The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-04
Tho Centennial Fourth.


The one-hundr.dth anniversary of our
Independence, which was ushered IN last
hight with professions, illulninatious,
music, the sound of cannon and general
applause, may wen be the occasion OF
great and unusual demonstrations of Joy
and pride. Though century of national
existence Is brief period, estimated by
the endurance of the foreign States from
which we or our ancestors came, yet a
hundred years life " the longest IN the
history Of modern republics And the
ptcps which the United States have made
70 a place alongside the great powers of
the world have been 30 rapid aud 30
steadily forward that the century repre-
pents as much for us as many centuries in
the career of the older peoples from whom
we have derived our population.
But though we have advanced so surely
during the century, civilized Europe has
not been laggard in the direction OF prog
ress, nor have pagan Asia and Africa been
behindhand IN the general forward move
ment. Religious liberty is now almost
world wide: the dominance Of the civil
authority is almost every where recognized
safe from the invasions of kings or en-
perors. Liberty of opinion is tolerated,
and the best minds among legislators,
philosophers, statesmen, and economists
are giving their most serious thought to
the question OF bringing into harmony the
two great powers of material progress.
capital and labor. one OF the greatest
features OF this century is the attention
which the man who works with ms hands
has compelled from the man who employs
him aud the mcu who make laws for both.
In the century coming this question will
probably grow more prominent, and let
US hope that the world viii also grow in
wisdom to deal with II.
As for ourselves, besides winning our in
dependence, we have made the hundred
years memorable by abolishing slavery,
by determining that there is no right of
secession from the Federal Government,
and by enflanchisng the negroes. These
are the chief events of the hundred years,
though our growth in population TO forty
four millions, and our advance in material
prosperity corrcspondingly, are also mel
dents OF great Importance. The progress
has likewise been steady. Our common
sch DOL system has developed into the best
In the world. unless, perhaps, we except
that of Germany; our great colleges have
grown from high schools into universities
We have built up distinctive literature,
or rather n companion To the literature of
England; our newspaper press has grown
prodigiously In power, merit, and extent
we have laid the foundations OF un art,
and the conveniences and eleganccs OF life
are growing to bear comparison In our
large cities with those OF the cultivated
capitals of Europe.
Our political and moral growth, we are
obliged TO say, has not been so satisfactory
The great civil war, like ali such wars,
though 1t achieved for us important results
and saved the Union from dsmembrr-
menL left us with a load of evils to carry
and We have not yet thrown them Off. a
currency manufactured al will bred
profiigacy and extravaganza, both public
and private, while the war elevated into
too great prominence military men, vr.
tues, and processes. We suffered from the
appeal to injustice and oppression offered
by victory over tho South, which
left us with half the country in al
anomalous condition, neither conquered
territory nor equal States The con
sequence was the temptation, yielded e
by the dominant party, and easily mad,
TO appear necessity by reason of the eman
cipation and Acknowledgement Of the blacks
20 reap tho results of the war for par
tisan advantage, needless OF the true well
being OF the south, and the lessons OF tn,
history OF the Anglo-Saxon race. II ha
been for decade at least an era OF small
men and selfish measures in politics, cor
ruption in the practical administration o
the Government, and low tone OF moral
In corporate and private business life
while, deluded with the idea that tn
promise to pay dollar was in itself dol
lar, the people have squandered their sub
stance In speculation and extravagan
living, and, iostered by the necessities o
securing greater revenue, a vast army o
tax gathorers has grown up, whose nteres
II is to keep up the Government extrava
Eanee, and thus perpetuate themselves II
power. This enormous increase ana de
velopment OF the oflceholdlng class is on
Of the most dangerous OF the evils spawue,
by the war.
Happily, the country has begun T.
pee the evil of its ways, and we cele
brate the Centennial Fourth rs on
people rejoicing over the liberty frs
achieved, and not lost in the trying emcr
Eencies Of succeeding conflict. Even tn
party that is responsible for the corrup
lion and misgoyernment which succaede,
the rebellion, now has to pretend tina
Il means reform; aud oil JOIN in prom
blng 10 do their best 10 secure last
Ing amlty between North and South,
sound currency, and cleaner administra
uon OF public affairs. This Is good feel
Ing with which to greet this day. Let II
nope that learning the lessons taught by tn
frst century OF our national existence
we shall make the second glorious iu tn