The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-04
TWELVE PAGES.
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THE DAY WE CELEBRATE.

of the country. The Fourth of July, go dear
to the Americans of former generations, should
be trebly dear to all patriots Of to-day, for the
reason that it has been hallowed anew by the
sons of the men and women who sacrificed so
much and suffered so much for freedom in the
days of 1776. No one has forgotten, or ever
the Fourth of July at Vicksburg and at Get
tysburg. The greatest of modern military
leaders won his first decisive triumph on that
day by taking the chief stronghold on the
Mississippi river on that memorable anniver-
sary, and the loyal forces on the great battle
field in Pennsylvania achieved one of the
most signal triumphs of the war against the
Rebellion on that same day 1t is, therefore,
day to be commemorated all over the land,
and by all the people who rejoice that we are
in the enjoyment of the Union unimpaired, as
handed down to us by the fathers of the Rev
oluiion.
The children will not forget it; they never
do. Nor will the older persons let it pass
without giving more than passing thought
to the associations that go with it. 1t is
resonant with patriotic suggestions to all who
care to heed them There is patriotism in its
every breeze, from the rising of the sun to the
going down Of the same Nor is it all in the
pop and fzz of fireworks and the eloquent
words of the orator who shall again lift up his
voice upon this occasion. 1t is time for
thought as well as rejoicing 1t is good day
On which to recount the blessings that have
been bequeathed to the American people and
to consider how they may be best conserved.
1T is the desire of every honest citi
zen to perp etuate the Union as it
is and as the founders of this
American Republic intended it should be.
The demand is for tall men. For men who
are above all petty and personal schemes at
the expense of the people. For men in Office
who shall measure up. shoulder to shoulder,
with the best men in the land, in public or
private For officials who shall not only dis
charge their duties as such, but shall be ever
alive to every material interest of the country.
For men who not only are educated in text
books, but are imbued with that love of coun-
try as shall make them safe and sure in every
hour of trial The freedom of the people in
every walk of life must be such as shall grow
up together and all develop into the best Of
their kind that the world has ever produced
To-day is good time to reflect that there
must never be anything like classes built up
In this country where all men are equal. We
want no privileged classes, and none removed
from active participation in the duties that
deyolve upon all alike The Fourth of July
is the best day in the year to realize that a
man may be an excellent citizen and an office
holder at the same time, and that he cannot
DO a true and faithful official without first do
ing his whole duty as a citizen, from the dis
change of which he cannot hope to escape.
The Fourth of July is the very best of days
to recall and recount the obligations we are
under to the men who gave their lives to save
the onion. We owe very much to them, and
to such Of them who fortunately escaped with
out being killed by bullets from the enemies
of the Union. We owe very much to all of
them, and it is in the nature Of scandalous in
gratitude to refuse to acknowledge this debt
OF to pay it in niggardly or narrow way, as
though it were something to be sighted if
possible, and pinched at all hazards. We as
just and grateful people cannot afford to do
this thing in any but the noblest, freest
manner, just as the patriotic boys of the
Union gave up their lives that it might be
perpetuated. But for their heroic sacrifices
we would have no country for which to be
grateful, and the millions at our disposal
would not be at command, but would
have been dissipated in the expensive en-
deayor to save the dismembered Union from
utter annihilation. The Fourth of July, 1856,
FL - us one people through the patriotism of
the Union soldier, the veteran volunteers,
BoIne of the bravest and finest soldiers that
ever made the earth rock under their resist
less measured tread. TIE memories of the
dead should be honored, and the services of
the living remembered and acknowledged.
From the pedestal of the Fourth of July,
from which the American citizen may over
look the oncoming years. it is a time to re-
solve on fuller and more loving loyalty to
The cause of the Union, which, preserved,
gives surest guarantee of safety and freedom
to all the people. Under its agis one and all
are sure Of an equal footing in all the rights
that have made citizenship with US SO honor