The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-21
the Centennial Celebration - =
Means or Education.

Means or Education.
One excellent effect of the commemorative
ooservances begun at Lexington and Concord
on Monday, and likely to be kept up for the
ensuing year or two, is the widespread
popular interest in early American history.
Mr. Baneroft's copyrights and the copyrights
OF Mr.. lrving's heirs will have their value in
creased IN the period through which we are
passing; but that is small matter in COM
parlson with the great flood OF information
which will be poured before the public in the
daily press, and which will find hundreds of
readers for every one who purchases and
peruses the volumes of our popular authors.
The mass of our people eagerly read news
papers, but not books; and they are no
losers when the press is so active aud alert as
it is in this country. The HERALD, for
example, has, within the last five days, thrown
more light on the events of April 10, ITS,
than can be gathered from the pages of our
popular historians. II has not merely repub-
lished the chapters of Bancroft and Irving
which recount those interesting transactions,
but it has spread before its readers great
mass OF original documents and fac-similes of
the newspapers of the time, which give as
graphic picture as we are accustomed to
present of exciting contemporary events. We
have, moreover, reproduced all the patriotic
poems in which men of genius have breathed
forth the soul of those remarkable transac-
tions, freed from the encumbrance of minor
details and adorned with the striking incl
dents which touch the popular heart and are
embalmed in the public memory. In life, force
and picturesque effect there is no comparison
between what is found in the pages of histo-
riaps and the more vivid representations
which the HERALD has given Of the same trans
actions Besides, the digested information
presented in such admirable orations as those
of Mr. Curtis and Mr.. Dana, who have gone
over the subject in the light Of recent re-
searches, gives the best record and the most
enlightened views. There has been no pointof
time between 1775 and 1875 when the Ameri-
can public has been so infinitely and accu-
rately informed respecting the opening scenes
of our Revolution as 1t is to-day, in conse-
quence Of the recent celebrations
If the other events of the great struggle for
esquely brought out in connection with ensu-
ing centennial celebrations the American
people will have more intelligent apprecia-
ton of our revolutionary history than has
been possessed at any former period Such
information is necessary element of our
national life. Without it, and without the
national spirit and national pride which can
come from no other source, we are q mere
accidental agglomeration of sojourners bound
to one another by no strong common tie.
There can be no true national unity where
currents Of national life do not pulsate and
throb through the whole body, and it is only
through our patriotic historical recollectons
that we can reach unity Of sentiment and
feeling The great revival of national spirit
which we may expect from the wide diffu-
sion Of what is admirable in our history in
this interesting epoch is especially valuable
in reference to our large and increas-
ing immigrant population. Unlike our
native population, they have not inherited the
feeling and the traditions of our revolutionary
era. great portion of them will acquire
their first real knowledge of that part of our
annals which is best fitted to foster just ma
tional pride through the centennial celebra-
tons which will occupy SO much Of public
attention during the ensuing two years. If
the fathers of the Republic we're really as
great and admirable as the illustrious Lord
Chatham deemed them, if his splendid Gu
logy which gave them precedence in the order
of merit of the wisest men Of the master
States Of antiquity was deserved, our whole
population, immigrant and native-born, can
not but profit by the education in American
history which has now commenced with such
splendid yigor and promise.