The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-10
[For the Nonpareil.]

Mr.. Editor-Patriotism demands, and
custom has decreed, that we should cele-
brate, with becoming pomp, the anniversa-
~ of our National birthday. This annual
Jubilee is not merely source of present
qualification, but necessity of our life.-
The history of the world shows, that when
a nation forgcts the important eras in its ex-
istence-when it loses the landmarks by
which it has advanced to greatness-its
greatness has eliminated and it is topping
to ruin. We are too young to die. We
have yet mighty work to perform. Then
let US keep the life-blood bounding, and as
each natal day rolls round give it greeting
that shall echo down the ages a thousand
years to come. What if our orators, on
such occasions, do indulge in rhetorical cx-
travagance? What, if the magic Of their
eloquence does fling out the "starry flag"
until it floats from every mountain peak,
and hutters over every sea? What, if they
do stir up the American Eagle till his scream
echoes across the ocean and frightens into
fits the royal mummies of Europe? So much
the better. There are times when the i'm
agination should be unclaimed, and suffered
to roam at large through nfnity, free as the
will of Deity. And the 4th of July is one
Of those times. For, since Nature stood
aghast at the death of her Creators son, no
other day has formed so mem orable an epoch
in the history of man, as that day on which
a little band of heroes signed the decara-
ton of American independence. Only 50
years have passed since then, and where has
the wand of the magician ever worked such
wonders as have been wrought in that brief
period, by the Genius of Liberty? From
tiny STRIPPING, which harsh mother unjust
ly attempted to chastise, America has be-
come a giant. Still it grows, and as it rises
in the scale eff nations, the hopes Of the
worlds oppressed rise with it. But the des-
pots, who are grinding them, have struck
hands in solemn compact, and mutually
'"oih W ""tSh ioA eho ihstHAt ldil upoN
the altar Of liberty, and qusnch them in
blood. And, when the American, with
pride in his part defiance in his eye"
laughs at their efforts, and tells them that
the "striped bunting" of our young Repub-
lie will yet wave in triumph over the dust of
their crumblcd thrones, they point in deris-
ion to tho republics of the past, bid him read
their history, and in that to read our own
destiny. And there is danger that their
snecring prophecy may be verified. Let the
spirit of '76 be qucnched, and though our
treasury be filled to overllowing-though
from ocean to ocean the lowing herds and
golden harvests of the husbandman, cover
the broad expanse with untold wealth
though our lakes and rivers be dotted with
ten thousand argosies, and every navigable
sea whitened with our commerce-yet we
are lost, and our immense possessions will
only render our fate more terrible. If we
would gather the full fruition Of our hopes,
and make good the proud boas. that Gamer
lea will yet rule the world" the virtuous
enthusiasm which fired the hearts of our pa.
triot sires must be kept alive. And, not
outstanding the ill-timed sneers of ultra
mudheads, our national jubilees go far to-
ward etfecting it. Their influence on the
American mind, Eternity alone can measure.
Strange, then, that men who claim the fame
of wide-awake progressionists, forget their
interest in their country's progress. We
need not leave this city for practical exam
pies. Council Bluffs, for two successive
"4ths," instead of gathering in the popula-
ticn of the surrounding country to help her
wake the echoes of 'auld lang syne,' has sent
her citizens abroad, as if forsooth the
banner city of the "Slope" were too poor in
spirit and purse to celebrate at home, Let
this suicidal course be persisted in, and,
instead of standing proudly eminent
among the cities of the ''We ST." the ''Bluffs"
will become the laughing stock of every
little "one-horse town." that can boast of
a good cook and a well furnished bar.
Yours, fraterually,
Bon MARiISsPIKr