The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-07


be devoured by some neighboring monsirosity,
then liberty in Europe will have received
severe blow. If Belgium is simply to become
q vassal of Germany how long will it be be-
fore that Power will impose her will upon
Switzerland, Holland and Luxemburg9 Ii
these small States are extinguished, If the
spirit of liberty and the opportunity for peace
and shelter are extinguished, then nothing re-
mains to prevent the whole Continent from
falling under the dominion of the huge Powers
which are now arming only for their ambition
and arc wasting the resources of their people,
burdening themselves with debt, exhausting
their manhood and their strength for the pur-
pose of renewing gigantic wars.
Tho Ethan Allen Centennial ut III.
oondcroga.
The early events in the American Revolu-
ton, though slight affairs in comparison with
the great battles which were subsequently
fought in the war for independence, were
marked by such indomitable courage and led
to such important results that their commemo-
ration now is fit theme for the most eloquent
tongues and graceful pens in the Republic.
We have just begun to live over again the
period of that great struggle and in commem-
Grating the deeds of the brave men who dared
to die and leave their children free every IN
cident however trivial is worthy of being
recalled, and every bold word uttered in
behalf of liberty ought to be enshrined in the
hearts of the present generation. The Ameri-
can people are too apt to underesti-
mate the gifts bequeathed to them
by their fathers, or at least to de-
preciate the value and permanency of the
legacy they enjoy. Gloomy forebodings, the
result of our own querulousness, too often
take the place Of buoyant hope and faith.
Yet we are more united now in all that per-
tains to the true interests of the country
as determined in preserving our liberties as
our fathers were in gaining them-than on the
night when Lieutenant Colonel Smith and
Major Pitcairn set out from the barracks in
Boston to destroy the stores at Concord. The
trouble is that we have grown SO strong that
we have even tired of hearing our own praises,
and it is only upon occasions such as will be
presented this year and the next that our
latent patriotism is called into play and finds
fit expression on the memorable fields Of the
past
Concord and Lexington have done in 1875
what they did in 1775-aroused the spirit Of
resistance to every form of tyranny. Then the
enemy whom we had to fight was the King,
now it is ourselves, our lukewarmness, our
querulousness, our evil forebodings and our
want of faith in our free institutions Yet
no one who was at Lexington or Concord on
the 18th Of April can doubt that the sons of
to-day are worthy of the sires Of one hundred
years ago, and all must acknowledge that
while at least we have lost none of their
courage, none Of their love Of liberty, none of
their devotion to free government we have
greatly advanced in mental culture as well
as in material progress. The names Of Theo-
dore Parker and Ralph Waldo Emerson help
to make those of their grandfathers illus
tr1ous Still, we can perform no nobler duty
than to cherish the fame of the simple men
who did such brave deeds in the beginning Of
our history. Among these none stands
in holder relief than Ethan Allen. Brave,
impetuous frank and determined, few
men Of his time served liberty better
or more unselfshly. Unlettered, but eloquent,
his words were almost as effective as his
deeds. Among the first at his distant noun
tain home to hear the echoes Of the battle of
Lexington, he was the first 10 emulate the
achievements Of that glorious day The cap
ture Of Fort Ticonderoga was the response to
the defeat Of the Grenadiers, and his success
in turn, gave courage TO the volunteers, who,
month later, were to take up their position
on Bunker hill The 10th of May has be-
come about as much an anniversary in our
history as the 10Th Of April or the 18th Of
June. It's hero-he is o veritable hero of
romance hero not unlike Robin Hood in
some respects, but in others inspired by q
noble ambition, supplemented by noble
deeds-Ethan Allen was q man fit not
only for great emergencies, but equal
to great occasions. 1t has been the Gus
tom of historians to sneer at his famous de-
mand for the surrender of the fort, when,
being asked by Captain Delaplace by whose
authority he made it, he replied, I'm the
name of the Great Jehovah and the Cont
mental Congress !" but in tnis the historians
fall below the moral greatness Of their sub
ject Under the circumstances the answer
was o grand one, for be was facing death
when he uttered it. 1t was an answer that
was heard al over the country. and it gave it's
author q duty as well as name and fame
second to none Of his compeers.
II is proper that such an event as the capture
Of Fort Ticonderoga should be fifty commemor-
nted, and IL Is especially proper that Ethan
Aliens memory should have the first place IN
the ceremonies and the festivities. lie was