The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-04
THE nay WE CELEBRATE.

shout of the omnipresent small boy, and
the licensed discord of the horn has told the
news only too plainly. To-day is unquestion-
ably the Fourth of July, with all that the
term implies. 1t may be that large per
cent. of those who celebrate it will do so
without knowing exactly why they celebrate,
or what the day commentaries.
There may even be few
who dimly imagine that Columbus
discovered America on the Fourth OF July,
or that the Pilgrim Fathers landed on Ply
mouth Rock on that day, or it may be that
Pocahontas delivered Captain Smith away
back yonder on some indistnct day in early
July. But very large majority of young
America knows exactly what all this hubbub
signifies. They are up in colonial history,
know all about Washington, including the
Ratchet story, and could give an intelligent
epitome of the stirring events of
the Revolutionary war. The names of
| the patriot leaders are as familiar to them as
are those of 1S6l-65. The battles are all
known, from Lexington to Yorktown. Put
MANS escape is still living marvel, and Ma
rion's dinner of sweet potatoes is recalled
with pardonable pride. Give the boys
chance to-day; let them "holler" and shoot
| squibs all they please. The nations natal
day comes but once year, and is as dear an
heirloom to the boys of 1888 as it was to the
barefooted urchins OF fifty years ago. Never
Il
mind the noise Clap your hands
over your ears if it is too loud.
If you were the right kind of boy, there
was time when nothing was half loud
enough on such an OCCASION. Church bells
were rung till they were crazy with the
clangor and clamor they made. Anvils were
transformed into cannon, so far as explos-
ions were concerned, and every conceivable
| firearm, trumpet and horn was impressed to
do duty on the nations birthday. Don't
| forget this in the unearthly din raised by
the boys of to-day.
A hundred years ago to-day was the
last Fourth of July before the treaty
of Paris recognizing the independence
of the United States, and the framing of the
Federal constitution. The treaty was con-
cluded in the palace at Versailles, in the
same room in which, in 1870, King William
of Prussia was made Emperor of united
Germany. A century of acknowledged in
dependence has nearly elapsed and as we
rest for moment by the hundredth mile
stone it is but natural to draw some COM
parison between the past and present. This,
we think, can be done in this instance with
out discredit to the present age The antici-
pations of the founders of the republic have
been more than realized. In population,
wealth and culture, the republic of the
western hemisphere is shoulder to shoulder
with the oldest nations of the world, and is
taking rapid strides to exceed all others
Public affairs are as we'll managed as ever in
the history of the republic. Our officials are
as honest and capable as any the country
ever had. Our statesmen are as able. Lin
coin and Douglas were the peers of Wash
| ington and Jefferson, and the public men of
to-day would in no wise suffer in comparison
with those of the first decade of our auton-
omy. Could we see the trainers
of the Declaration, as they were
before they were canonized by the affections
of grateful fellow-citlzens, we would doubt
and foibles of the statesmen of the present.
The campaign charges that now seem so sig
nifcant and so real, will all be forgotten
after the grave closes over those against
whom they are SO readily preferred and only
the better features will be recalled. The
heroes of the revolution were no more heroic
than were those of the rebellion. The tor
lures OF Belle Isle and Ander-
sonville were borne as uncom-
plainingly as were those inflicted
In British prison ships. The people are just
as patriotic now as they were when Licking
ton and Concord heard the first rifle shots,
over hundred years ago. Our republic is a
glorious success despite the croakings of NAL
contents There is cause for rejoicing.
Adults may enjoy this satisfaction in any
dignified manner they please. Let the
young felix's have chance in the manner SO
much priced by them from the earliest times,
and from one end of the land to the other.
1t is all right To-day is the Fourth of
| July. In the words we once heard fall from
the lips OF revered and dignified minister,
who had been beguiled into the enjoyments
of a sleigh ride with certain harum -scarum
members of his flock, "Let 'er rip!"
TwEYTY-oNE assisted" paupers were re-
turned from this country to Ireland last
4 week, bearing as a compliment to those who