The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-07-12

THE FOURTH.

the people after the custom OF early
times observed the day in one way or
another, more from force OF habit than
from the love of country, which once
characterized this annual celebration.
How MANY Of us have taken the time to
consider the many great changes which
have come over this country, since that
memorial morning, july 18th, 1876.
How we have grown from q population
OF 100000 people living along a little
narrow strip of the Atlantic coast to
7O,OOO,OOO who now cover that vast
area Of country lying between the At
lantic and Pacific, the British posses
sions and Mexico; and shed the light Of
civilization into that great wilderness.
How many changes have been wrought
in the modes OF production, amounting
In many instances to almost a revolu
ton; thereby doubling in many fold the
productive power OF labor, and jncreas-
ing the ability OF the people to provide
the necessaries and luxuries of life. Oh!
Yes, and how many have observed the
change in the sentiments of the people
and the spirit in which they observe the
day; and especially during the last
twenty years? Do we see the old time
patriotic enthusiasm bursting from the
immense crowds, as they once stood,
with uncovered heads listening to the
reading Of the Declaration OF Indepen-
dence7 No! And we are sorry to see in
many instances. this old time honored
custom Of reading this great declaration
of truth, omitted altogether, and in it's
stead the exercises degenerated into q
combination Of sports and games, out
os which private gain IN the way Of gam.
bling or otherwise, Is the prime incentive.
1t Is no difficult matter to see the cause
OF this change on the part of the people,
il We will but look in the right direction.
No intelligent man can carefully read
the Declaration OF independence with
out realizing how flagrantly all it's great
fundamental truths are set at naught
under present conditions. The people
are not blind and to hear those living
truths read one day in the year and lg-
nored in practice the other three hum
dred and s~ixty-four, has become a mean
ingless ceremony; they fall like lead upon
the heart Of the homeless man, and in
genders hatred and disgust in the breast
OF him who has just heard his children
crying for bread. Too many of our
citizens today feel that this government
As it at present runs is unjust and
favors the strong instead OF the weak
and do not grow enthusiastic oyer the
day, and we must say that there are
many reasons for such feelings. But
what the people want to understand is
that the government Is just what they
make it. They can by their ballots
make it the instrument OF tyranny and
torture or liberty and justice. In days
past, men have voted their blind preiu-
dices, and now are reaplng what they
have sown, and it is yet to be seen
whether they will in the future vote for
q condition that will again arouse the
old American enthusiasm for the Fourth
OF july, or love Of country.
When our people believe that the
powers that be are lust, and that
liberty 10 sacred to the ruling powers,
then will our national birth day be re-
velently remembered and not till then.
SENATOR KYLE AND THE STAR.
There is trouble in the camp of the
Populist. The stockholders of the Star
held q meeting one day this week. Sena-
tor Kyle holds quite a block OF stock