Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-04
INDEPENDENCE DAY.


The return of the anniversary of thu
Declaration of Independence brings will
it nothing to distinguish it from other re-
turns of the day. Peace and prosperity
cover the land, freedom and independence
in as large measure as bequeathed to us by
those who fought the battles Of the Revol-
ution and established our government con-
tinue to be enjoyed by American citizens.
The most noticeable event in connection
with the present anniversary will be the eel
ebration at Philadelphia to-day, which ini-
tiates the grand centennial of 1876, remind
ing us that the one-hundreth year of our ex-
istence as nation is at hand. This day the
Centennial Commission will take posses
sion of the ground in that city where indie
pendence was first proclaimed, in orderto
make preparation for observing with grand
display and effect, three years hence, the ma
tons centenary. Elsewhere the comem-
Grafton will be of the usual character, ora
tons, professions, suspension of labor and
business, good dinners, and patriotic dis
plays on some scale in every village in the
Union. For the first year following the
close of the rebellion the Fourth was
observed with increased enthusiasm. Its
return reminded US of the destruction
which we had escaped, making us feel
more sensibly the blessings which we enjoy
in our government. But as we become
established again in the old ways of peace,
with scarcely shadow upon our course,
we lose the intensity of feeling created by
the dangers and excitements of the civil
war, and our celebrations become more
formal. We are not so much in the mood
Of listening to the lofty words of patriot
ism betting the day. as in lettering
the time away in the shade or witnessing
horse race or regatta. Patriotism will
have its ebb and flow as we'll as the wa
tiers of the ocean.
Standing almost at the entrance OF q
new century of national life, we can see
now how nearly prophetic was the vision
of those who laid the foundations of oul
republican institutions. The nation has
gone on its way as they foresaw it would
accomplishing all and even more thar
they anticipated from the experiment Of
self government How true are the
words of Richard Henry Lee, made in
Congress in support of the resolve for the
freedom and independence of the States
and the dissolution of all political con
nexion with Great Britain. "Why then,
"said he, "do we longer dclay-why still
''deliberatc? Let this happy day Civ,
''birth to the American republic. Let hel
"arise, not to devastate and conquer, bu
"to re-establish the reign of peace, and Of
1.-THE laws. The eyes of Europe are fixet
upon us; she demands of us living ex.
"ample of freedom, that may contrast, by
'the felicity Of the citizens, with the ever
increasing tyranny which desolates her
polluted shores She invites us to pre-
pare an asylum, where the unhappy may
''iind solace, and the prosecuted, repose
''She entreats us to cultivate propitious
''soil. where that generous plant, which
FIRST sprang up and grew in England,
"but is now withered bv the poisonous
blasts OF Scottish tyranny. may revive
''and flourish, sheltering, under its salu-
curious and interminable shade. all the
unfortunate of the human race.
This is the end presaged by 50 MANY
''omens, by our first victories, by the pres
lent ardour and union, by the flight Of
Howe. and the pestilence which broke
"ont amongst Dunmore's people, by the
livery winds which baflled the enemy,
Effects and transports, and that terrible
tempest which ingulfed seven hundred
vessels upon the coast of Newfoundland