New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-22
TIE LESSON OF LEXING TON

THE LESSON OF LEXINGTON
Tho invitation sent to MIR. Gladstone 10 DC
present at tho Lexington celebration on MOI
day appears to us a clumsy though weIl-meant
compliment. The only cause which EnSiand
or England's representative can, with any show
of reason on their side, offer for rejoicing that
the United States had gained their independ-
ence is obviously, that the mother country
was we'll rid of them. Mr.. Gladstone, in every
line of his courteous and carefully worded let
for. betrays this embarrassment and dliilculty
in writing it. There arc, besides, ono or two
points in the letter worth our consideration as
they suggest what tho calm verdicts OF outside
spectators are likely to he on our causes Tor
rejoicing. The whole nation is agog just now
on the matter of Centennial celebrations-very
much in the condition of young heir VINO mas
come of age, and feels his good looks and hot
blood and strong muscles, and bids all his
neighbors in to be as delighted as he that there
is such good fellow alive in the world, and 70
admire his land and cattle and houses. The
nciyhbors, however, will carry cool heads and
critical eyes to the merry making; and, as Mr..
Gladstone hints, will not think it necessary 70
rejoice that the heir was born in 1775, unless
he can show very good cause for having been
born at all. He certainly ought, at least, TO
fulfill the promise of his birth; and, even In
the judgment of Englishnep, he started FAIRLY
enough in his cradle. Just one hundred years
ago, In April, 1875, John Wilkes, in Parlia-
ment, thus described the infant nation, not yet
loosed from it's swaddlng- bands: " 1t has not
"tfc monstrous load of G140OOO,OOO like
l. 81, In inf
(which swallows up all the taxes; 1t has not
"a numerous band of placemen nor pensioners
"to provide for Nor has luxury yet enervated
"thc American in mind or body" What shall
we say in reply to this in 1871
In fact the Centennial, whatever may be its
pecunary advantages "a doubtful quantity at
best, will be of little real profit if 1t only
rouse DIR s0-caIled patriotic fervor by mere
rcjoicings that we once became nation, anu
do not provoke us to some comparisons ana
considerations more worthy our manhood.
Bunker Hill and Lexington and the Congress
that met in the old Philadelphia State House
are enrolling themes, no doubt, and 1t Is
wholesome work for us and our children to
make them real and fresh by keeping their
anniversaries or by any other means and to con-
slider tho bravery and unsc!fsh patriotism OF
the men of those days. But it is worth our
while, too, now that we have grown up, to
disabuse ourselves Of certain prejudices be-
aueathed to us by these very men az, for
instance, that France is the friend Of liberty
and England its foe, because OF their relations
with George ILL., aud Lafayette; or, that Wash
ington, Franklin, Benedict Arnold, or Tom
Paine were men of different mold, or one
degree greater sinners or saints than the leaders
of our own day, moral or immoral. Human
nature in 1875 and to-day is like the famous
woman's face in Raphaers cartoons, which
looks out on us unchanged through all dis
grliscs. There were precisely the same pas
sions, motives, and conscience at work under
the Continental blue and buff OF the English
mans laced coat as beneath the Wall-st.
brokers' black waistcOat or the priests gown
this morning. Men are always only men,
and We ought to be old enough as
nation to place our forefathers on the same
plane rs ourselves, and after discovering the
causes of their great success draw hints for
our own conduct. The lesson Of Concord,
looked at in this light. is brief and clear
enough. The danger to the country then lay
in its poverty and Weakness now it is in its
Wedlbl uutl StItuSIu CiCh ITO iOCS SdiuO doia
outside; now they are the corrupt heads Of the
household, individuals and corporations de-
bauchcd by luxury. The battle was not then
left to few trained officers to fight; the
blacksmith and the farmer, the preacher and
the Quaker left plOw and anvil, and their
fire sides, and went into the field. Now the
great mass of tho people, honest and uncOr-
rupted as we believe them to be, lift up their
hands in horror at the dominant corruption
and fraud, but do not move. They even
I" wash their hands of politics. often refusing
to go to the polls. The Centennial Of 1876
will be most properly celebrated if the nation
bcstir itself to send men to the front as its
leaders and spokesman who at least represent
its latent honesty, intelligence, and virtue.
Speeches and songs in honor of the minute
men of hundred years ago are very well in
their way. But q dozen living minute-men 10
each State would he of more value than
catacOmb of the dead bones of heroes.
"
The only pretense on which the telegraph con,pa-
MES have opposed the bill before the Legs
"a tb.i.