Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-07-03
The Glorious Fourth.

songs. At the rural home: in the pul
lie assemblies: in the boisterous but il
nocent rastime of youth; without rul
or plan the celebration goes gayly OF
Should some foreigner observe the cor
duct on this day for the first tim,
would he not he puzzled to tell the in
port of this spontaneous effort 20 exec
in exciting sports and noise that seize
the entire nation on each return Of tn
Fourth of July. Nor would we tell al
Its meaning to say it is in memory o
the birth of this great republic. w
do indeed refresh our minds with tn
heroic deeds and sacrifices for libert,
made BY the fathers and mothers of th'
republic, when they laid so wisely it
enduring foundations. No other mon
ument can sosurely preserve the hlstor,
of that grand event, and enforce it:
lessons, as this day devoted to suet
varied and spontaneous recreations
Other nations have erected monu'
ments in marble. granite, and the more
enduring metals: the monuments to
wear or rust, and their inscriptions to
perish and be forgotten.
Following the the wisdom Of God we
observe the day in each recurring year.
with which the epoch of human liberty
will be forever connected. The day
observed is the monument, and the
Declaration of Independence is its in
scription to he read annually forever.
Thus the latest born American will
learn. through the amusements even of
this day. the struggles Of the sires, and
the awful price they paid for civil and
religious liberty. So Israel in their
day. remembered their deliver
ance from Egyptian bondage to become
4 mighty nation. The fathers quilt
wiser than they knew. Their founda-
ion has been found ample for all the
of the domain of freedom
turing three generations of marvellous
development. The constitution and its
are all contained in the
declaration of rights published in 1776. |
'hus that epoch shines withe ever bright
ming lustre.
For a generation, before the great |
like civil earthquake shook
he nation, this day was little observed
, the south and the declaration was
.igmatized as a string of glittering
But the declaration has
assed this eclipse and now appears the
cry sun of political wisdom, more and
.ore priced as the years go
:. and its benign radiance enlightenS
her lands. L
The political truths it teaches are
ndamental and eternal. |;
l. The universal equality of human
,litical birth rights. See how in har-i
ony the free thinking Jefferson is in
is declaration. with he great apostle
Athens: The one said God hath
ade of one blood all nations Of men.
e other that 'all men are created
nal" Then race, color. or condition
lst not. shall not prevent equality
fore the law.
?. That rights of life. liberty. and J
, pursuit of happiness are absolutely
.lienable. except for crime commit =
How strange that human slavery :,
ltinued in the United States after ::
It day. The logic of the Declaration u u
uck off every shackle. and bid the :
ldsrlan go free. Failing 10 obey. - -
xorable justice exacted as a penalty =,
near % years transgression Of this "
law. billions of treasure
hundreds of thousands of noble =
:. So erea. Is the cost to keep open :,
e 'an asylum for the oppressed Of =.
lands ~
Sovereignty Is a personal endow- +,
at given TO man by the Creator from
day when he said have dominion -. ~
1 however widely ii is distributed '-
The increase of individuals. sover- sn -,
lty can never be wholly lost, nor its
sequent responsibility shifted to
ers. Each person is a peer among W;
ices. Neither can others as kings. Sts
'@rors or queens aggregate and con- III.
rate this right Of the people under ba
ense Of divine gift. There 50,
governments Instituted among ms
by men derive their just powers "a,
n the consent of the governed hv
his mere outline indicates the great
Of the political social, and religious XII
tage Won and bequeathed to Us by
ancestors of the revolution. first
,ally published 10 the world on the A |:
rth of July. \. D. 1776. Monarch Th
despotism. and every form of hu- ne
oppression has been stricken with pn
!ysis and decay by this famous !
aration Of Independence. While nol
nation of century has moved by
lily on in hitherto untrOdden ways, l
wing annually thousands of pauper Cr'
archists and Americanizing them o.
II the Van she leads all peoples in &c
way of more glorious future for eli
whole family of man. COZ
ell may we celebrate the natal day the
glad Thanksgiving 10 the God off ]
ms and renew our VOWS Of devotion a +;
vi and religious liberty at the Tn
lie of national and personal free rep
-. eru