Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-04
rHR GLORIOUS FOURTH.

Observance OF the nations natal day
is form OF patriotism which, we are
glad to see, shows no sign OF falling into
desuetude in Los Angeles. The arrange
ments for celebrating the event are OF
the most thorough order. Angeleflos
will show their staunch loyalty to Amer
lean traditions by a splendid parade,
and pyrotechnics will do their part in
making night both brilliant and hid
eous. The small boy will make himself
felt during the course of the celebration.
He has none of that fear of 'villainous
saltpetre" of which Hotspur spoke, and
if ne can, perchance, convert himself
into miniature Nero, his soul will re-
ioice with an exceeding great joy.
There is much reason to think that
the regular, hackneyed Fourth of July
leader might be intermitted OCCASION
ally, to the great advantage of our news
papers, and perhaps the Fourth of July
orator might be suppressed without any
great national travail. But then, on
the other hand, these visitations do not
last too long for human endurance, and
they help in maintaining the old pomp
and state of patriotic observance which
commentaries the most notable event
in the civil and political history OF man
kind. Most impressive things are
either dull or have dull accompani-
ments. We can pardon the hackneyed
leader and the stilted orator when we
realize the inestimable coed that fol-
lows keeping the spirit of the Fourth of
July alive in the soul of the nation.
When all has been said, the Fourth of
July is the red-letter day of the world,
and it keeps alive the memory of things
that will never die, and of men whose
lives made the world incommensurably
and incomparably better and happier.
When Thomas Jefferson wrote and
John Adams revised and chsmpioned
the declaration OF independence there
were just one hundred and twelve laws
on the statute books of Great. Britain
under which man could be hanged by
the neck until he was dead, or under
which worse barbarities could be in
ficted upon him. Now, in English
speaking nations, there are only two
such statutes, or, if there be more, they
are dead letters. No one dares to hint
at the old-ss;;me harbarities. That this
salutary aud most acceptable change
was directly due to the declaration of
independence let no man doubt.
Through its influence mankind achieved
in day what it would have taken a
Thousand years to have accomplished d
under the hide-bound old world con-
ditions.
So memorable and gracious and illus
trious forever be thy name, oh Thomas
Jefferson-thy name and that of thy
noble compeers Without any process
of canonization, we are ready, and will
ever stand ready, to hail thee as the
apostle of liberty, and to go into fervors
of sublimated patriotism on the ever
fateful Fourth of July which you conse-
Grated to freedom forever and a day.
Let every pound of powder within the
limits OF Los Angeles be exploded, may
pyrotechnical designs emblazon the eky
and rampant Americanism make the
welkin ring. A few invalids and nery-
GUS people may be disturbed thereby,
but what's the the odds as long as we
are patriotic. We can't afford to allow
the American eagle to wilt feather as
| long as there is rock ia the Rocky
Mountains or drop OF water in the salt
seas