did HProclaim
liberty throughout the land, unto all the in
habitants thereof" The day which calls bac;
to the heart every late mt spark of patriotism
and fans it into flame which warns and puri-
fies the whole being; and for the space of one
sun, at least, makes us all feel that there is
sweetness, and glory, in the tic that binds us
to our country.
As the rapid revolutions of the years bring
us from time to time to the period of our
national jubilee, before we are swallowed up
in the noise and smoke, the dust and general
excitement OF the Fourth of July, it is not
improbable to pause a moment and review
the path marked by successive returns Of
this period, since tho memorable day which
first gave it its Importance. That day was the
birth day of new era, and that era was
charged with more important bearing upon the
happiness of men, than any event perhaps since
the Reformation. A living thought was then
proclaimed to the world, which tolled the lSnell
of venerable, Uncovered abuses. The thought
was this That the institution of caste in So
ciety was false one. The differences in men
which it arbitrarily upheld did not exist in ma
tnre. This thought was uttered in the immor-
tai words sail men arc created free and
equal" 1t was not new. 1t was created with
Adam; but though it had struggled through
every successive age of humanity, il had been
engaged almost constantly in lite or death
grapple with abuses upheld by power, and had
never till then been in circumstances to com
pei the attention of the whole world. Its long
struggle with deadly enemies had purified and
refined it, and now the fullncss Of time having
come, a new continent was provided for its
higher and more complete development Dwell
ing always in the heart of humanity, it came
TO these shores with all of those who first
plunged into the unknown wilds of the new
world. Men who had no other bond Of sym
patty, held this in common, because love OF
liberty is an essential part of our nature. Here
this spirit began to develop and to conform to
itself the tempers and modes of thought Of the
people. Disciplining them by the stern con-
iict with savage nature, and savage men;
teaching them to look upon hardships as ne
cessary labors; and the loss of all their sab-
stance as that which all were liable 10 teach
ing them unabashed 10 look danger and death
in the face, it wrought their natures up to a
noble standard of physical and moral manhood
Intermngled with this was leaven of high
wrought religious faith, refined and compactcd
by persecution at home, and maintaining its
integral strength by n strictness of discipline,
which was often oyerwrought, it is true, but
which, nevertheless, proved an Invaluable ele-
ment in the composition ola national charac-
ter, that was to be proved by SO protracted, and
apparently so hopeless a struggle.
The occasion came. The old struggle be-
tween human power, and human rights, was
once more renewed. Souls which had breath
ed in freedom until il had become a part of
their life, were TO be educated to bear the
badge Of subsection. Arbitrary laws were
haughtily imposed upon them. Their consent
or their advice was not asked; but they were
commanded to submit. But they had borne with
them into the Wilderness the inalionable rights
OF British subjects. Tho spirit of liberty which
ton, had full play in their institutions. They
We're encountered by no aristocratic prescrip-
ions, which tetter the natural life of British
liberty. The circumstances in which they ex-
listed, had tended for century and half
towards the obliteration of these old habits Of
Difference to arbitrarily created superiority.
and to the development of those principles of
freedom, whose natural resting place is De-
mocracy. They answered the demand, by a
counter demand; to be regarded as British sub
iects, covered and protected by tho British
Constitution. But the old world did not nm
dcrstand the new type of humanity that new
circumstances, under newly eveloped guild
ance Of Providence, had produced. Their de-
mand was UNDECIDED, and, tyranny again tried
to Subjugate the audacious spirit of freedom
by its old weapon, force. Fhus compelled
either to sabmt or oppose force by force, they
choose the latter alternative. In the face of
the whole world, the colonies through theirre-
representatives. declared that they were of right
free and independent states and pledged to
the maintenance of these thus declared rights
life, fortune, and honor. We inherit the fruits
oil that action. Do we also inherit the spirit
that produced it2 Is our devotion to the
principles Of liberty merely nominal or would
we sacrifice life or even fortune to maintain
them from violationl As the spirit is so is the
Douy which it animates. II we have not a
spirit worthy TO hold this inheritance how long
shall We continue to hold it? Republics have
hourished before ours. They have been
gfaced with noble deeds, and have left to pos
terlty noble names to claim its reference. Yet
these republics have departed, and, alas de-
clined to despotisms before they died. WHY?
Because they preferred the apparent interests of
the moment, to the principles oftruth on which
they should have rested. Selfshness took tho
place OF se!f-sacrificing patriotism. The spirit
winch upheld them, gave place to baser, and
the fabric which it had upholdcn decayed, and
oled, because il found not in the new spirit the
vitality necessary to its existence which tho
OLD had supplied. Let us look to it that we
lose not the lesson.
BEEF CATTLE FROM VENEzUELA.-Lnr reference
to the proposition recently made, to bring beef
cattle from Venezuela to our Atlantic
cities, in order TO break up the monopoly here
tofore enjoyed by drovers and middIemen, the
Evansville (Indiana) journal of tho 26th ult.,
says:
The cattle raised upon the sayannas of Ven
ezuela never eat hay, nor can they be made to
eat it by any degree of hunger they are
frightened at the sight of an ear of corn, nor
Will the drink water except from a "babbling