The morning call., 1892-07-04
THE FOURTH.

Under the influence Of the utilitarian
spirit OF the age, a gradual Indifference to
the aational holiday is growing up. Citi-
ZeDs co not take the active part in the cere-
monial observance they once did, The
most enthusiastic observer Of the day is the
small boy, whose patriotic impulses find Il
vent in the explosion Of ireerackers.
In Tie positiYist school this cooling Of
patriotic aIdOr will not be regarded as an
LDmixed evil. To the professors of that
schoul 20 triOtism is virtue which cIoaks
race pfeJaaice. fosters International hatreds
and Keeps alive mean jeal0usies. The
Socete Intsrnationale does not believe In
eomMsmorating international strife. 1t be-
HeYes that monuments designed TO keep
alive tie memory of battles should be
pulled down, as lis agents pulled down the
Nen0oRe column in the days OF the Com
mune. Ier5ons who entertain these senti-
pszs VIII observe any growing neglect Of
the Observance Of national holidays rather
with satisfaction than with regret. They
wiz say in matter Of fact way that as no
nation-least OF all England-thinks of dis
putting the independence OF the United
States. which the celebration of the Fourth
was designed to commemorate, it is an idle
formaity to keep up the observance; that
it only tends TO keep alive animosities
which ought to be at rest.
But there is another point Of view from
which the question must be considered. A
certain degree Of patriotism or devotion to
: the general interests Of tie nation is essen
tar 70 tie maintenance Of material pros
periiy and national life. When people be-
come utErlY Indifferent to the preservation
Of theiT independence aud their liberties, as
the Italians did after the time Of Constap-
tine and the Portuguese did after Napoleon
had 0yertbrown the Bragauzas, demoral-
ikatiOn sets in, and decay follows and leads
to death. This Is much more liable to hap
pen than people imagine. Inertia is not
naturally repulsiye to mankind. The aver
age man is often quite willing to let some
body else take care of him.
We had in this country 80 years ago an
illustration of the readiness with which
many americans could adopt themselves to
a lassez-faire policy. The slave States had
seeded, and defed the power Of the Gov
eminent TO keep them in the Union by force
wise men diScerned that their enterprise
would be suicidal so far as they themselves
were concerned, ana fatal to the nation at
large. But there was a large body of North
eTn men who felt that the North ought to
let the erring sisters go in peace, simply
because they we've too inert, too lazy to
exert themselves to prevent their going.
Al through the early period of the war one
heard people crying. what is the use? Why
not let the slayeownerc have their own way ?
The national spirit in them was so luke
warm that they did not think the Union
worth fighting for In their heart OF hearts
they did not care enough to take up their
lite and go out TO battle to serve il; long
end painful were the discussions in the
Cabinet how the fire of patriotism could be
aroused, and how the people could be
taught that they had a duty which was
higher than money-setting, and paramount
to all ether.
Ii is because of the danger which this
sluggish inertness may some day involve
ii the national existence should again be
threatened that the national holiday should
continue to be celebrated. II we are to
count On the turn out of our young men
TO tight for the flag we must not allow them
so grow up In ignorance of what the flag
symbolzes. We must keep in their memory
the struggles which preceded the birth Of
the nation, and must not let them forget
the price which their fathers paid for the
blessings they enjoy. Even the frecrackers
saose ciatter is so annoying, and the
bombs bursting in air, which make sleep a
moekery, are useful by teaching the very
young that there is such thing as a nation,
and that its members owe it to Themselves
TO preserve it