New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-04
THE FOURTH OF JULY.


"To u.s." said a great orator year ago,
with millions on our side, with untouched
resources, and the noblest cause in tho world.
the lesson of to-day is the certainty Of success.
If wise and eloquent lips taught us that lesson
on the fourth day of July, 1868, what inspira-
ton of hope ought we not to feel to-dayi A
year ago, indeed, this day witnessed the great
victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, but
the tidings of neither had filled the public ear.
Everywhere was doubt, Encouragement. fear,
and the best VIC had to hope in the East was
that the advancing, invading lcgions Of the
Rebellion might be stayed on Pennsylvania
soil. Yet by contrast with the year before,
the year of disgraceful retreat on the
Peninsula under Mcclellan, we found
cause enough for joy. To-day, with the MEN,
cries Of the last two months before us. We
are shamefully false to the heroic traditions
which noble fathers left us if we do not resolve
to abide and endure to the last, without one
thought of the possibility of defeat. Not since
the Rebellion fired its first shot have we found
so much cause to anticipate the near success
and establishment of the Republic as with
this mornings sun gilds the early horizon.
We shall be met with the objection that the
last two weeks have brought us no signal VIC
tory, have been checred by no advance of our
arms toward Richmond. Militarily speaking
that is not true but suppose we grant it. In
what six weeks of any preceding year has such
q campaign occurred as that which Gen. Grant.
conducted from the banks of the Rapidan to the
banks of the Jamesi We incline to recall the
opinion that the lesson of to-day is hope and
to urge that its lesson is only patience if the
delay of two weeks be indeed enough to make
us forget the significance Of the success which
has gone before. We r6aiiirm the conviction
heretofore expressed, that the really decisive
battles of this war were fought in the Wilder
ness, on the Thursday and Friday following
the first advance Of Gen. Grant-the days when
Lee dashed his utmost force against the
immOvable strength Of the Army OF tho Poto-
mac, and when it became certain that our
forces could not be driven back beyond
inc bIIthu tnty Hau OiVoNou' Tiohi VIC
issue of that struggle we date anew the Decla
ration of Independence, and tho birth of ma
ton as eternally free as hitherto it had been un-
trammeled by foreign power.
Behind all which, however, we desire 10 TO-
call TO mind the better faith which endures
amid disaster, which is superior to misfortune,
which overpowerS the depression of failure, of
delay, of doubt, of hopes long unfulhlled. We
seek to find in the day the deeper lesson
lying hid in the sacred meanings of the
parchment which Jefferson has lett us, which
sunk into the soul Of the nation when our
war for independence ended, which abides with
us through every future, and which has i'm
pressed itself so deeply on the character of the
North that no momentary misfortune can OBJ.
scure the clearnoss OF our conviction. We are
to 60 through this war, to preserve the inherit
ance bequeathed US, TO save the Repub-
ic-that is what our fathers taught
us. They could not foresee the trials
which lay in wait for ns, but they meant that
we should be strong to meet all issues, and to-
day We are stronger than ever because tried by
Adversely. Lot us keep the faith which came
s.o-. diem, and which IL one Of the stronghods
of the nation.