New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-20
INDEPENDENCE 4 SACRED TRUST.

The century of National bOyhoOd is over.
The last of the great events of the Revolution
ary War has been celebrated, and the Nation,
having arrived at its majority ought to be able
to- take clear unprecedented and frank survey
of the events which it hasbcen commemora-
ting. Born of fierce struggle between England
and France, this Nation is large enough to own
its Indebtedness to each. Blood and brain we
owe mainly to England; opportunity to
France. And, possibly the fiery philosophy
of French Democracy had more to do with the
shaping of our institutions than history has yet
recognized.
The great battles Of the world have generally
been barren. Yorktown was pregnant. In a
military sense it was IL small affair, less glorious
than many other Revolutionary fights. But in
the light of results it was, perhaps, the most
important battle ever fought. For Yorktown
gave birth not merely TO Nation which a
leading British journal recently styled "the
most powerful Nation on earth" but to sys-
tenn Of government and social order. Be-
waren said CARLYLE, "whcn God lets loose a
thinker Oh this planet" Several thinkers were
let loose by the surrender OF CORVALLIS, and
the world has been feeling the effect of their
thinking more and more ever since. a Nation
owning its own land, q Nation thinking out and
framing its own Government and laws, Ma
ton representing in itself many races and the
blended experiences and temperamcnts of many
lands, Il Nation peculiarly fitted to illustrate the
capacity of mankind for self-government and
for the harmonious union of liberty with order,
came into being as a consequence of the victory
of Yorktown. The influence of such ideas aud
such an illustration Of them cannot now he
measured. When President Garfield lay stTug-
Cling with DEATH the whole civilized world was
bowed with sympathy and sorrow. American
travellers in Europe were accOsted with surpris-
ing frequency, by plain and unlettered peas
ants, who asked for the latest news from the
President No man can tell how deeply the
example of this Nation has impressed the minds
of the people of other lands.
This singular and almost measureless influ-
ence over the destiny of mankind is not the
work of our own hands. This Nation has little
occasion to be hOastful or proud. 1t did not
achieve without aid its own independence. Had
the inventions of to-day been in use century
ooo. the colonies would have been pOwerlcss to
resist British resources. Distance, circumstance
and the struggle between France and England,
rs this Nation owes its very being rather to the
gifts of Providence than to its own cxertions so
its prosperity and growth have been III large
measure due to the favOring kindness OF Infinite
Power. 1t exists and has grown because it had
a mission in the world, and work to do
Yorktown marks the date not of a sclf-acheyed
triumph but Of q sacred trust.
The best thing that can be said of this Nation
is that it has not been wholly unfaithful to its
trust. 1t has not altogether forgotten that its
mission is to make self-government honorable
among men. To some extent, it has curbed the
raging thirst for conquest and territorial ac-
QUESTION which, it had been supposed, would
make a powerful Republic dangerous neigh
Dor. To some extent it has honored self-gov-
crnment by seeking justice and promoting
humanity and peace in international dealings.
Its greatest victories have been over reaction
airy forces within itself. The centrifugal force
which, philosophers believed, would make vol
untary self-gOvernment a rope of sand, this
Nation has overcome by eXertiOns and sacrifices
which not many other nations would have made
for flag or fatherland. The tendency to public
dishonor through impotence of voluntary taxa
ton, which many philosophers believed would
Inevitably cause a Republic to crumble aud
collapse, this Nation has thus far overcome in q
manner which surprises its creditors. The ten
dency of freedom to degenerate into license,
that impatence of restraints which has so often
made order impossible and property worthless
in lf-governing countries, this Nation..has in
some degree restrained. These are the victories