Connecticut western news., 1874-07-17
Fourth of July

Since the late war, Independnce Day, now just past, has annually brought more vividly before the American people those cardinal principles of civil and religious liberty of which it is the national memori- al. It has lost much of the mere holiday character which previously attached to its noisy demonstrations. But it has gained in the more sober estimate of the worth and the cost of freedom, and especially in the forcible discussion by public speakers and by the press, of those fundamental questions which have been the outgrowth of our great international conflict. The peo- pie have become more watchful of public interests, and far more jealous of the con- duct and principles of their elected ser wants, and there is higher tone of senti- ment respecting many matters which form erly attracted little attention. There is also great change in the minds of the people as to the military system of the United States. While the regular army and navy have been reduced to their low est practical proportions, the citizen sol diery occupy position of relative import ance, which has grown out of the vast mil itary combinations of the civil strife and the ever-inc reasing extent of our popula- ton and territory, and the possible compli- cations of the future.
 Another good feature of the time is the gradual but effective manifestation of kind feelings between the people of the North and the South. Prominent among these are the efforts made and making toward union among the churches, whose sever ance preceded the political secession of states and the actual outbreak of hostilities. Striking also have been the public demon strations of friendly regard among the sol diers of the Union and Confederate armies, and the recommendation of the govern = ment that no discriminations should be made in the floral tributes of Decoration Day upon the graves of the dead who wore the blue and the gray. The death of MT. Sumner called forth some very rema rkable declarations of this prevailing sense of national unity and charity, which would not have been possible under other circum stances.
 We note these facts simply as indications of type of patriotic feeling which gives new force to the general observance of the nations birthday.
 Two years more will bring us to our Gen. tennial. There will be time enough inter Yening to enable our statisticians and the government to prepare for worthy cele- bration of that grand occasion. The re- view will have much to do with the pros- pect in every department of the national life. Upon the churches and the religious people of the land devolve those large re- responsibilities which if properly discharged will give solemnlty to the observance, and promise to the generations which shall yet be born. It is an age of conflict over the fundaments of religion, statesmanship and liberty. The radicalism of the period is more than eyer mischievous and destruct- i've; and as it has often been before, the same foes menace the altar and the throne But amid all these revolutionary elements there are counteracting agencies at work against the enemy in every field. As long as the press and the public schools and the great voluntary ecclesiastical system of the country are left free, and remain faithful to their trust, we may feel quite sure of glonous future. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. And therefore our few great national holidays should always bring with them to American citizens this pro found sense of responsibility mingled with the highest appreciation of the magnitude of our inheritance, and the power of des- tiny which, under God, is placed in our own hands. B,s.r,