New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-04
THE FOURTH OF JULY.


Ninety-fve years ago to-day there was
born on this continent the immortal prln-
ciple that all men are created equal; thai
they are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights, including me-
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
This declaration was promulgated at a
time of disturbance in Europe, and the
beginning of a civil war in America. The
latter continued for seven years longer,
and resulted in the recognition on the
part of the parent government of the new
nation thus created by the Revolutionary
Fathers. But even in that early day there
was powerful opposition to the great
principle of universal personal liberty on
the part of many wealthy and powerful
men. themselves descended from the arts
tocratic families of the Old World.
Those who inherited the prejudices
and narrow views of the European aris-
tocracy could never be brought to the
point of conceding that the actual tillers
of the soil, the hewers of wood and the
drawers of water, or the sturdy artisans OF
the workshop should be included in the
liberal declaration. Hence, contest
arose, even in the infantile days Of the re-
public. But as some form of government
was an immediate necessity, and as those
who were in favor of extending the bless
ings of liberty to every human being, al
though in the majority, were still not
strong enough to bring their opponents
over to their views, the constitution of
1887 was established and ordained. 1t
was an instrument founded in compro-
mise. The friends of liberty accepted
all that could be then obtained for the
cause, and left to later day and another
generation the great struggle that they
foresaw must ensue before the immortal
declaration ofindependence could be fully
adopted as the fundamental law.
But the seeds of liberty were sown in
1776. The vital principle remained in the
hearts of the people, and kept growing in
strength, until it burst out in the terrible
storm which eliminated on the fourth of
July, 1868 at Vicksburg and Gettysburg.
It is true that there were from the outset
local causes of difference which have in
fuenced the statesmen of every age since
the foundation of the republic. But they
either found an easier solution than that
of war, or were merged in the great IN
DERIVING and producing cause that at last
so seriously and so nearly divided the new
nation.
The result of this last conflict has es-
tablished, beyond the power of question
either at home or abroad, that q govern
ment dedicated to the principles of per-
sonal freedom, in which each man exer-
cises share Of the sovereignty equal to
any other and in which he has vital in
terest, is practicable and enduring. 1t
has furthermore demonstrated that this is
the only principle upon which a govern
ment can be made powerful, prosperous
and invincible. 1t has shown to our own
citizens, as well as to the nations abroad,
that government of the people, by the
people, and for the people, is the most
formidable in time of war and the most
liberal in time of peace that ever existed
among men. None other was ever so
free. The ancient republics of Rome and
Greece had their slaves and their plebians
These always constituted a dangerous
element. Whereas, under our system,
since the second revolution, every person
born on our soil or adopted under our
laws is freeman with an indefeasible
heritage in the commonwealth.
On the Fourth of July, 1776, then, this
principle was born; it was Graded in the
storms of the revolution, nurtured in
the dissensions of the succeeding half
century, and baptized in the blood of
the late civil war. By singular coin
cidence it owed its birth, and the most
act of its maturer age, to the
ooLIAO uehg VI thO 1hO IOOl III VI
July, then, must ever be day of universal
JOY and gladness to every true American.
For that quality which distinguishes
every true American from every other
lies in his honest recognition of the great
principle on which the government
rests-personal liberty. And no one, be
he native born or foreign born, who fails
to recognize this immortal truth, is worthy
to be enrolled in the honored list of Ameri-
can citizenship. That the number of
such is few, and constantly decreasing,
We firmly believe. That there will be
none in few short years we sincerely
rust. Let US then renew ON this day the
pledge to all citizens of every race and
class, that to them and their posterity,
no less than to the lipeal descendants of
The Revolutionary Fathers, the blessings
Of liberty shall descend and remain a
precious heritage forever.
THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.