National Republican., 1882-07-04
The Fourth of July,

versary of the day-one hundred and six
years ago-on which the immortal
Declaration was signed by the brave
rebels of the Revolution. The day which
tests every mans love of country, and
brings to mind noble men whose memo
ries are revered by all, and concerning
whose noble deeds there is no division of
opinion. 1t is q sad reflection that party
spirit and n misconception of rights and
interests on the one side, and of inten-
tions on the other, made us for some
years two distinct and hostile peoples,
and finally brought on the terrible ply
sical conflict from the prostration
and excitement of which we are not
| yet ecovered. The lad born in 1852
was but nine years old when the rebel
lion began. Thus every man of thirty
and under has grown up with sense of
hostility toward Americans of the Sec
ton opposed to him, rather than toward
the harsh rule of the mother country
from which the colonies liberated them
selves. The Fourth of July was, until
GOODNESS and enmity grew up between
the sections, the one day of the year
when the sentiments of patriotism were
active, and when men and boys drank
in the eloquence of patriotic oratory.
Our country has survived the civil war,
and the smiling fields of the South are
tokens that the process of repair is rapidly
going on. AT the North the passion
of patriotism is no olonger directed against
domestic violence, but is resuming its
devotion to all that is American.
The fierce hatred between North and
South has been national disease. Let
us hope it is being rapidly eradicated.
There is now no element in the country
which would dissolve the Union. There
is no Southern hostility to the national
authority. There is. no Northern hos
tility to any Southern interest. The
failure of the Southern cause involved
changes which have changed parties.
The old leaders of opinion in that section
lost their following, but refused to sur
render the lead in the political party to
which they belonged. Reduced to a
minority, they refused to submit to the
loss of power, and have found means for re-
sisting the majority by denial of political
rights through unlawful methods. This
unwillingness of the minority to submit
to majority rule leads to systematic but
not avowed resistance to the Federal
Constitution and laws. 1t is being over
come by the unwillingness of men to
adhere to party which can only hope
for success through violent suppression
| Sfx .Htn T,ot,l l,,1nt ,,t Of
cast. With the impending destruction
of the so-called Democratic party of the
South, there will be nothing left of the
destructive forces which have menaced
the government for half century.
But with slavery and the slavery rebel
lion, and the Democratic party, which is
but the debris of both, all out of the way,
we shall then have but commenced the
great work of establishing Liberty. The
struggle between Freedom and Slavery
has not had the effect to make the par
tisans of Freedom over-gentle or tolerant.
The suppression of the rebellion of the
Disunionists by the Unionists has not
made all Of the latter fully to realize the
blessings of Union. There is great
need among all the people who discuss
public affairs to beget temperance
not now very common. We all need to
learn that civil Liberty is soon'choked ur
and destroyed by bigotry and intoler
ance. Freedom of action and of speech
should not subject any man to that gross
man is obliged to cooperate with any
political party. He may be Independent
But this gives him no right to be intoler.
ant of those why do choose to affiliate
with parties. Indeed, an Independent
party is political, and generally as eager
for power as any. A man may be q
Irregular" or "bolter" without being O
malefactor. And so it is in matters Of
religion. The orthodox Christians and
the atheists are equally exercising theii
proper religious freedom when they re-
fuse to submit to any control concerning
religious matters. The great duty of pa,
triotic citizens is to endeavor to promote
the welfare of the country by measures
and policies impressed upon the majority
by decent and fair advocacy. Let us have
done with screaming and bull-dozing,
which are weak, and allow an occasional
calm, when liberation and reason shall
bring composure and strength The
Fourth of July is a good day on which tc
realize that real Liberty disdains coercion
for others which it will not tolerate fol
itself We mean that Liberty, restrained
by law, which asks only for so much
Freedom as is compatible with order and
safety in society.