The New York herald., 1876-07-04
Tne Anniversary.

to us that the result of this century Is that
we are drifting into the worst phase of the
older nations Something may be pardoned
to statesman who surveys the world from
the vantage ground of canvass for the
Presidency, but the thoughts of the Ameri-
can people, as they dwell upon the solemn
and holy associations of this day, will be
more hopeful and patriotic than those of the
Governor. 1t was the tendency of Cover
nor Stewards mind to take cheerful view of
national affairs, and even in the darkest days
of the war he never despaired of tri-
umphant result. We may be pardoned
something of Governor Stewards feeling on
this Fourth of July. There are two ways in
which to look at our anniversary In
mems lives as we come to memorable
anniversaries, the disciplined soul is prone
to inquiry and meditation. "What have
done in all these years? What opportu-
mites have 1 wasted? What fortunes have I
lost What would undo if had to live it
ali over again? What have l achieved, what
failed to achieve? How best can l apply
these lessons and experiences to the work
that may still be in store?" All men have
these moods of determination, and on
days like this nations may also indulge
them.
1t is we'll enough to shout over our anniver-
sary. The cannon will roar, the bells will
ring; there will be pageantry and oratory, song
and prayer, as becomes patriotic Christian
people The celebration in Philadelphia
will be the most magnificent we have ever
known in our country. All eyes turn to
Philadelphia as the seat of Independence,
and the enterprise and genius of many lands
have contributed an exposition which in
itself is celebration of the anniversary.
We shall do our share in New York, and it is
pleasant to notice that in these festivities
our foreign citizens take even a more promi-
nent part than the Americans. To our for
eign citizens liberty is fact, an experience.
To our people it is q sentiment, which, con-
sidering that we are not sentimental, we
sometimes view with cynicism. Those to
whom America has given an asylum, to whom
citizenship means liberty in the fullest sense,
are not those who despair of the Republic.
To them liberty is a possession, and when
they join with us in celebrating the Fourth
of July they do so with something of the
fervor of the ancient Hebrews when they
celebrated the escape from bondage, the
forty years in the desert, the mamma, the
rival in the land Of promise and refuge and
freedom. Our fathers, who century since
entered into the wilderness, and who knew
the perils of the journey, looked at the
Fourth of July with different eyes than our
own, just as the founder of great estate is
apt to husband his possessions more care
fully than the improvident heirs. 1t may
be, therefore, that during the latter part
of these hundred years We who have in
herited liberty have not always been pru-
dent in its enjoyment. AS we look back
! over the century We can see points where we
have failed to carry out the designs of our
| fathers. Our government is not as demo-
cratic as it was in the beginning We lack
the simplicity and sincerity of the fathers.
| We have surrendered the civil service, the
municipal and State independence, which
were among the virtues of the earlier time,
and which republicans in other lands now
consider the vital principles of freedom.
1t is sometimes questioned if public and
| private virtue are at as high standard
they were a hundred years ago. This is one
of the questions which are always asked and
never answered. The reality of virtue is
not seen in the ostentation and clamor of
political life. A hundred years ago, and
| General Washington was the centre of
as many scandals, as much intrigue
and as much dissatisfaction as General
Grant is to-day. And yet what a figure
Washington makes in history !-austere,
serene ilustrious; fixed star in the gall
axy of fame, whose brightness will last while
time endures. Only a few years. n very few
years have passed since Lincoln was a mon
ster, a tyrant, a corrupt man, gorilla; and
yet Lincoln's name shines in the same
galaxy as that Of Washington, and we
apotheosize him as though slander had
never breathed upon his name. We have
little doubt that a hundred years from
to-day some Governor will be as
anxious as Governor Tilden to reform
the country" and ''bring the government
back" to what it was under Lincoln and
Grant. 1t is hard, therefore, to say whether
in public and private virtue we are any
better or any worse than our fathers. We
have political class which did not exist in
the Revolutionary times class which makes
politics a business. This is q low class. from
the fact that our best men have their careers
to form, and they find no advantage in politics.
| Consequently our elections are controlled by
the large body of men to whom politics is
| professlon and the few able men who have
the skill TO seize on this body and WELD it
for their own ambition. This evil, which is
the gravest in our system, is one that time
and education will eradicate Education
will teach every man of honor that he can no