The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-07-04
1.-THE DAY WE CELEBRATE"

DI LDe ittcIUllHdJluu VI Lllt " q g
nation to perpetuate the freedom of their pos
terity in the enjoyment of a g republican torn
of government" For near a century now, tn
s.tree of liberty thus planted on American
soil has deepened its roots and widened ant
multiplied its branches, till, like the bo',ya"
taking root again and again. from every branch
the propitious growth has developed into
grand union of States, at once the won
der and admiration of the civilized world. al
| this time, with some variance of fortune, thu
mighty energies Of our people have beel
swayed by the magic touch of Prosperos wand
| till it is not too fgurative to say that ou
nations grandeur has been fairly pictured OF
the clouds
As a nation we have prospered beyond
precedent in the history Of republican institu
tons, despite civil connections and official
corruption, and imbecility and despotism Of
rulers from the simple fact that there is a
power behind the throne, in the sovereignty
Of the people, which never fails of su-
premacy, as soon as it can assert itself through
the majesty Of the law and, if needs be, Of
revolution. This sovereignty of the people,
however compressible under the manipula-
tons Of rulers at Washington and the sub
,ervient influences of those of the States will
like sponge, expand again and again into
proper proportions, as often AS the contractile
grasp Of the COMPRISING power of the
government is relaxed, through the operations
Of laws rounded by execution into the full
force Of their supremacy. And it is this fact
alone that there is majesty in law which
will assert itself in behalf Of the rights Of the
people that glds the future with any particu-
lar brilliancy Of hope as to the lasting effill-
gence of our national prosperity, for all history
teaches that in nations, as in individuals, there
are periods Of caducity, from which the ten
dency is to decrepitude and decay. The very
glory of nation, as i'll the case Of the Ro-
mans, may occasion its downfall, and it is not
without some misgivings as to the perpetuity
of our O,rn government that We contemplate
the future of our national existence
Time was when Fourth Of July celebrations
pie; but to-day the anniversary is one which
to us of the South has come to be more hon
ored in the breach than in the observance
We no longer greet its coming dawn with the
thunder Of artillery, nor gather in Druidical
groves to listen with enraptured ears to the
sentences of the. Declaration Alas
we have come to realize that the .so-called
Declaration Of Independence is a delusion;
that the country's Constitution is most wofully
that yankee Doodle" is played
out, and its sprightly notes have become an
auricular offense to Southern people. The
spirit OF "Seventy-Six is dead and lies
buried on the banks of the Potomac The
man in the White House may cry, "Peace,
peace" but there is no peace-no rest for the
guilty of failure in the attempt to
defend their homes and their firesides, the
principles and traditions of their fathers
This day is to us Of the South day Of
and of sorrow, and brings, with
its recurrence, sad memories and bitter
thoughts. Rachel weeping for her children
ma Will not De cOmlOrttu.
This day ninety-eight years ago the hope of
mans capacity for self-government was born
rrived that hope is almost shattered. The
Government Of the United States as now ad-
is the baldest fraud-a snare to
he people and deiusion to their hopes.
Tho GRAND Rovo1utioy, IN u-L;cb orr South
RI sires sacrificed so largely Of blood and
reasure has proved for us great mistake.
The quarrel with the mother country was,
N the part Of the North, mere question Of
OllaIs and cents of trade and navigation
IN the part Of the Soath, the blood shed and
reasure wasted was given in sympathy to
heir Northern brethren. Towards the
olonies, says Sabine, one of their historians
that sold raw produce, the policy Of the mo-
Ter had been mild, perhaps liberal, and with
lint praise be adds: g If, therefore, the war
t the Revolution had its origin in long
purse Of expressions upon the rights of the
orth, it's successful issue was due, IN some
e1seue to the more meritorious because dis
lterested eXertlOns OF the South.
With all these holy memories in common,
Dw stands the case to-day? ]
Thomas jefferson writes What country
IN preserve it's liberties, if its rulers are not
armed from time to time, that lis people
reserve the spirit of resistance. Let them ,
Ike arms The remedy is to set them right ,
to facts, pardon and pacify them. The tree
liberty must be refreshed from time to time Il,
it'll the blood of patriots and tyrants. 1t is
natural manure An6 again he says If
e seeds of liberty must be sown in blood, lit
best to fight it out and then shake hands !,
er it." The French general in the play
Us at is wonderful how you like a brave
an after you have fought with him" No :
oh magnanimity Of sentiment or feeling has !.
arked the course of the North towards the F.
nth since the close of the war. On the con- :,
,ry, every act of meanness and malignity