Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-05
THE OTHER, IN SELFISHNESS
Each Anniversary of American Independence
 Reminds Us of Stern Sacrifice.
CLEVELAND AND HILL TO TANNANY
Secretary Herbert Also Writes Counselng Harmony in the Ranks Of Democracy. = How Liberty's Natal Day Was Gel
 ebrated at Different Points.

New York, July 4.-Tammany hall eel ebrated the Fourth of July in the historic wigwam with the greatest enthusiasm. From an early hour this morning the members of the society of Tammany be- gan to assemble in the wigwam and al- though the speech making was not ad- vertised to begin until 10 o'clock the big hall was packed long before that time.
 Baynes' Sixty-ninth Regiment band whiled away the time until the celebra- tion began by playing popular and pa triotic airs, which were loudly cheered by the audience. A distinguished array of speakers had been invited for the oc- casion from all parts of the country. Among them were Hon. James E. Camp bell of Ohio and Thomas NJ. Waller of Connecticut, who delivered long talks.
 Grand Sachem Frederick Smythe, ex- recorder, delivered the address of well come, after which James Lindsay Gordon read the declaration of independence.
 EX-Recorder Smythe received many letters of regret from prominent men who were unable to attend the celebra tion. Among those received was one from President Cleveland, Senator David B. Hill, Secretary of the Navy Herbert, Assistant Secretary of the Navy McAdOo, Senator Lindsay, Ex-Governor Flower, Governor Evans of Sonth Carolina, Gov ernor Hughes of Arizona. Congressman Abbott Frederick k. Coudert, Isadore Strauss and others.
 Mir. Cleveland's Letter.
 The presidents letter was as follows:
 Gray Gables, June 2S, 1895. Hon. Frederick Smyth, Grand Sachem,
 Etc.
 Dear Sir: regret that cannot accept the invitation l have received from the Tammany society to participate in it's celebration of the 18th anniversary of American independence. The patriotism and devotion of those who fought for our liberties and established our free govern ment ought always to be held in grate- full remembrance, and neither lapse Of years nor changed conditions should ever detract from the zest and enthusiasm of their commemoration.
 The thought must not escape us, how ever, that while every anniversary of American independence reminds us of the stern sacrifices of the fathers or the republic, and while on such occasions we find abundant cause for rejoicing in the splendor of their achievements, we should not fail to be seriously impressed by a proper apprehension of the duties and responsibilities we have inherited as their successors and legatees
 It was their lot to endure the rigors and hardships of a discouraging war that a government by the people might be es- tabliShed We cannot without wicked recreancy disregard the lessons taught by their sufferings, nor can we without disgrace neglect the duty of preserving and maintaining in their integrity and strength the free institutions born of their heroism. Their work was done through privation, and in the midst of doubt and gloom. Our duty can well be performed If we are simply honest in- telligent and patriotic. They found their danger on the battlefield, and in the Cn- certain issue of an armed contest; our danger is found in the recklcssness of selfshness and in insidious appeals to popular passion and thoughtlesSness.
 Nothing but the same patriotic stead- fastness and adherence to principle which led to their success will now shield our government from disaster and pre- serve our national glory and prosperity.
 I earnestly hope that the celebration contemplated by your organization will stimulate. those who are within it's inilu- ence to do valiant deeds in the political fields, and amid present perpieXities to teach by example and declaration the potency of adherence to sound and con- sistent principles, and the safety of q re- liance upon the honor and patriotism of our countrymen when impending dan ger arouses them to activity. Yours truly. GROVER CLEVELAND.
 Senator Hills Letter.
 l ne IOIlOWlDS lelteT WdS Cu0tTlDuLeu by Senator Hill:
 Wolferts Roost, Rensselaer, Boulevard,
 Albany, N. Y., July 1. 1895. The Hon. Frederick Smyth--
 Dear Sir: l regret that shall be una ble to participate with you in your cele- bration on the 4th instant.
 You have. however, my best wishes that the occasion may be one of the most useful of all your time-honored demon strations. The present is indeed fitting time for the revival of revolutionary memories and the renewal of patriotic pledges for the promotion of the best in- tereSts of our common country.
 It is useless to disguise the fact that the spirit of paternalsm and socialism is unfortunately abroad in the land, de- manding, amcng other things, q more liberal construction of the federal consti- tuition than our fathers were ever will ing to sanction, insisting upon odious schemes of taxation foreign to the genius of our free institutions; proposing to ig- nore or belittle the reserved rights of the states; seeking an extension of the func- tions or jurisdictions of the federal judi ciary by the gradual and insidious ab- sorption or exercise of powers not in- voSed. violative of the spirit, if not of the letter, of the constitution: persstently in- sisting upon special legislation for the private interests and the cliQues rather than for the general welfare and public purposes; clamoring for fiat or depreci- ated currency in the place of coined money of the constitution;~u urging the assumption on the part of the state of the actual management of nearly all corporate interests of semi-publc char acter, rather than their reasonable con trol and regulation by law-and thus de- string to inflict upon us the enactment or arbitrary enforcement of unjust. vex- atious and puritanical sumptuary laws, which needlessly interfere with the harm less habits and customs of large portions of our people
 In other directions there are indica- tions of efforts to change the nature of our government by transforming it from simple republic of states to strong centralized government, with vastly aug mented powers; of endeavors to main