Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-07-10

dents of n of the youngest states Of
this grand republic, should bow our
heads in sublime reverence and thank
fulness for the privileges thus bestowed
upon us.
Within the period since we declared
our independence, maps of other nations
have been remade by defeat and victory
on the field of battle. The empires and
dynasties of Europe tremble to-day at
the aweing strength and belligerent .atti-
tude of one to the other. Bavaria has
it's eccentric king, Italy is bankrupt,
Portugal is in a state of revolution, Ire
land is oppressed, great Russia's czar
knows not when to sleep, nihilists pre-
vent his waking; England's prince casts
a shadow over starving Newfoundland,
while the emperor of reunited Germany
stands ready to touch the torch to the
slumbering bombs underlying all Europe.
Ibis is not a happy situation for the in
habitants of the east to contemplate.
True, within this period we have swept
from American soil that most powerful
and crushing evil-slavery, and in order
to do this, the greatest war ever wit
messed by man was waged for four long
years. Its carnage and devastating de-
tails are fresh in the memory of all. It
left us a nation stronger, better, wiser
and firmly welded than ever be-
fore. The sectional element which was
formerly so narrow and selfish as to
threaten u very existence as a nation,
has been taught that Sin union there is
strength" But we are at peace, and we
should, therefore, be thankful.
We are here to celebrate one Of the
most important events in the history of
mankind-the Declaration of Independ-
ence of the United States of America
and our birth as a nation. We are to
celebrate the first great step in the mod
ern crusade for a just liberty, bounded
by the majesty of the law, and based
upon the authority of the people. We
are here to encourage one another and
to thank God that we are Americans.
| do not mean that we should not have
cause to be thankful if we are citizens of
any of the great European countries.
Comparisons are always odious when
unnecessary. And a generous praise and
an honest sympathy for other lands and
peoples are entirely consistent with that
ardent love of fatherland, which we call
by the noble name of patriotism. Ad-
miration for our own country does not
conflict with the respect and praise due
other lands, but it rather assists us to an
intelligent and national self-respect. For,
while we are first Americans, we are also.
and next, citizens of the world. Nor do
I mean that we should thank God after
the fashion of the Pharisee, and make
ourselves boastful, conceited and pro-
vlnclal. America has grown too great to
condescend to boastfulness. And Amer
leans nave no longer any need or excuse
Tor mere spread-eagleism. America is
her own sufficient boast and explanation;
and to be an American is distinction
enough without the doubtful aid of that
bombast which is bad taste, or that ego
tlsm which is blind to others excellen-
cles or its W faults. But we may make
our enthusiastic celebration first on that
common ground of love for home and ma
tive land, which is one of the most be-
coming of the natural virtues and one of
the sentiments of the human heart. That
old Roman saying, 'It is noble and de-
corous to die for the fatherland," is not
dead, and, we may trust, never will be
unseemly or foolish. And Sir Walter
Scott voices the mind of us all when he
says:
"Breathes there the man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
This ID my own, my native landn"
We need have no fears of being too
patriotic; it builds up every manly
quality; it is one of the touches that
makes the whole world akin. A manly
love of country, a manly pride in u
Fatherland, is bound to help us to be
more unselfsh and devoted. It will
help us to live more for high principles
n less for cheap expedieney. It will
AID us to appreciate the dignity and re-
sponslbillty of our citizenship. It will
help to build us up as individuals, ard
fashion US as a nobler and better pattern.
1t Will broaden our lives, widen our SYM
pathles with fellowmen, dignity our
puollc interest, and elevate our charac-
ter. And as year by year may we come
up to this, our national birthday, with a
more exalted appreciation Of what it
means and all 1T stands for, to America
and Americans. We may justly cele-
brate this day in all decorous ways,
either peculiarly American, or especially
true OF America. For in the first place,
position is peculiar, both historically
and IN practical international politics.
we are the first great experiment in
"Ooo'u Clmes OI pure ana D
self-government. We are the first ex-
ample, on a grand scale, of vesting all
the authority and responsibility of gov
eminent upon the people. Looking upon
that experiment at first with doubtful
eyes, the world at last freely gives us
its well-considered appreciation, and even
generous admiration; and with reason
envles our national position for it's many
advantages. Far be it from us to com
placently ignore the wholesome growth
of the older and more experienced lands
of Europe. We should not forget that
theirs also has been a wonderful devel-
opment in population and wealth, and a
great advancement in the arts and
sciences, and all that goes to make up
our complex modern civilization. The
population of Europe, even, has more
than doubled in the past century, and
its growth in every respect has been
most remarkable. But our growth ia
the phenomenon of history, amazing the
world for generations; and yet to stand
as marked in the future as in the past.
Geographically We are most admirably
situated for the maintenance of that
growth and the continuance of all our