New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-04
EOW md THEN.

NOW IND THEN.
There Is really no reason why we should not
observe The FoGrth of July ON Sunday. 10
bang pistols, pop frc-crackers and make loud
mouthed speeches are not, after all, the only
le ,al WAYS of celebrating The National Birth
day. If Sunday Is tie day set apart by God Tor
the individual to stop work, take account OF
his life. and TO see how far he is along on his
Journey, why should it not be good day for the
Nation to hold reckoning with itself, and to find
ont W hether it has been going back or forward
lately?
The idea which most Of those who will pop
pistols and make speeches tomorrow have
about the Fourth is that it is the day on which
tie Nation escaped from intolerable slavery
and lccame for ever free. Perhaps this IS the
correct idea bur it IS as well to look into it a
little before we grow drunk with National
self compacency The men who came up
from their ploughs and shops and offices to
FIGHT the battles of the Revolution were as a
rule. intelligent, educated citizens. Tax
alton without representation was the ntolerable
slavery against which they rebeled and finally
hurled defiance in the declaration which Will
be read in thousands of towns and villages
tomorrow. How the blood of the boys will
heat with rage against our ancient English
tyranis as they listen! What a Caesar does
poor old King George, Numbering in his
gardens at Kew, seem to theml Even their
fathers, grave clereymen and farmers, feel
thrill of patriotic triumph they hear the
exultant proclamation of their freedom made
q century ago. But after all, how IS it with
themselves? Does the clergyman, doctor or
countryman really have any more to do with the
government that rules him than If 1t were in
fine hands of the English He votes nine
Zines out of ten, but he votes as he Is hidden
by his party manager. He has nothing to do
with choosing his ruler. The educated gentle
men who signed the Declaration, whatever
their business or profession, made politics their
first duty Now it is itself q profession on
trade bv which small class OF men make their
living. and 1t is indferently left by the great
mass of respectable citizens for them to
manipulate Sometimes when the dlctation
becomes too openly aggressive the good
natured American rebels again Gas at Chicago
and takes tho reins into his own hands 1t is
his business to hold them, whether he be
Rcnubl,can OF Democrat The educated, God
fearing citizen who goes about his private bust
ness and will not concern himself about an
election because il lis Z" too dirty work Tor his
notions of refinement is taxed without represent
alton lust as much as if he had lived in 1776. In
stead of King and Parliament, his tyrants are
the mob whom he looks upon with disgust and
the men who control them. If waIdmeetings,
caucuses and the like are dirty work, it is only
because they are left too much to men whose
manners and morals are not clean. Good, easy
Going Christians sit at home and complain that
there are fraud and corruption under Republican
,,,le. inst as they complained of them when the
democrats were in Office twenty years ago.
of course there are fraud and corruption in
the Doltical party that is in power; Just as
there are in Frcemasonry, i'll the Young Mems
Christian Association, in the Christian Church.
IN every organization that holds influence and
has money or place to give. Where the carcass
&c there will the vultures be gathering
,occtber. There are shrewd, dishonest men
WHO ale ready to put on the livery of any party
or eod-Repubican or Democrat, Jesus or
puddha-provided they can fill their pockets
Inv so dong. If our honest, pious leaders are
,;ssotisfied because these men control tbeI,
town o, State, let them stop grumhng, come
ont Of their chimney corner, and take public
onairs into their own hdlus' us tiler fOefatheTs
did in 1776.
The position of the Nation has oddly changed
s;nce that first Fourth OF July, 1t was then a
little camp on the edge OF a continent held by
The Indians 1t had two supreme terrors-the
ore,ful British and these savages. Now if
,o1ds the continent, and the few feeble Indians
| ~. blown hither and thither or trampled under
soot like a withered leaf ; while England is only
| ON object Of interest to MS when we offer a
,ofuge TO her teeming, ill-fed subjects or send
FOOD "a aims to them at home. Whether our
| ahonged condition, so far as the indians are
ooncerued, is a subject for which we should
complacenlly thank God, is matter for re.
eection on this patriotic Sunday.
We have changed our religious condition.
too there was not so much religious freedom
An among the liberty-loving Americans n,
anoono their English tyrants. Catholics held mas,