The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-04
Our National Holiday.

pendencP of these States dawnS upon us under
no ordinary circumstances. The infant repub-
lie. Graded in adversely and baptised in blood,
has asserted its position in the front rank of the
great Powers of Christendom, and is as beacon
light towards which the oppressed of all nations
look with hopeful admiration. The cannon
which will to-day salute the rising sun speak of
material progress beyond any previous expert.
ence in the history Of the world. The old thir
teen States have been multiplied into thirty
three; the population Of thu republic has been
increased from FIVE to thirty-fve millions; the
scion of Britannia disputes with her mother the
supremacy Of the seas. In agriculture, in
manufactures. in useful inventions, in the exact
sciences and the fine arts, we have, in many in
stances. improved upon European models. We
are at peace with all the world. Our territory
teens with material wealth. While the Euro
pean farmers are complaining of their crop
prospects, ours are fine beyond precedent.
The South points to yield of cotton hitherto
unexampled; California pours into the mint its
auriferous product at the rate of fifty millions
per annum; the West, crippled since 1857 by
the financial revulsion, looks forward with
hopeful JOY to a full grain crop and an eager
market. In fine, we notice in the year Of grace
1850 the dawning Of an era Of prosperity such
as the nation has never before experienced
Politically. the United States presents, on its
eighty -fourth birthday, striking contrast to its
social and commercial aspect. If We should
take our views as to the actual condition of the
country from the writings and speeches OF the
extremists, on either side of the issues, between
the factions of the day; if we accepted the full
limitations of the anti-slavery party on the one
hand or Of the free aters on the other. we should
be obliged TO confess judgment, and acknow-
ledge to our European critics that they are right
in declaring the model republic failure, so far
as the demonstration Of governmental science
is concerned. But the facts in the case
bear quite another Interpretation. Accord
ing to the politicians we are on the verge
of ruin. They are quick to inform us that. IN
less their especial friends succeed to power.
the Union of the States will be dissolved the
constitution will be rendered null and void the
bulwark of law will be broken down, and
the social fabric will be swept away by the
waves Of anarchy and civil war. All this is to
happen before the beginning Of next winter,
and yet there is no special excitement upon the
subject. The politicians, 1t is true, are doing
their best TO arouse the masses to sense of i'm
pending danger; but the masses with a degree
of stolidity as refreshing as II is surprising abb
solutely refuse to be aroused. The stump ora
tors rave in vain about the dissolution Of the
Union, and the consequent ruin Of the country.
The people quietly pursue their avocations.
Public securities advance at home and abroad.
In the great West new Territories are springing
up in the most provokingiy peaceful way. The
nation buys and sells, cultivates the soil, in
crcases its army and strengthens its navy sends
embassies to the far East, makes and
ratifes treaties Of amity and commerce with
nations hitherto closed to Western trade; the
metropolis welcomes, at the same point Of time,
the representatives of the Emperor OF japan,
the England of the Orient and the great ship,
the browning triumph of British inventors and
artisans. We, as a nation, display the greatest
interest in any matter Of practical moment, and
have the utmost contempt for political abstrac-
tons. To-day the operations Of General Carl
baldi in Italy are Of more importance to our
people than the struggles of the several factions
for the Presidency of the United States. Carl
baldi is fighting for principle; our politicians
are having their usual quadrennial squabble
over the spells.
There was a time when the American people
were hoodwinked by their blind leaders. Du-
ring the earlier period Of our national existence
the politicians governed the country, muzzled
the press, and led the people by the
nose. But the independent press has
changed all that, and has realized the maxim of
Jefferson, that Error is no longer dangerous
when truth and reason are left free TO combat
it,"
Through free journalism, the corruption. the
trickery, the insincerity and sel6shncss of the
leaders of all parties have been thoroughly ex-
posed, and their power has departed, never 10
return.
Within the past few months we have wit
messed the violent death of the party which.
with a few exceptions, has ruled the republic
for fifty years-a party which claimed sort Of
divine right to power and an exclusive
monopoly of the spoils. Instead Of sorrowing
over the demise of the democratic organization,
the masses seemed to have feeling Of relief at
the new sensation Of freedom from the tyranny
Of few leaders, who had managed during so
many years to control an impudent and in
solent majority. The country Is all the better
and all the stronger for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Of parties and the quarrels of the factions.
They have died by their own hands; they have
been poisoned by their own corruption and
utter rascali,y. The republic is now prepared
TO return TO the pure and simple platform of the
fathers; 20 realize on this, cur national Holt.
day, the truths enunciated by those patriots
who signed the Declaration with halters about
their necks; the sacrifices made by that gallant
band who risked their lives and fortunes TO
secure the blessings of civil liberty to their pos