The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-05
JULY 2-6.

particular juncture Of affairs as special
providence. And surely if, as we all pro-
t,ss to believe, there is higher power that
shapes the destinies of nations and guides
the affairs of men, it was something more
Than mere chance that ordered the events
of a century ago, that controlled the events
at the south which eliminated in rebellion,
that directed the arms and councils of the
Union so that they might result in the
doing away of slavery and the re-establish-
1nent of the Union on surer aad firmer
foundation-a foundation built on the cor
ner stones of freedom, independence and
equal rights. So we are permitted to be-
levc, and so We do believe. We see also
the same directing providence in the period
ut which peace was once more restored and in
the years which elapsed before the centen-
NAL year was at hand The intervening
Years, and even the disorders which mark
ed them, were wisely planned, and only
these could have fully prepared the coun-
Try for the full fruition of the present.
But are we not in danger of forgetting,
have we not actually forgotten, another of
these special provldences ? We have cele-
brated the events of Concord, Of Licking
ton. of Ticonderoga, Of Bunker Hill. We
can all see and realize the inestimable ben
eft to the country therefrom. We have
have seen the people all with one accord,
from the north and south. the east and
west, come up to these commemorations,
and made thereby, to el and know that
they are one people, having one interest,"
one flag, one country and that country the
Union one and indissolube now and for
ever. And that spirit has spread through
out the country. The whole people have
but one aspiration, ard that for the Union.
In the midst of these lejoicings, in the re-
vival of that national spirit, and n deeper
and better feeling of love of and for the
Union than has been experienced for half "A
century, comes the Fourth of July, day
that, for nearly century, we have been
wont to celebrate as the natal day of our
independence. 1t occurs on Sunday, and
it must be observed on some other day. Is
there no providence in this? Is it a mere
happening, mere chance? We treat it as
if it was.
We have been accustomed to observe
July 4, perhaps properly, although there
would seem to have been as much pro-
priety in selecting some other day. The
declaration as it stands, completed, but
unsigned, paper, was adopted, to be sure,
July A but two days previously our ma
tional independence was actually declared,
congress unanimously resolving "That
these United Colonies are, and, of right,
ought to be, Free and independent
Steles that they are absolyed from all
all political connexion between them,
and the State of Great Britain, is, ald
ought to be, totally dissolved" 1t was
this day, not July 4, that John Adams said
would be the most memorable epoch in
American history would be celebrated as
the great anniversary festival" and COM
memorated as "the day of delverancc"
and Fought to be solemnized with pomp
and parade. with shows, games, sports,
guns, bells, bonfires and Examinations,
from one end of the continent to the
other, from this time forward forever.
g more" And it was not for some days
after the fourth, that the declaration of in
dependence became completed act by be-
ing ''engrossed and signed" By common
consent, however, the fourth day of July
1,ar 10. -.
other days, save when it has occurred on a
Sunday. On such occasions, there has
been no agreement in sentiment, the pre-
vious or succeeding day being celebrated
as fancy or law might indicate-and here
we may be permitted to say, we see the
pernicious effects of endeavoring to estab-
lish by law that which has its surer founda-
ton in the hearts of the people.
This year, there ought to have been an
uniformity, law or no law. Instead there
OF, we see almost a general disregard of
the day. In this centennial year, as if by
special providence, July A occurred on
Sunday, that it and other centennial events,
nearly as important in the history of our
independence, might be appropriately and
uniformly celebrated "from one end of the
continent to the other" Next year, every
effort is being made, every thought tends
wisely or unwsely, to one grand national
commemoration at Philadelphia. This
year ought to have been observed in every
town, city, village and hamlet in the land.
Surely, there were, one hundred years ago.
events enough transpiring worthy of CEN
tennial commentator. July 3, I775,
Washington assumed command of the
army at Cambridge, and an occurrence. so
important, so momentous, has been allow.
cd to pass without hardly as much as at |
tracing attention. July 8, 1915, in antici.
patton of that which was soon to transpire |
in congress, and in reference to the events
OF the previous weeks, Franklin wrote to a
friend in England as follows; "Mr. Stra.
han, You are member of parliament, |
and one of that majority which has
doomed my country to destruction-You |
have begun to burn our town, and muir
" der our people Look upon your hands
" You and were long friends you are
:" now my eneny,-and l am, yours, b.
franklin"
1t was about this tine, too, that con-
gress authorized the issue of paper money
in the form of bills of credit and thus
gave us, for the first time, national cur
rcncy, and one which made independence
possible. They, at the same time, taught
the country lesson, lesson which we, a
century later. appear to have forgotten but
are fast learning again-the absolute worth
lcssness of an irredeemsble paper curren-
cy. Rejecting the proposition of Franklin