The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-07-04
BENTON, LOUISIANA,
THURSDAY, :::::::::::::::::::JUly 4, 1896.
Independence Day.

S3ASS~34~~
Twill make Of thee nation mightier
and greater than they.-Dieut. il, IA.
Another Fourth of July at hand |!
The speeding years bring round this
great anniversary Of brave deeds and
brave results so rapidly that the music
Of our celebration scarcely dies away
in the distance before We begin it all
over again.
Not one Of the founders of our
government dreamed of the msgni-
tuds or political significance Of their
undertaking. They were noble souls
who ministered TO the aspirations Of
thirteen colonies. and in doing 80
builded far better than they knew. It
is safe to say that when king George
signed the document which cut Us
loose from his sovereignty he uncon-
sciously put his name to the death
warrant Of tynnny and oppression
everywhere. No stroke of pen in
royal hand ever meant 90 much for
the pr ,gress Of mankind No auto
graph was ever written with greater
unwillingness, for the feeble folk
whom he protested to despise had
driven his trained legions from the
Geld, and the raw troops which were
without discipline and without food
had wrung a historic victory from his
most trusted generals.
Il will do no harm to recite these
facts, not in the spirit of wanton
boastfulness, but of grateful appreci-
ation. They not only stir our pride
but rouse us to q sense of personal
obligation. We have inherited q noble
territory, but better still, we are the
fortunate heirs to certain immortal
ideas which are to be defended
against all corners, at all times and
= Ill cost
Il il . holiday, but the pleasures Of
Che hor are simply the panoply
which covers The love Of freedom that
has made the nation unique and pow
srful We greet it's annual appearance
with music and professions and
speeches; We ell the air at night with
blazing rockets, which carry the news
of our prosperity to midheaven and
then burst in rainbow hues as though
they could no longer contain them.
solves Of the joyful tidings; but be-
meath the noise Of celebration, far
down below the laughter and merri-
nent Of the people, 10 the thought Of
orr Indebtedness to those pro-idential
men who risked their all and followed
the bugle note to the grave.
We have great privileges, but great
duties also. Institutions have no in
hersnt power Of permanency. They
begin 10 erumble when manhood and
patriotism orumble. They rest on
the shoulders and hearts Of the null
6tuds, and II the hearts fail or the
shoulders grow weak the institutions
totter 10 their fall The America of
to-day is dependent on the Americans
Of to-day; the America Of 10 morrow
viii be whatever the Americans Of to.
morrow may choose to make it. Moth
ing il 20 sensitive topublic opinion as
national institutions. Chameleon like,
they take the color Of the people who
i've under than. They do not make
, people; The poole make them.
No Ensr o. more impressive words
ware ever uttered than those Of Cur
ran, who said "The conditions upon
which Ged hath given liberty to man
i eternal vigilance" The Fourth OF
July, therefore, means watshfolness.
4 generation Of neglect would mean
. srask il The wall Of our temple
Arid the hurry and hustle Of bust
ness We must give q passing and .
serious thought to our country. The
flAGs which will wave from Atlantic
- Da~sEn fuo,,n G,,1e - Inkn. IN CIT