New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-04

1.-THE DAY WE CELEBR4TE.'
Adams's prophecy voiced by Webster. has long
been fulfilled The children Of the Men of lIIG
honor the anniversary of the signing Of the Dee
laraiion. They celebrate II with thanksgiving
with fcstivity. with boniircs, and illumna-
"tions" If we ask why the answer is obvious
and ready 1t is also. in the main. truthful. Yet
IL we compare it with the one worthy answer
70 the question. not why we do but why we
should. celebrate this day. sad discrepancy
might be revealed between them. We celebrate
the day in memory Of the signing Of the Declara-
ton Of Independence. Yes. But that was one
hundred and nineteen years ago. The Signcrs.
and their children. and their childrcns children.
are dead. The signatures are fading The scroll
is crumbling into dust. Independence itself, 50
long established. is dead issue Of the past.
What is it all to us? A dead letter. nothing
more What is the quickening spirit that should
move our hearts to-day?
II was nothing that our forefathcrs declared
and achieved independence unless we ourselves
maintain II That they got rid OF the tyranny
Of George III is not worth the firing Of single
cracker unless we keep ourselves free from other
tvranncS Have we done so! George Ill was
nj least a gentleman. intellectually and morally
Was his tyranny more offensive than that or the
bectlc-browed brutes who have so insolcntly
lor,led ii over us: He was not n murderer, a
gambler. drunkard a liberine These later
tvr,nts were He refused his assent TO whole
some laws They did the same. and worse; they
forced upon us unwholesome laws. He obsiruct-
ed the adnnstra ton Of justice. They corrupted
and debauched H. He imposed taxes upon Us.
nj yyifhouf consent. They
levied blackman upon every trade and calling.
He erected a multi udc Of new offices and sent
bjther swarms Of officers. to harass our people
and eat out theii substance. They did so. ten
fold more Go over the whole catalogue Of in
dictments in the Declaration framed against the
King: There are few Of them that do not apply
with equal force and perfect fitness to the Boss
Nor was the most arrogant Of British Ministers
more needless and contemptuous OF all demands
for Justice than were these latterday despois,
with their sncerlng taunt. What are you going
70 do about it?' Lowell wrote noble poetry. but
intensely practical truth, when he told us.
IT'S as easy to be heroes to sit the idle slaves
OF a legendary virtue carved upon our fathers
graves.
Worshippers OF light ancestral make the present
light a crime.
But we make their truth our falsehood, thinking
that hath made us free.
boarding 1t in moudy parchments. while our
tender spirits fee
The rude grasp OF that great impulse which drove
them across the sea.
If we have retained only the letter Of the Dec
laraton and lost its vital spirit, this should be TO
us day not Of lubilation, but Of humiliation and
Tho why should
celebrate 1t is that we have not lost that spirit.
or. having lost 1t for time. have now regained
it. and are as resolu,ely and Extraordinarily
devoted TO its maintenance as were our fore
fathers to that cause to which they pledged their
lives. their fortunes and their sacred honor.
Slaves cannot honor heroes. They insult them
by the very fact Of being slaves. Men who in
herit from their fathers independence OF the
British Crown only to put themselves beneath
the still more CALLING yoke Of a horde OF petty
tyrants-thcy have no part nor lot in the day
we celebrate.
If in this imperial city OF New-York this pres
cnt anniversary shall be observed with more
than usual fervor. as well may be the case; II
the thousand times rehearsed sentences or the
Declaration seem to have new beauty and new
vital force, as surely they should have; let this
be because or the present ratner IMAM the past,
because Of to-day's deeds rather than last cen
turys traditions National independence was
and is great thing. Honest government Is no
less great And honest government, In Nation,
in State, and, perhaps above all. in City. is the
issue Of today. Attained, it will add new lustre
even to the deeds Of 1776 Lost, 1t will make
every cheer ring hollow and all the celebration
Of this day a wrctched mockery. Whatever
words Of eloquent exhortation may today be
spoken. there can be none more eloquent or
more appropriate than those, spoken many years
ago and on far different occasion, which babe
us highly resolve that this Nation. and this
City. too shall have a new birth Of freedom, and
that not only at Washington, but In every ward
and precinct Of New-York, government Of the
people, by the people, and for the people, shall
mot perish from the earth"