The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-07-10
IKE FOURTH OF JULY. ISIS.

y
and gone since the thirteen colonies
declared their independence Of Great
Britain The declaration of independ
e1ce is an immortal document
1t evidences consummate ability. 1t
was written under pressure of solicitude
such as had never before given force and
power to any mere human production.
Every word was weighed and measured as if
it had been a diamond. 1t was the out
growth of advanced thought upon the rights
of mantle sublimest plea for humanity
that had ever gone sounding through
the world. 1t was the recognition
of the truth that "God is no
'respecter of persons" 1t untettered three
millions of British subjects and threw the
shackles in the face of kings, and with I'M
waverlng trust in the rectitude of their
cause, the emancipated colonists defied the
world. Patriotism never spoke in clearer
tones. Humanity never rose to grander
proportions. Liberty never achieved a
more enduring triumph. The lifting power
of the declaration of independence has
never been measured. 1t can not be compre
hended. Like the fiat of Jehovah. it created
a nation. 1t placed new luminary in the
system OF governments. 1t elevated three
millions of people to the dignity of freemen
to sovereigns by birthright, and gave
to them the privilege of shaping
their own destiny of forming their own gov
eminent, of creating their own institutions
and of worshiping God according to the die
tates OF their own consciences The full sig
nifcance of the declaration of independence
is not understood. The grandeur of its sweep
is silently encircling the world. The great
truths it embodies are laying hold upon
men in all countries. The down trodden
millions of Europe are beginning to catch
the pencilings of light that tell of the dawn
ing of new era, and the full orbed day will
come-come, it may be, through wars and
blood-come like the tramp of earthquakes
come with the resistless power of winds
and floods, but come 1t will. Truth is
pledged, the right is pledged, Heaven is
pledged, and the down trodden nations Will
yet have their declarations of independ-
ence, and will celebrate the anniversaries of
their deliverance from despotism. Ameri-
cans will rejoice to-day. The grand achieve
ments of the years since the declaration of
independence became a part of recorded
history, make facts read like fiction. From
thirteen colonies to thirty eight states is a
stride OF such gigantic proportions that it
has to be mapped out to be fully understood.
the eye we'll as the ear has to be addressed.
From 100000 of people to population of
100000 is another item, showing the
growth and march of empire, and
country stretching across
continent, from ocean to ocean, from the
rock ribbed Atlantic coast to the golden
shores of the Pacific, completes the picture
as America will contemplate 1t to-day. But
these things are in fact only the outlines;
there is grand filling in OF triumphs COM
pared with which geographical lines become
of secondary importance. The railroads
that bind the sections together in social and
commercial relations will not fail to attract
the attention of those who to-day mediate
upon the grandeur of the American repub-
lie. Still more, the fabulous productIveness
of the country, which is even yet in its in
fancy, will not fail to excite the wonder
and the gratitude of the people. With
these, the growth of benevolent enterprises,
schools, colleges asylums and churches.
complete the picture. That all this
advancement could have come indepen-
dent of the truths enunciated in the declara-
ton Of independence we do not believe.
The liberty of the people was the first thing
to be achieved; this done, and all the prob
lens Of growth could be solved. Then let
the people huzza; let bonfres blaze; let the
great national heart throb in unison with
the truths Of the declaration of indepen-
dence, and let all people in all lands who
hate tyrants and believe in mans capacity
for self government devoutIy worship at the
shrine Of liberty.