Omaha daily bee., 1888-07-04
The nnr We Celebrate.

The recurrence OF the anniversary
that will be celebrated today in every
portion Of the republic, and by Ameri-
cans s%ojourning in foreign lands who
still love their country, again invites a
contemplation Of the great events that
preceded the institution OF republican
government on this continent and Of
the grand results that have proceeded
from that consummation. The Ameri-
can citizen who shall do this will have
no difficulty in i~ustifying his patriotic
emotions, however ardent and enthusi-
astic they may be. 1t is a history which
in all its aspects surpasses that OF every
other nation of which there is anthem
tic record. One hundred and twelve
years ago the coIonists, goaded by re-
peated wrongs and persistent oppres-
sion into resistance TO Great Britain,
proclaimed their independence Of
that power. Years of struggle
and sacrifice were necessary to estab-
fish independence, and in that period
was presented such an exhibition of
courage, fortitude and faith as to chal-
lenge the wonder and admiration and
sympathy of the world. All this ia
miliar story Of unspeakable heroism
and of devotion to the cause OF freedom
will be recalled to-day, and once a year
is not too often for the people to return
to the contemplation of that eventful
| period in American history. All may
study with advantage at this time the
| grand characters OF that era, whose
achievements in war and in council
made the name American honorable
throughout the world. The mighty re-
suits OF the labors and sacrifices
of those patriots and heroes will
also make a demand upon
the attention Of the intelligent
citizen, and as he thinks of thirteen
sparsely settled colonies grown into
~thlrty-eight states and several terri
tories ready to become states, of three
millions of people increased to sixty
millions, and of all the vast material
progress in the little more than one
hundred years since the liberty bell
pealed forth the announcement that in
dependence had been declared, he will
be singularly unimpressible If he is not
stirred with patriotic emotion and
made profoundly sensible of the glory
of this anniversary. 1t commentaries
not only the supreme event in Ameri-
car history, but in the political history
of mankind.
1t is gratifying to find that the popular
regard for the Fourth of July does not di-
minish with the advancing years. There
was a period when it did seem
to be dying out, but in the last few
years there has peer a revival of pat
riotic sentiment respecting this ami
versary, and it will be celebrated this
year more generally and heartily than
for a long time. Among the events OF
conspicuous interest that will distiu-
guish the celebration Of to-day are the
commencement of the hundred days iu-
bilee at Cincinnati, commemorative OF
the centenary of the settlement Of the
northwest territory, and the notitica-
ton of Mr.. Harrison of his nomination
as the republican candidate for presi-
dent. But every considerable city in
the country has made preparations fol-
an appropriate observance of the ami
versary, and there will be a universe,
o~utpouring of patriotic feeling which can
serve only a good purpose. The
spirit is n to be encouraged. 1t is of
the highest Importance to a free people
that they shall not become Indifferent
to the events that gave them their
institutions, or care less of those
o~bservances and obligations which
keep alive and active the sentiment of
patriotism.