The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-07-02
THE FOURTH OF JULY.
Great Orators Glowing Words Upon
Glorious Occasion.

Great Orators Glowing Words Upon
Glorious Occasion.
Webster in that immortal speech which
he put in the mouth OF John Adams as
having been delivered in the Continental
Congress on the day Of the adoption Of the
Declaration of Independence said: 1--WE
shall make this a glorious and immortal
day. When we are in our graves our chill
dren will honor it. They will celebrate it
with thanksgiving, with festivity, with
bonfires and Nominations"
The civil war affected so deeply the
hearts and passions Of the people, and the
questions settled and raised by it were of
such transcendent magnitude, that, for
years after, Fourth OF July observances
fell into allegiance and the significance Of
the day was almost forgotten. The Gen.
tennial celebrations have done their chief
service In reviving an interest in tho origin
and growth OF American liberty. Heredity
of ideas and memories has always been
the potent factor among peoples, In keep
Ing alive the inspiring recollections Of the
victories for their rights and the glories of
their nations. But our position is
unique and original, from the fact that
more than half Of our population having
settled among US since the Revolutionary
War, and are without the legends in the
family Of Bunker Hill and Yorktown, of
Saratoga and Monmouth, Of Washington
and his generals, Of the Continental Con-
gress, Its statesmen and their principles.
We must, therefore, supplement by edu-
cation the well-nigh irreparable loss Of
traditions.
Nations cannot develop upon rising
lines without patriotism. With institu-
tons and governments perpetuity is i'm
possible unless they are sustained by in
telligent patriotism. American freedom
is not that for which Leonidas and his
three hundred fell at Thermopylae, or
Winkelried gathered the Austrian spears
In his breast at Sempach. It is not the
same as that for which Kosciusko died
and Kossuth fought. Liberty and law is
the ark of our covenant. The law Is tho
spear and shield OF our liberty. It makes
clear the rights of the citizen and protects
him in their enjoyment. It recognizes
| neither rank, nor class, nor COM
| the greatest, as we'll as the humblest, the
| operation Of the immortal principle Of the
Declaration Of Independence that all
men are created equal, that they are en-
| dowed by their Creator with certain in
| alienable rights, that among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
| Whenever the celestial light of this
! glorious idea irradiates the soul of the
| fugitive from the tyranny of monarchs
and the expressions Of caste, he becomes
| regenerated and disenthralled. Bitter
ness against the government, hatred of
power and vindictiveness toward society
are expelled from his mind. The wild and
| destructive theories OF anarchy and COM
munsm are transformed into fervid loyal
| ty and solid satisfaction for the institu-
ton OF d people. Of whom he Is proud to be
| one, sovereign among sovereignS, q peer
among peers, who govern themselves.
Symbolism is the greatest Of teachers.
Through the gateway Of the eyeit march
| es in and possesses the mind. The cross
epitomizes Christianity. The dullest and
most ignorant comprehend its con-
solutions and promises as we'll as the
most learned theologian or brilliant
thinker. The missionary tent, rising sud.
denly on Sunday morning in the mining
camp recalls. before song or sermon the
SUNDAY school. the village church, the
child's prayer upon his mothers knee
and men supposed to be hopelessly hard.
ened come back in tears to their early
principles and faith. So the stars and
stripes, flying from masthead and liberty.
pole, from the home window and the
church-spire. and greeted, as the first
rays OF the rising sun on the Fourth O,
July play lovingly around its folds
with joyful peals from the belfries
and the thunder OF cannon from the hills
Is liberal education in the meaning OF
our freeom to millions, and a refreshing
bath of liberty for US all.
Old John Adams, upon the day Of biz
death, hearing the noise Of the bells anl
cannon, and being informed that it was In
dependence Day, expended his Las
strength in the expiring cry, Indepen
dence forever!" In his time. liberty coult
not survive independence. Webster de
voted his matchless powers to the defens,
Of the Union. For his period, liberty am
union were inseparable. Lincoln died tina
the Nation might live. For his era, ubert,
and nationality were one and findivisible
For our age, and the ever-impendiuI
future, the preservation OF our gloriou
Inheritance, its increase and transmissio,
to coming generations, depend upon.th
equal life and resistless power of ubeIt
and law.-CHAUNCEY NJ. DEPKw In Fran
! Leslie's illustrated Newspaper.