The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-04

THE FOURTH OF JULY.-Time, with his noise
less tread has brought to us the eighty first ami
verse,y of the day Of the Declaration Of Ameri-
can independence. 1t is our great national
holiday. The old nations of Europe have their
respective holidays, observed In commemora-
tion Of the birth or death of IN imaginary patron
saint, or of great king or of the establishment
of d. rasty, or Of some battle in which the des-
TIMES of the nation were decided. Our national
holiday Gas nobler origin than any observed
elsewhere on the earth's surface. 1t commemo-
rates the Day when the great principle Of the
sovereignty Of the people was proclaimed in the
face of the world. That declaration, boldly made,
wss bravely sustained. Kingcraft was over
thrown, and the popular will enthroned in its
s.ead. AID now, fer over three-quarters of a.
century have the people Of the United States been
confirming the grand truth enunciated on the 4th
of July 1776-that governments derive their just
powers oily from the will of the governed.
Under this principle of popular sovereignty
the United States have, within a comparative
ly biief period, grown into mighty and
powerful nation The grain Of mustard seed
sown eighty one years ego has sprung up into
majestic tree under whose branches men OF all
the families of the earth find shelter aud p,otec-
tion. Republicauism has here found its Ct andest
deyelopement The unexampled growth and
prosperity OF the country, its freedom from inter-
nal brcils ard revolutions its career in the walks
Of science, art literature and commerce, not only
justify the principle on which cur government
was formed, but prove it to have been immea-
surahly 10 sdvance Of its opposite, despctism.
But it is not our design to insrude on the pro
vince of the orators of the day. In every city,
town and village from Maine to Texas, and
from the Atlantic to the most distant pioneer
settlements Of the far West, the day will
be celebrated as our great national holiday,
and orators will recount in glowing words
the great changes that hare taken place in our
country since the day when the Declaration was
first read from TIE steps of Independence Hall.
1t would be well if, amid the rejoicings ap-
propriate to the day, our citizens would imbbe
some of the spirit which animated their fathers
in the days of the Revolution. 1t would be well
ifthey could revert back to the chaste simplicity
and high-io public sentiment of those days.
Republicanism-it has been often said-is only
compatible with high state Of morality. When
the people become demoralized, such q system Of
government is neither possible nor desirable. L.
is said that we are fast tending to that condition;
ard the fIequen. and startling instances of cor
ruption in public officers that are revealed day
by dey, would seem to give color to the assertion
If we desire to zee the centennial anniversary Of
the Gay of the Declaration of Independence, and
see it as q united and prosperous nation, we must
take care that this contagion of corruption be
checked in time. Let us hope that to day cele-
bration Of "the glorious Fourth viii be attend
cd with salutaTy consequences in that direction