The New York herald., 1872-07-06
Tho Celebration OF tho Fourth I'm the
Old World.

The Celebration OF tho Fourth I'm tho
Old World.
The European news kilograms which we
publish to-day-as did our special report from
Geneva which appeared in the HERALD yes
terday-go to show that the celebration OF
the ninety-sixth anniversary of the declaration
of American Independence evoked very large
amount of citizen sympathy in the Old World,
besides affording to our countrymen resident
in foreign lands pleasing opportunity for the
reiteraton of their profession of patriotism
and giving fitting occasion for the unfolding
of the banner of freedom and hope to toiling
but yet unenfranchised millions Americans,
and among them some of the government
men connected with the Arbitration Confer
ence at Geneva celebrated the day in good
style in the Swiss city. The town was gayly
decorated, and its people, as well as the
strangers entered into the spirit of the occa-
sion. Among the notable incidents was the
speech of Mr.. Adams. He usually speaks
well and to the point, and at this time he made
very appropriate illusions and comments on
the work Of the Geneva Conference. Speaking
of the result already reached and of what he
expects to be accomplished, he remarked that
the tendency would be to remove the tradi-
tonal policy of nations as to the mode of
settling their differences We hope it may be
Sc, and admit that the example is 4 good one,
though we have made such wretched failure
of the whole business, but we have not yet
come to the millennium. Nations are likely to
be as selfish as ever, and we rather think that
if Great Britain had chance again she would
endeavor to build up her own interests on
our misfortunes, as she did before. However,
it is well to say encouraging things and to
hold out hope of a better time coming.
But Geneva is a sort of ''entangling' diplomatic
subject, so we teeter from the centre-seat Of
the Alabama diplomacy to the great metropolis
Of Great Britain, to Paris and to Berlin.
Here the surroundings were Of the most
pleasing and hopefully encouraging character.
Queen Victoria, accompanied by members of
her family, paid tribute to the progress Of
American art foreign commerce and finance
halted in their career Of gain to do honor to
our national probity and our fidelity to
first principles; and Prussian sport was made
more jubilant in Berlin Paris appeared bril-
liantly; she was herself in good feeling, and
her devotion to the cause of enlightened
democracy. M. Laboulaye returned thanks
for toast to president Theirs and the French
republic" at a banquet given in Paris
closing his speech by the utterance of the
suggestive and rather affecting senti-
ment, "France and the United States
once allies, always friends" This yearly
increasing advance in the work Of our peaceful
republican progress for the elevation, enlight-
eminent and final liberation of the Old World
peoples is exceedingly hopeful to our country,
as it goes to prove to humanity that we inter-
pref the mission handed down to us in charge
by the fathers of the republic rightly, and
entertain just and proper appreciation Of the
means which are equitable and proper for its
complete accomplishment.