The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-05

The Celebrations NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Hen.
mans Letter.
The celebration Of the Fourth of July passed
off In this city, and. indeed, throughout the
entire country, with great eclat, as our col
umns bear witness this morning. The me-
tropolis had its accustomed parade of the
First Division of the National Guard, the
usual patriotic chimes from the bells of Trim
ity and a grander display of fireworks than
has been seen by our people for many years.
The boys kept up the explosion of fire.
crackers and torpedoes In the most energetic
manner, and were ably supplemented by the
spread-eagle speeches Of the orators Of the
day. Everywhere there was unbounded en-
thusiasm, and with much that was common
place there were In the celebrations of yester-
day some remarkable and salient fea-
lures. The singing of the ''Star Spangled
Banner" by the Boulevard Club at sunrise was
one Of the prettiest incidents of the day; but
there were other incidents connected with this
anniversary more precious than mere senti-
ment and more important than any outward
expression of patriotic emotion. One of these
was the terrible pother made over the decision
of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, ad-
verse to women 'squires," by the Lucy Stone
and Wendell Phillips crowd Of impractical
bles, at Harmony Grove, Framingham another
was the remarkable letter of Governor Hoffman,
read at the Tammany celebration. In many
respects no more striking political document
has been published in many years than this
frank and candid epistle of Governor Hoffman,
and 1t will stand out from the events of yester-
day as a singularly earnest and well-timed
declaration Of the true principles Of free gov
eminent.
Governor Hoffman is strongly averse to the
Capitalization of power in the national gov
eminent, and, in denouncing the movements
now making in that direction, he uttered a
sentence which deserves to become immortal.
''The great political question now before u.s."
he said, sis whether we are to be the subjects
of what is commonly called strong govern
ment or shall continue to be, as heretofore, a
strong people," This is the keynote of all
he had to say in excusing himself from taking
part in Tammany's Fourth of July, but it was
. sentiment so well put and so ably argued
throughout that it cannot fail to become a
political aphorism. We are people so strong
in ourselves and so well able to maintain our
institutions without bestowing imperial powers
upon the Executive that this uttersnce will
meet with universal acclaim, and from every
part OF the country there will come the re-
Spouse, ''We shall continue, as heretofore,
strong people," Amid the corruptions and
dangers which surround us bold, brave, true
effects and help to lift the nation out of the
assail of troubles which sometimes threatens
to overwhelm it.
We surrender large part OF the HERALD
to-day to the chronicles of yesterdays cele-
bration. Not from the metropolis alone, but
from every part of the country we have intel
igence of the manner in which the day was
observed. Everywhere the people seemed
overlooking with patriotic sentiments, and
the Fourth Of July, 1776, received a ratification
that amounts to q new Declaration of hide
pendence. Mere agitators, it is true, seized
upon the occasion for their idle talk; but
the meaning Of this unusual outburst of
enthusiasm everywhere is the avowal by the
American people of that sentiment for which
Governor Hoffman found the words, eve
shall continue to be, as heretofore, strong
people" The people Of the United States
have strong faith in their government, but a
stronger faith in themselves, and by this shall
liberty be perpetuated.