New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-20

held their long watch faithfully; they were
wise and patient, and full of tho spirit OF sarri-
fee 4: and when the frat period OF ti1al had
passed and they could feel that their great
venture was fairly launched, they handed over
TO their Successors democracy to loo fostcred
and preserved; Republic to be made strong,
permanent, and great.
A hundred years have afforded us something
of experience The nation has passed through
trials that have given strength to lts muscle
and wisdom to its cOunscls, and mas had
t,iumphs that have increased the pride OF its
mort while they added to the Responsibilities
under which it lifted up its young shoulders
and looked forward. But single century docs
not ripcn q nation; it hardly brings it to
vigorous manhood. Proud as we are OF all
the history of these hundred years-the COM
Melted circle whose ends Tapped yesterday on
Concord Green-we may as well confess that
We are still rs a government and nation In
the stages of experiment; still working ont, as
! wisely and as patiently as we may, tho prob
! lem of self-govcrnmcnt. This century OF ex-
! istcnce has only partially rooted us in Time,
| and given us just hold upon History. ms
establishing of Government of the People by
the People and for the People is so tremendous
and far-rcachng an undertaking it is so large
Fact to be rooted in History and Philosophy
that with our hundred years OF growth and
progress we can only say, at is planted
! II has survived some shocks. There are more
to come. What they are or how severely they
NAV try us cannot be foreseen, but we may be
assured that skies which so many times before
have darkcncd over us with evil portents have
storm and tempest still i'll store.
! For all the perils We have passed we are
! stronger. Our courage, our manliness, our
! LOYALTY to truth, our fitness for the task laid
on Ill., to test for all the world, mans capacity
for self-governmcut, have been tried, and so
far We have gone on steadily. We are so
much the more strong and manly and sincere
for the sufferings and sacrifices of the war
through which we have lately passed,
that we may well thank God for the
/ fiery furnace in which we have been
annealed for greater work before us.
Instead of being weakened by the shocks OF
! the war, we have been hammered and welded
! into new strength and firinness, and the
/ Union instead of being broken aS1nder Is
newly clasped with hooks of steel. But as one
danger passes only to give another place, the
shock of arms has been followed by 4 period
of corrupt politics and selfish greed, an era OF
speculation and dishonesty, which thoughtful
men could not but view with ALARM just
now we seem to be in the midst of this new
peril Aud yet the signs o. the times arc by
no means discomaging or even depressing
7 The People, on whose ultimate good sense and
! love of Justice and of right the depend
ence of the nation is placed, have risen
up against corruption and dishonesty
and maladministration, with just as
much earnaslncss and intrepGty as
were shown BY the mnute-men Of Concord on
the 10Th of April, 1915, or by the men oil the
Massachusetts, Sixth on the 10Th OF April,
1861. The Struggle may be long and some
times doubtful; it will only make the reign OF
purity and honesty more blessed when it comes,
as come it surely will. There were martyrs
at Concord Bridge in 1910, and martyrs In
Baltimore streets in 1861; and there were
! martyrs no less in 1872 in the cause of honest
government. But the truth triumphs at last.
For the people are true Only in that fact can
the experiment Of the Republic become an
! established success.