Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-07-04
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING. JULY |. ISL.
INDEPENDENCE DAY HAS COME"


INDEPENDENCE DAY HAS COME"
Ninetv-cight years ago to-day, fifty-six
bold, honest and heroic men, the repre-
sentatives of a few feeble colonies scat
tered along the Atlantic seaboard, met
in convention to found new empire
based upon the inalionable rights of
man. Seven years of bloody conflict
ensued, and the 4th of July, 1776, is
canonized in the hearts of the great and
good as the jubilee of oppressed nation
alities, and in the calendar of heroic
deeds it marks II new era in the history
Of the race. Nearly century has
passed away and those few feeble col
onists, hcmmed in blythe ocean in front
the wilderness and the savage in the
rear, have SPAWNED vast continent
with great empires Of free States, rear
ing throughout its former wilderness,
temples Of science and of civilization
upon the ruins OF savage life. Happi-
ness, seldom if ever equaled, has sur
rounded the domestic tircside, and pros
perity unsurpassed has crowned the
national energies. Tie liberties of the
people have been secured at home and
abroad, while the national ensign floats
honored and respected in every COM
mercial mart Of the world. Genius is
free to announce its inventions and dis
coveries, and the hand is free to accom-
plish whatever the head conccives not
incompatible with the rights of fellow
being. All distinctions of birth and
rank are ignored; all citizens, whether
native or adopted, are placed upon terms
of precise equality, all are entitled to
equal rights and equal protection. No
union exists between church and state,
and perfect freedom of opinion is guar
anteed to all sects and creeds.
But we are not indebted alone for our
proud nationality, to the hreoic deeds
and patriotic sacrifices of the early
founders of the Republic. Sectional
strife and discord induced powerful
attempt to destroy the Union of our
Fathers, but the appeal to the arbitra-
ment of the sword failed, and the ma
tional standard and honor was preser-
we'd from the perils which threatened
it by the valor and patriotism of the
noble sons of brave sires; and the blood
which was shed in that conflict has only
the more closely cemented the bonds
of union and intensified the love for our
common country. Let no uncharitable
reflections or vengeful feelings against
our Southern brethren cloud the glory
of the day. "With tears and love for
the blue and love and tears for the
grey" let us only remember, without
rancor or prejudice, that the blood of
Northern and Southern soldiers, freely
and conscientiously shed upon the fields
of carnage. has triunphantly solved
the great problem of self-governmeut
and made our country the bulwark OF
strength, the sheet anchor OF peace, the
asylum OF the oppressed, the throne Of
liberty and the hope of the world.
Let this be a day of JOY and glory, Of
honor and thanksgiving. Let the mer-
chant and the tradesman and the farme,
leave the counter, the workshop and the
pillow, let each heart consecrate itself
anew on the altar of our country. Float
the banners and fire the cannons! Let
the air vibrate with the patriotic strains
of music! Sing loud the freeman's song
and let each patriot, inspired by the
spirit breathing to us from the gloriou.
and hallowed memories of tho past ant
the battle-ields of the Republic, joi,
in the glad refrain of Liberty!
"Great God we thank thee for this home
This beautions birthland of the free;
Where wanderers from afar may come,
Aud breathe the air of libertyl
sun may her fioWcrs untrampled spring,
Her harvests wave her cities rise
Ana yet TIL time will fold his wing
Remain Earth's lovelcst paradisei
sD-The Bellingham Bay Mail say
that furs are quite an important expor
from that place. A recent Simmer