The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-03
knowledged that lack of force OF thought or
energy of expression is not visible.
The Celebration Of the Fourih-Its Sisnin-
canoe and Importance.

The Celebration Of the Fourfh-Its Sisnin-
canoe and Importance.
The American peoples have only two ami
versaries which appeal to them with a pecu-
liar force-Christmas and the Fourth of July.
The one is symbolical of the religion we all
respect, the other Of the freedom and independ-
ence we all cherish. Other nations have their
tste days. but none ON Independence Day-a
day full of inspiration and enthusiasm and
rich in the glories of the past and the promise
! of the future. France had her Second of
December and now she has her Fourth Of
September, but as her people never wholly
assented to Napoleon's proposition that ''the
empire is peace" so now they do not wholly
assent to that other proposition, the truth of
which we shall attest o-morrow-namely,
''the republic is safety" Germany has no
| great liberty day like our glorious anniversary
OF freedom. Spain is animated by no higher
purpose that the celebration of the birthday of
a foreign prince, who is an accidental king.
Even England fails to celebrate the grandest
era in her history--the day when the Magma
Charta was extorted from a reckless and pusil-
luminous king-but contents herself with the
remembrance Of such insignificant events rs
the Battle of the Boyne and the discovery of
the Gunpowder Plot. We alone celebrate the
grand natal day Of freedom for the world-a day
| standing out from all other days as finely
chiselled figure stands out in the 6as relief of
great master. The Fourth of July is, after
the Twenty-fifth of December beyond all COM
parison the most significant and important ami
versary of the worlds events.
The significance and Importance of the day
| are not due altogether to the PRONUNCIATION of
| that wonderful Declaration of Independence
| which is still star in the north to all men
struggling to be free. This celebration has a
| deeper and profounder meaning than the mere
| separation of the colonies from Great Britain.
Every blazing cannon which shall belch forth in
fame tomorrow will be renewed oath of fealty
not only to the republic but to liberty.
Every fizzing frecracker in the hands of the
romping urchins just let loose from school
will have a moral and political significance
beyond the power of words to inculcate or the
ability of treason to obliterate. The Long
Talk of the warrior who is to address the
braves of Tammany Hall cannot convey
more valuable lesson than the burning powder
and the waving flags. The Short Talks Of the
orators who are asked to stand up with the
chiefs in the great Wigwam cannot be more
eloquent than the slightest act which patriot
ism prompts. If actions speak louder than
words the heavy tread of the regiments of the
National Guard early in morning, the silent
gatherings of those who ara to take part in
the different exercises of the day, the closed
doors Of the great business houses of the city,
the flags waving from the housetops, the Sum
day-lik silence of Wall and Broad streets,
the Joy Of the children and the unmistakable
pleasure of children of larger growth at the
return of the glorious anniversary, will be
volume of praise beyond all the orations and
sermons and poems liz every part Of the land.
In this city the day is to be celebrated with
unusual pomp and splendor. For once the
Fourth of July holiday begun on Saturday and
will not end till Wednesday. For once it has
been recognized as q season proper for re-
creation. It's not by powder and by speeches
alone that it may be fifty celebrated. Excur-
sions to the country, to Rockaway, to West
Point, around Staten Island, getting a breath
of salt-aden air from the sea and on the
Sound are an excellent way of testifyng TO the
glories of the Fourth. The sports on land and
sea, of which the HERALD has already published
such full reports, the regatta at Cape May, the
races at Monmouth Park aud other trotting
places, the contests of the cricket and base
ball clubs, all properly enter into the days
amusements and are another way of giving
expression to the patriotism of the
! moment We like this tendency among
our people. The Fourth can be as
fifty celebrated in some quiet corner
of the country, on shady knobs and on the
grassy banks of gentle streams, as in the
town. Military parades are well enough, and
80 are speechmaking and the singing of
| patriotic songs and the chimes from the tower
of old Trinity; but the little gatherings on the
mountain sides and in the rural valleys, far
away from the noise and heat aud dust, the
necessary toll and care Of the city, are better.
There is no better way Of promoting patriotism
than by promoting health, and no surer way Of
securing for each succeeding year a joyful
welcome to this glorious anniversary than by
making it day of pleasure and Of pleasurable
| anticpations.
The celebration in New York will begin
very early. The members of the First
Division of the National Guard will be in their
places to be saluted by the rising sun. An
hour later the bells of Trinity church send forth
their chimes of joy in those good old pieces
of patriotic music, 'Hail, Columbia !" and
| columbia the Gem Of the Ocean," while the
enlivening changes of yankee Doodle" will
again remind us how our fathers made the red
coats run about the time they lowered the