The Arizona sentinel., 1874-06-27
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Shall. We Celebrate g

paratior in this locality for pub
lie recos milton of the day Next
Saturday will be the 95th Ami
versary Of American ,Indepen.
dence. 1t is a day that is lIaIlow.
ed in our history and hallowed by
the lovers of liberty all over the
world. 1t is day, on the annual
recurrence of which, the people
have been accustomed to meet
in every city, town, village and
ghbOrhood of our happy land,
to recount the deeds of the I'm
mortal men who plated the, tree
ofIl5erty, on the American cent?.
nent, to make new vows Of fi1el.
ity to the principles of republican
liberty, and to- send to the God of
nations, the fervent united prayer
from millions of grateful hearts,
that the American Union, with
all its blessings. might endure
forever! 1t Is our great National
Sabbath. 1t don't belong to any
creed, for on that day all dis'ic-
tons of party and creed are laid
aside, and the people meet on the
broad platform of American free.
men.
The celebration of the Fourth
of July Is not an empty show. 1t
Is not a mere empty pageant. for
it has a Sublime significance. 1t
carries us back to the "times that
tried mems souls,y when that fit
tie band of devoted patriots en-
inundated that immortal declara-
ton. "for the support of which
they mutually pledged to each
other their lives, their fortunes.
and their sacred honor" and for
which many Of them laii down
their lives. 1t carries us back to
the time when the finger Of AL
mighty God was visible in sus-
tanning a little band of patriots
amidst untold priviations and
hardships, and enabling them
to achieve their Independence
against the most powerful nation
on earth. It does more than this,
it inspires the hearts ofthe young
and rising generation to a love OF
country it canses them in the
schools, to read and remember the
history of their coantry and to
treasure up the gallant and self
sacrificing spirit ofour revolution
airy ancestors, and it prepares
them, with hearts full of love of
country, to take our places when
we shall have passed away. And
our adopted fellow citizens cele-
brate this great day with all the
fervor that native born citizens
can. And why should they not?
they came here with love Of
liberty and a hatred of tyranny,
and are always the first to join in
celebrating-ttis: memorable an
niversary. Then let Us celebrate
the Fourth Of July. 1t is NOT ne
cessary that we have long line
of Committees, slarshalis. etc.
etc. 1t is not necessary to have /,
weeks OF n, naration Some OF
the bea and most satisfactory &C.
labxations we ever witnessed were
gotten up spontaneously and on
the spur of the moment I'VE
have one full week yet. and that
Is amDle~time to mike all necess.
airy preparation. The people of
Yuma are az patriotic as those of
any locality in the United States.
but we are informed that there
has never been as4th of July cele'I
bration h ere yet. This is not ow'
ing to any lack of interest in the
associations Of the Great Anniver-
,ary, but it il owing to a hook of
energy and listless apathy that
causes men to wait for some other
nan to take the lead. Then let
ioma public spirite citizens take
he lead and let Us ee3ebrate the
lay.
No elaborate preparation is re-
,uired. Reading the Declaration
a sl,arf address