Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-31

antiquity, great ss they were. rapid IS was
their advancement In things pertaining
10 civilization, and high as was the degree
o~fperfection attained by them In the arts,
the sciences, and everything pertaining to
the elevation of man, had but taken the
initial step, compared with what we as a
nation have reached ever nov Trze,there
have been
BRIGHT AND SHINING LIGHTS
among men and nations, all along down the
sees, and we have some who, IN their I'D.
miration Of them, think that they even excel
Us in greatness. But this Is not strange,
for we have those among US to-dsg who hive
in the past. They are tossilized % every
thing taking place around them. They see
nothing equal to those old nations of the
past. To them all the great men OF the
world lived long ago. The world in general
and cur country in particular have greatly
deteriorated from what they were 100 years
SGD. In our remarks to day we have moth
ing TO do with such people. They are bat
hin6rapces 10 the wheels Of progress, and
far better would it be to the world had they
lever lived in il. But we wish to do with
The living, breathing, thinking, acting pres
ent, and in referring to the past we do so but
BY WAY OF COMPARISON.
In those great nations Of antiquity, all the
learning, all the wisdom-in short, all the
power, was in the hands Of the few. The
monarch nodded, and at his beck his sub
iects were but as s~laves-while tyrants held
The ignorant masses in worse than slavery.
The Common people could not think tor
themselves, while to be born a pleoian was
most unfortunate. True. now and then the
God.given desire to be free would burst the
shackles that bound them, throw OF the
yoke of bondage, and hurl their oppressors
from power. They would even enjoy for a
season the sweets of liberty, when the edu-
Gated few among them would again become
tyrsnts, and the expressions become greater
than ever. Greece enjoyed this freedom
when a Demosthenes Numbered from the
forum, butt was soon swept away by
THE GRASPING AMBITION
Of a Philip and an Alexander. There was
a time when ITO be a Roman was greater
rhap::a king" but at that very time a Rienzi
could truthfully exclaim: I'VE are slaves.
The bright sun rises TO his course and lights
a race Of slaves; he sets, and his hast beams
fall on q slave"
But all the liberty, all the privileges en-
ioyed by the ancients seemed but q liant
toreshadowing of what We were to enjoy IN
lis rich f~ruition. All the struggles for human
rights, though for a time they might appear
successful, generally, finally resulted in
making the oppression more oppressive, un
Ill On these happy shores was erected thai
temple Of liberty, cemented by the blood OF
our forefathers, which we fondly hope Is to
endure forever. And now this glorious
land, these institutions are ours; ours to
preserve, ours 10 enjoy, ours to transmit. 1t
seems that America was the spot, chosen
by the Creator, in which to demonstrate the
problem of selfgovernment. Lite did the
cations of The old world, who claimed this
land by hight of discovery, dream that when
lose brave and hardy ones left the oppres
lion of their own shores to seek a place
ahere they could worship God according to
he dictates of conscience, it was TO found
lte greatest nation on earth; but 80 1t was
on LYMoUTH ROCE
md at jamestown was laid the foundation
# the greatest republic Of all time. True
tie opposition OF the mother country con-
,rnued for one hundred and fifty years or
more, but there came a time when forebesr-
srce ceased to be a virtue, and when our
forefsthers were forced to rebel against the
tyranny that would have e2slayed them.
There came q time when it became neces-
sary for them to declare that AL men are
created equsl,' that they were, ::and OF
right ought to be free. There was a decla'
ration Of rights drawn, and there was a
glorious day on which this declaration was
promulgated. :,
On The Fourth of July, 1876, the old
Independent bell sent its joyous peal from
the dome of the State House in the city Of
nrotherly Love, making glad music through
The lsnd-telliug 10 the world that three
millions of people were free.
THAT IMMORTAL DOCUMENT
rave us a place among the nations of the
earth, and the day on which it was signed
las become a glorious, an immortal day
That day will ever be kept green in our
memories, and wherever our flag tloats-on
land or sea, at home or on foreign shore
The Fourth of July is honored.
But why is this day celebrated2 Is this
he Fourth of July; and is what we see to,
cay all over our land q spontaneous out
hurst of patriotism in commemoration Of
he day that gave us our liberties? Is il
the birthday of the Father Of his country,
ard is what We see and hear given
os o tribute to his memory? Is ii
he anniversary Of some great battle
in which our armies were vic.
t~olious, and are the demonstrations every,
where made to commemorate the powers oil
cur of ao!diery? 1t is nothing OF all this.
Continued on Second Page.