The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1893-06-29
AMERICAN HOLIDAYS.


IneN are NntlOnal IN ~ very IrOhH mn"
Peculiar sense.
II is the popularity of our national
holidays, of which the Fourth Of July
is the notable example, that with few
exceptions they celebrate something
distinctive and memorable in the his
tory Of the country In other words,
they are national holidays in the broad
est sense
ii tther countries this is not so.
Many foreign hnonarches celebrate the
rulers birthday az general holiday,
but one sovereign dies ard another sue
cceds him. and the next generation has
forgotten even the date of the holiday
tiist was Observed as the last kings
birthday. :
The French rr,suilic observes July IA,
the anniversary Of The storming of
the bastilc by the revolutionists Of 1882
Our ncighbors in Canada celebrate
dominion day-thc 1st of Juty--the
anniversary of the union of separate
provinces under one govcrnmcnt-not
quite the same thing as an "Indcpcnd-
encc day." but a very good thing to
celebrate. /
But outside Of these observanccs for
.iFn countries follow the original
meaning of the word ''holy-day," and
cease work OILY on some notable date
in the religious cafe rdar. ,
No other country approaches ours in
holiday observance of national events;
hut cvcn more significant is the fact
that SIC have no less than four lirli-
days. each of which is in itself a dis,
tinCt lesson in national patriotism and
character. /
Washingtons bsrthday, on the o2d OF
February, is not alone remembrance
of the greatest citizen Of his time--o
sovereign whose birthday is honorcd
while he lives but who will be dis
placed by his successor in public sta
ton but the greatest citizen in Amer
irRn history. Through him the nation
celebrates the personal character and
civic virtues whose recognition made
the foundation of our government pos.
siblc, as it assures to-day the govern
ment's continued existence and welfare.
Decoration day, on the 3Oth of May,
"a memorial to another and equally
important element in our peoples his.
tory. II commentaries the bravery OF
tho citizens who died in the great strug-
GIG which threatened to rcnd the union.
hut which has left it. stronger than
ever.
Thanksgiving day marks peculiarly
the religious faith which, from the
foundation of the government, has in
stirSd the people to a recognition Of
81 ,tif.tna and Nrnt-i onrI
which has watched over and guided
this greatest of all political expert
mcntS
Independence day, the ffiii of or
national holidays, around which all our
holidays cluster, has lost none Of its
meaning in the laps of years. If now
adays there is less Of the excited
and dcmonstrativc observance which
marked its celebration twenty-five or
fifty years ago. 1t Is not because the
Americnh people have outgrown their
old feeling of patriotism, but because a
more serious and deep-seated conviction
has replaced it.
Such sentiment does not always find
expression I'm the fervid oratory and
loud acclamations which are termed
spread eagle" Tiers was little cheer
ing and excitement on the Fourth of
July thirty-twd years ago, compared
with the observance of other years.
The peoples hearts were too full. But
they silently answered the great call to
arms. and their action was no less a
celebration Of the day because the guns
were heard later on upon the battle
acld, and not on the peaceful holiday
green.
There are no battles to fight for the
union to-day against hostile armies, at
home or abroad. But there are battles
still to be fought against ignorance,
corruption, misgovernment, public and
private wrong /
1t is well that Indepe ndence day
comes to remind us that the work for
the union was not all done IN 1870, or
in 1889, or in later years. The legacy
left us by our fathers, when they
signed the Declaration of Independence
over one hundred years ago, imposes it's
duties as well us its privileges and at
no time can our resolution to fulfill
these pledges be better renewed than
on the day we celebrate. Com.
panion.