Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-07-14

The FOURTH OF july IN MoA RTHUR.--
Appearances indicate that The events that
have made the Fourth Of July memorable
in the annals Of time have almost faded
out Of the recollection of our citizens
The Fourth coming in on Sunday thi
year, Saturday or Monday was generally
observed where patriotism quickened The
pulse 10 celebrat ion. Not flag was
waved, not bell was rung, not q gun
was fred, in McArthUr, on that day in
token Of joy, that on the Fourth day of
July, l776, in compact and stirring deo
laration, the then thirteenth Colonies,
through representatives in Congress as.
Sembled, elected the condition Of free and
Independent Statehood. II uas perilous
undertaking; but the bold and courage.
Gus men who embarked in the underta-
king successfully carried il through, and
thus laid the foun datiOn--not for mighty
empire-not for grand consolidated
government, but for gigantic confedera-
tion of "FSee and Independent States"
Sublime in conception, and bcnefcient
in operation was this system. So long
as 1t was adhered 10 with fidelity, our
people prospered and were happy. States
multiplied and were peOpled with won
derOus rapidity. TIE Federal Government
was simply the general agent Of these
States, to look after their relations with
foreign Governments and 10 prevent strife
between each ether-a sort Of conserva;or
Of peace between the respective States
and the maintainor Of their rights, digni-
ty and honor abroad.
They were happy days then for the
country. Aud with what pride our poo-
pie gathered together on each recurring
Fourth Of July, in town, in village and
in cities, and listened with wrapt admir-
alton to the reading Of the Declaration of
independence, and ornate orations re.
counting the trials and the sacrifices Of
the Revolutionary fathers, and depicting
our golden prosperity, our enlarged free
dom, and contrasting our insignificant
taxation with the excessive taxation of
Great Britian.
Between The noe and the then, there is
not the most pleasant similarity, and
Fourth Of July celebrations are needlcs
now, unless they are used 10 arouse our
people 10 shake of the sluggish indiffer.
ence that characteriEes them with regard
to the administration of the Federal
Government. II is now administered on
the theory that IL is the master and not
the agent Of the respective States. So did
the British Government treat the Colo
nies, and II was because that Government
so treated the colonies that they assumed
Revolutionary character ane resolved on
Independence, The Imperialism or abso-
lutism Of the Federal Government is none
the less positive because il is an elective
Government.
Ola things have passed away essentially
and the new are not all good. Until the
States shall be recognized by the Federal
Government as the British Government
was compelled 10 recognize them, "As free
and Independent Sldles," there is no par
tcular need 10 burn much powder or
spend orstorical labor in glorifcation
Of the Fourth of July for such glor6-
cation necessarily raises the question
why the Revolutionary fathers fought for
the esta bliShment Of "Frec and Endepend-
ent States" instead Of Gree and
Independent" Nation and whether that
system is not better than an Imperial
Consolidated Government, and these re-
aections may foment dissatisfaction and
discomfort. Under the new dispensation,
II were better 10 glorify some other day.
Inasmuch as the theory Of Government
inaugurated on the Fourth Of July, l776,
is substantially no more, the memories
that cluster around that day should
10 as far removed from recollect ton as
possible.