The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-07
Not There the Danger.

A subscriber who breaches ON sundays
writes that he was delighted to find his
favorite newspaper standing up so stoutly
for the orthodox, time-honored. noisy, gun
powdery Fourth-the Fourth Of the fathers.
We quote from his words:
1t to that the Importance Of these celebra.
tons generally moderated Aside their value
merely holidays and this is not slight they help TO
keep alive the fire OF patriotism In the hearts Of the PEG
pie and especially Of the lower classes Here find their
highest utility. A. this time. when crackbrained ref
gees from Europe swarm in cities proclaiming the
widest theories seeking substitute the rcd flag
the Commune for the dear old spanged banner tits
more important than that the workingmen o the
country should be reminded that they not down.
Godden proletaries but American citizens"
We are glad that our reverend corre-
spondent is of The Suns mind about the
value OF Independence Day; but we are
sorry to find him using such an un-Amerl-
can phrase as the lower classes in speak
Ing OF that great majority Of his fellow
countrymen and equals who earn their daily
bread by hard work in the shop or field.
This phrase is altogether too frequent in
the mouths and on the pens Of college-bred
mer who have graduated into the learned
professions; and its use convicts the man who
employs it OF having as yet failed to master
the most important lesson OF the Fourth OF
July. Our correspondents heart is, no
doubt, in the right place; but he should lose
no time in clearing his brain Of the snobbish
notion that the American citizen who thumps
pulpit cushion is higher order OF being
than the American citizen who thumps an
anvil or breaks the clods OF the earth.
1t Is we'll that the people whose lot Is one
Of toll and privation should be periodically
reminded OF the glorious birthright which
no hard times can take from them-the
equal right in a country before whose laws
rich and poor stand on a common footing.
But we think our reverend subscriber ex-
aggerates the danger to our institutions
from the alien refugees to whom he refers.
Their propaganda is not making much visi-
BILE progress; their proselytes are few and
far between. The average American me-
chanic OF agriculturist is too we'll versed in
the principles OF liberty and has too much
sense to be easily led astray by any re-
generators OF society on the despotic plan.
No. the real and imminent danger to our
institutions Is to be found In quite another
Quarter-among what our reverend cor
respondent would probably describe as the
higher classes. 1t is there, and not among
the hard-handed farmers and mechanics
that the political disease Is at work which,
unless checked in time, will eat its way to
the heart Of the republic. Our gilded youth
come back from the delights Of Paris and
London to indulge in languid sneers at
popular government, to sigh for titles and
ribbons, and TO neglect every duty of cti-
Zenshp. Their fathers, In too many cases,
are more anxious about their investments
than about their country; they would have
Fraud in the White House let alone rather
than run the risk OF disturbance of bust
ness" and they are now crying out for q
"strong government" under which rich
mon can make money in peace and quiet
ness. And portly, broadclothed divnes OF
the GILBERT HAVEN stamp take up the cry,
and proclaim from the pulpit that the
sovereign cure for the ailments Of the body
polite is the uplilted sword in the hand Of
GRANrl
1t is these men who need the Fourth OF
July. 1t is because of these men that the
country needs it as never before.