New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-07-04

dom There Is no period OF transition without
its attendant pangs,-no growth, even, as in
individual men, without a certain physical
trouble. We have, at least, suffered the sCrest
experience through which a people can pass
but we can ne most swiftly made whole by
forgetting its bitterness.
The second danger is associated with one OF
the main causes of our unexamped material
development-the enormous immigration from
Europe. Not only familiarity with tia features
of our political system, but education in our
political habits, is the true qualification Of an
American citizen. In homogeneous com
munity the ignorant may neutralizc the
intelligent voter. without more than an
accidental harm; but the influx OF mil
lions, representing the. inherited political
ignorance of centuries, taxes the whole
force of our native stock to assimilate 1t.
With our increase, the ratio OF this element
dminisheS and with it the danger. 1t Is
indeed fortunate for the purity of those prlncl-
pies upon which the Nation was established,
that we have never been forced to stint the
frank open welcome of all men to the enjoy
mcnt of our Own liberties and our bountilul
means of existence.
Political corruption rooted in the primary
tactics of parties, and branching through all
departments of the public service to blossom
in the Administration itself, is our third dam
gcr-not yet subducd. Its caus :, being evil
dent, are capable OF removal. One Is the im-
mcnse increase of Government patronage
which follows our growth: another is the use
made by professional politicians OF the crude
foreign element i'll our population: third IS
the general decentralization which never fails
to follow a fierce and prolonged war. The
first can he rcmedied by reform in our civil
service time and universal education will re-
move the other two. There was a similar pc
riod after the War of the Revolution, and n
lesser reaction after the peace of 1915. Our
late struggle cost Con both sides) the sacrifice
of million lives, probably One-fourth OF
whom were intelligent and ambitious young
men, among them the statesmen. authors and
artists of to-day, had they lived. Ii will take
another generation to make good this loss.
When we review the present situation calmly
and dispassionatcly, we cannot feel despond-
ent in regard to the Nations future.
Through all the dangerous crises Of the Past,
amid all the dscouragcments of the Present,
one anchor holds our Ship of State with a
mass of the American People is sound in prin-
cipe honest, and in favor of honest politics !;
patriotic and sef-sacrilicing intelligent, and
possessed OF instincts which may be tempo
rarily mislcd, but which swing back, in the
end, to true apprehension OF men and meas
urcs. We have developed a race unknown to
history, at least as the chief constituent of a
great nation: race, not of peasants not OF
ignorant tllers of the earth, not of indcpcn-
dent clansmen, not even of accepted but dis
ciplncd voters, but a race of independent pro-
prietors of the soil, of trained political intcli-
ecnce, among whom higher culture and gentle
manners are taking root, and the best virtues
of men are ever freshly beGotten.
We do not dwell upon the vast material de
vclopmcnt of our first century, FOR it is Of
secondary Importance, compared with the
deeper and graver problem of our form OF
government. Moreover, TO a considerable oX-
tent. we have therein simply shared in the
general movement of the world. The stimu-
lus of selfish interest, alone, will account for
nine-tenths of what has been accomplished.
The inventive character or American genius
had its direct origin in the necessities of our
situation every enterprise which has been
undertaken has subserved distinct idea of
gain and every conquest to civilization of
new domain of territory has been made at the
expense of the older States. In the inevitable
movement and change whereby so much has
been gained, there has been a corresponding
loss of order and stability. Our growth in
territory, population, production, develop
ment of natural resources and means of COM
munlcation has been indeed marvellous, but
it cannot be taken "a u measure of the extent
TO which we have developed the true and
permanent requisites Of a national life.
Applying the eternal law OF compensation TO
our MISUNDERSTANDING simpler secrets than pre-
ternatural genius and energy TO account for
our achievements AZ peope,-we have still
right to rejoice in this anniversary. The Gov
eminent intrusted to the whole people with
no dynastic interest TO care for It's perpetual
ton and ACKNOWLEDGMENT, has been preserved
and faithfully administered by the people: the
political system has suffered no reaction, but
has expanded constantly in the direction Of
freedom: the rights of the citizen have been
guarded in every part of the world: the cx
ample of self government here has liberalizcd
the political forms of every other civilized ma
ton and the growth of tho people in knowl-
edge, in comprehension Of their duties, in faith
and tolerance, has been universal and uninter-
rupted. We may well be content with such a
record. AS we Join to-day alike in the cheer
and the prayer, the solemn hymn and the ex-
ulting patriotic song, it should be with souls
newly bathcd in the same faith which made
the Fathers of the Republic strong
The Imagination is inspired by the attempt
TO grasp the full extent and character of to-
days celebration. In a thousand places which