Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-04
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH.
PITTsBURG. THURSDAY. JULY 4. 1883.
A GREAT NATIONS BIRTHDAY.

To nation which appreciates its liberty,
It's resources, its history and its future so
keenly and so constantly as ours, the anni-
versary of its birth is day that must bring
the liveliest and most pleasureable emo
tions.
During the other three hundred and sixty
four days there is the rush and hustle of
business. The million exciting incidents of
constant, visible growth, occupy the mind
so fully of themselves that there is little
time or disposition for review of the ma
tional life. 1t might even be thought, from
the intensity of political disputes and the
hot discussion of questions of the hour, that
at times there is cause to be out of coneeit
with the workings of some of our institu-
tions. But no estimate would be more su-
Perfcial. The United States is the happi-
est, most enlightened, most prosperous and
most promising nation that to-day exists, or
that has ever existed. This is not the Ian
guage of buncombe, or spresd-eagle rhetoric.
1t is about as simple and modest statement
as can be made of a great and important
fact. Every intelligent citizen of the coun-
try knows it to be true; and many intelli-
gent citizens of other and less favored coun-
tries are fully aware OF it also.
1t is we'll that this feeling is part of the
national life. No matter whether it is e1-
pressed in the explosion of fireworks as is
the custom of our times; or in verse or state
ly oration as was more the habit of years
past; or whether it be but the silent thought,
the personal and quiet acknowledgment Of
each one to himself, it is we'll that the
Fourth of July should not pass without tes-
timony that the citizens of the Republic are
deeply, earnestly proud of their heritage.
The science of government seems easy
where success end prosperity are the con-
spicuous results; but how much the form of
government has to do with the welfare of
the citizen can best be studied by contrast
ing the state of things in Europe with that
in the United States. 1t is not merely the
grinding poverty in which masses
of people live and die there
poverty which signifies conditions
of life such as have no parallel here; but
what is more painful yet, the virtual exclu-
sion of vast numbers from opportunities to
better themselves. Added to this, and
largely the cause of it, is the humbugging
show OF royalty and hereditary aristocracy,
and of immense armies maintained at enor-
nous expense to keep. the peace-peace
which might we'll be universal but for the
personal and dynastic ambitions of royal
families and their courtiers, who depend
wholly on force to sustain them alike against
internal and external enemies.
Every succeeding Fourth of July but
adds another chapter to the proof of the
wisdom of the founders Of our republic. A
cloud of sorrow because of recent great
physical eatsstrophes, hangs over the Fourth
which is ushered in this morning, but even
these dreadful occurrences are not unat-
tended by features which serve in their way
to show forth the magnifcence of the ma
tional character. The instantaneous and
splendid sympathy and noble aid which the
whole land extended but a few weeks ago
to stricken Johnstown shows that the spirit
of our people is as grand as their political
destiny