Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-04
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH"

We celebrate o.day the eighty fourth ami
versary of the Declaration of Independence.
Eighly-four years do not constitute long
period in the history of nation but, although
our nation is still very young and has no such
past rs that of England or France, it has
nevertheless Il past which it is useful to con-
slider in comparison with the present. When
our fathers made that Declaration of lndepen
dence, they were few in number, scarcely
equal to a tenth of the present population of
the country, and they were scattered all along
the Atlantic coast. They were not rich and
prosperous, but they were manly and resolute,
and feared not to undertake desperate warfare
with Great Britain. Since the close of that
successful war, we have become prosperous
and powerful nation,-great in energy, pride,
and pretensions, as well as in numbers, wealth,
and territorial possessions. Have we the
same generous and selfsacrifcing devotion to
free principles
1t was the duty of our government to be
glad hope to the whole world. In its origin,
its principles, and its aims, it was unlike all
other governments. There was no precedent
to authorize such government as our fathers
saw fit te establish, and there was nothing in
the character or professions of any other po-
litical establishment on earth to explain its
mission 10 mankind. Our fathers who gave
it existence intended that it should be a rebuke
to all despotisms, refuge for the oppressed
and the hope OF patriotic lovers of liberty eve
rywhere below the sun. And so it has been
in measure, but not with such complete no
bleness and effect as all true men interested in
its mission had a right to expect. The free
spirit aud wholesome influence of our govern
ment have been hindered by the growth and
activity among us OF power which would be
shame and reproach to an old despot
ism,-a power which seeks perpetually to sup
press freedom, exterminate democratic ideas,
and ridicule the great doctrines announced in
the Declaration of Independence. Our faith.
ers did not dream that chattel slavery would
ever seek to over-run and rule the republic.
We have our Austrianism to extermlnate.
While the irrepressible conflict goes on in Eu.
rope, and must go on until not throne or al
tar of despotism is left standing, we too have
our experience of that conflict, and such an
experience as ought not to be in a republic
created by such ideas as our fathers proclaimed
to the world eighty-four years ago. 1t has
darkened our light, injured cur good name,
and lessened that devout admiration with
which the apostles and martyrs of freedom
were accustomed to think of our country fifty
years ago. We now understand very well
that our government has enemies that were
not conquered in the war of the revolution.
But this conflict with the slave power can not
last many years. 1t will pass away ard leave
our country nobler than ever before ;-nobler
than the brightest dream of the old pat
ri OTIS Of eighty-four years ago.
1t is the destiny Of this republic to lead the
civilization of the world, and nothing can turn
it very long from fulfilling this mission. Take
away the institution of slavery compel that
ugly institution to withdraw from the federal
government, hide itself from observation and
finally die in the glorious brightness of free
dom as baeful mists die in the sunlight, and
ence as a nation, at home and abroad, would
take another tone; we should at once assume
our true place among tbs nations. And the
disastrous influence of slavery will presently
disappear. 1t can not last long The spirit
of this nation has power to overcome all such
enemies. The greatest folly in the land is
that Of the very foolish people, who think our
national union.can be dissolved. Such people
have not studied the spirit of the country, nor
considered carefully the significance of that
intense spirit of nationality which binds us
together.
Let all the people celebrate the day with
steady faith in republican principles AMI
bright hope of the future.