Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-06-21
The Coming Fourth.

nual convocation in many q leafy
bower, laying aside their implements
of industry, leaving their homes,
workshops, fields and business pur-
suits to celebrate the glorious day.
May the great heart of the nation
pulsate with warmest gratitude to
Tim who stilled the tempest of war
and restored the boon of peace,
hoping still and trusting that never
again will the whitening breath of
war blight our prospects, curse our
land and annihilate prospective Joys,
but that written on every flag, emilia
zoned on every banner, may ever be
seen this fragment of angelic song :
"Peace on earth and good will TO-
ward men,"
Events seem to vie with each 9TH
er to make this memorable day still
more sacred to the American people.
On the 4th day of July, 1776, the
declaration Of American independ-
ence was first proclaimed. On the
18th day ofJuly, 1926, JohnAdams and
Thomas Jefferson died, after having
served their country with ability and
success worthy of closest emulation.
On the 18th day of July, 1862, was
fought one of the most sanguine and
decisive battles Of the rebellion ar
tillcry dueled with artillery, cavalry,
charged on cavalry. infantry con-
fronted infantry, and steel of the
North clashed on steel of the South
rebel soldiers fought with valor wor-
thy Of q better cause, but unable to
Withstand the irresistible charges of
tho sturdy Northern yeomanry,
thoy wero driven back across the
Potomac to the tune of Yankee
Doodle, leaving their dead and
wounded on the field. On the same
day Gen. Grant, with his Western
boys, captured Yicksburg, the citadel
OF strength in the West, and planted
on the lofty nights, where the stars
and bars had floated, "the banner Of
the Free" With q succession Of
events like the above transpirine
with such singular precision in rela-
ton to time, it is but natural that we
should feel enthusiastic over day SC
peculiarly signalized in American
history. Ours is the youngest of the
great sisterhood of nations, vet un,
qucstionably in almost everything
pertaining to national greatness the
United States outranks her older
sisters. In natural resources, science
art and popular intelligence she
yields position to none. Taking her
vast foreign immigration as it comes
from the old world, mostly in crude
condition intellectually, she has sue.
ceeded, by means of her system Of
popular education, In elevating the
masses to q higher state of intellect.
ual excellence than those of any 9th.
eI nation in the world.
The central idea of the Republic
around which all other ideas cluster
in graceful subordination, is found in
the Declaration of independence,
that call men are created free and
equal" This grand thought has
been struggling forward through the
long painful conflict with tyranny
and despotism, gaining here and
there a little vantage ground, only
to be consigned again to oblivion,
uutil general intelligence became so
well ditfused as to become harbn-
ger OF self government. This inspir-
ing idea prompted our Puritan ances-
tors to settle in the new wol Id where
it ultimately became the Magma
Charta of American institutions
After q fruitless, ignoble effort of
| our Southern brethren TO subordin-
ate, nay, annihilate this central idea
IN the government, resulting in the
sacrifice of million of lives, and the
expenditure of vast amount of
treasure, peace and comparativ har-
mony has again been restored, and
now before Us, we trust, lies q still
brighter and more glorious future,
not to be realized, however, but by
toll and sacrifice.
A very essential element of ma
tional greatness 10 mental culture.
Tho tiIno Was When education was
confined to professional men, with
few exceptions, but now the demand
is for popular enlightenment and i'm
proved facilities for acquiring infor-
nation in every department of SCI
ence. To the youth of our land are
soon to DO committed the interests of
great nation and how important it
is that they be eminently fitted for
the work that lies before them, by a
thorough and practical education.
The coming man must be possessed
of decision Of character capable of
making impromptu decisions. for in
this fast age he viii often have to
grapple with sudden emergencies and
face untried evonts, when it will be
necessary to establish rather than
follow precedent. Cromwell would
not only strike while the iron is hot
but make it hot by striking In o
country making history SO rapidly
az ours, we cannot tell what day
may bring forth and we want men
ready for any emergency, men who
instead of being creatures of circum-
stances will be creators of them.
But in addition to every other at
tainment that of a pure morality is
indis pensible. 1t has been said that
the country owes more to George
Washington's moral character than
his military skill, and everybody
knows that Abraham Lincoln was
proverbial for his high toned morali-
ty-one the father and the other the
other the savior of his country
Civil law is dead letter where the
masses or majority of the people