Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1888-07-26
the Fourth ofJuly comes as a year.

the Fourth OF July comes as year.
ly confessional, in which citizens
may all examine themselves as to
their practical adherence and liv-
ing faith. Emergencies and any
great crisis in the nation, or the
city or town, do bring us back quick
ly and soundly to the one starting
point-the town meeting, the as
sembly of the people-with no
shirking of its duty of free speech
and decisive action.
So let it not be taught the
younger generation that "the
Fourth" is glorious merely because
it commentaries the bold and
courageous struggle of a weak
.;oung people against foreign con-
troll, and that the battles of the
Revolution were the only glorious
dates in that history.
The unexampled prosperity of
the country in all material pro-
gress and success has caused men
to take for granted the results of
Democracy, rather than made them
careful students of its tendencies
and the obligations of popular gov
ernment. These are always grow
ing AID spreading. There is no
more necessary. study and duty
than to watch and shape the fiexi-
bic form of Democratic govern
ment, and to do this we must stead
lily acknowledge and apply the
ideas of which it was instituted
must understand that the Declara-
ton is a continuing letter, with is
sues as important for to-day,
though not so perilous of those of
the last century leaders were call
ed upon to face. Popular govern
ment was not then embalmed for
ali time, as the Indifferent modern
spirit is apt to consider. 1t was
announced, it was nursed, and
guided and started on its way as a
living thing. We must keep step
with it to-day, and every day, for
ii was not stood upon pedestal
merely to enlighten the world. 1t
moves and we must move with it.
1t has the same duties, and larger
ones, but they are all vanished by
the one principle that humanity is
power and that its power is ex-
erted as an individual trust.
If men have made the mistake
of considering free government rs a
finality that was settled so long
ago, and SO rested, as precious
embalmed thing to be viewed in a
historic case as an accomplished
fact, it is easy to understand that
certain vital ideas will be regarded
as fossils, very valuable as archives
or witnesses TO past triumpks, but
as geological rather than living
treasures. Whereas the true mean
ing must be reinterpreted and re-
applied every year. The rights of
all, the freedom of all the people,
are the themes of the living
chances in that document. 1t is to
be remembered broadly and fresh
iy every year. and every individual
who holds office by the peoples
choice, every individual who helps
to make that choice, is bound to
consider yearly what it all means,
and in what direction the trust is
tending and working out.
! There is no need to go back to
set phrases for emotions or glories
on any present or future Fourth of
1t is a large undertaking that lies
before us and around us. In hon.
orlng the men who put their hands
to the great document, shall we not
consider what our hands and voices
are preparing for those who are to
follow? No set liturgy of patriot
ism for the day is so inspiring on
"the Fourth as these questions,
these forecasts, and the individu-
al's trust. The rights of all the
people, the freedom of all the peo-