The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-05
yer.ary as the occasion for u ,ublla-


tions.
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE.
This day. forever the most illustrious In
our history. is crowded with patriotic memo
ries. II belongs to history. and celebrates
that only which is grand and inspiring in
history. Every memory. every tradition. ev-
cry event about II must inspire every patri-
OF with true homage 10 country and with
hope. courage and confidence for the future.
II Is the baptismal day of freedom; the day
when the hearts OF young America are
proud and glad. and the hearts Of the old
are young again II celebrates the grandest
act In the history of the human race-the
declaration Of American independence-and
a ringing protest against usurpation and
tyranny in that age and every other. II has
no rival: L.ncoln's important proclamation of
emancipation was but its fitting supplement
and actual fulhllment. Yorktown pointed the
way. but IL vas Appomattox that marked
TIE completed, unquestioned and glorious
The Fourth OF July calls Us back TO the
most heroic era OF American annals. and /
can conceive OF nothing more profitable
than a consideration OF the origin and
meaning of our national anniversary and a
brief notice OF some of the patriot leaders
who made It's celebration possible. The day
Nation; that glad event TO humanity. out
OF which has arisen the great national fab
nc tnat we now enjoy, and the preserva-
tion and advancement Of which should be
our highest and most sacred concern. We
cannot study the early history OF the coun-
try without marveling at the courage, the
foresight. the sagaeity and the broad
nindedness OF the men who promulgated
the Declaration of Independence and who
subsequently, launched a new government
under a written Constitution. The men who
framed the Declaration and Constitution
seem now 10 have been inspired fosS their
great work: to have been raised up by Je-
hovah, like his prophets of old. especially
Tor the supreme duties and grave RESPONSE
biiities he placed upon them. Both instru-
mentS were. In part. the work of the same
men. and never was the spirit and impulse
or a preliminary document more apparent
IN the completed work. What iilustrious
men constituted the Continental Congress
OF 1U6-and most OF them were young men,
whose subsequent careers were as distin-
bu1Sned and useful as their first great work
Indicated they would become.
Tt took seven years OF war to make the
Declaration of Independence respected as
moro than the idle words OF a few restless
Leaders. Yet that great proclamation Of
freedom fell short of what jefferson intend
ed tnat II should contain. IL is an interest
ing fact that the author Of the Declaration
OF independence and some OF those associa-
several OF the colonies. 1t is a fact worth
cherishins. that in the original draft by
jefferson he charged the king with willful
participation in the slave trade. Here is the
passage which was omitted, and 1t is GER
tainly one OF the most striking OF that won
against human nature itself, violated its
most sacred rights of life and liberty n
the person or a distant people who never
offended him. captivating and carrying them
into slavery into another hemisphere. or to
incur miserable death n their transporta-
ton thither. This piratical warfare. the
orprobrium OF infidel power, Is the warfare
OF the Christian King of Great Britain. De
termined TO keep open the market where
men should be bought and sold. he has pros
titgted his negative for suppressing every
Legislative attempt 70 prohibit or to re-
strain TIE execrable commerce
THE GREAT MISTAKE.
This. alas. was left out OF the otherwise
perfect Declaration of Independence. What
a world OF trouble and sorrow ii would have
saved to posterity had II remained. What q
blot 1t would have spared the fair fame OF
this Republic, and what thousands OF
precious lives would nave been saved
IL that great truth had become a part
OF the charter of our liberties, and it's spirit
have been ensrafted upon the Constitution
IN 1851. 1t Is doubtful whether the declara-
ton could have been adopted IL IL had not
been eliminated. Some of the colonies would
have withheld their assent, because some
of them. or some of the people dwelling
therein, were engaged themselves I'm the un-
holy traffic. IL was the best that could be
done at the time; all that could be done at
the time; more than that was not required
then and Is not required now. Jefferson re-
luctantly yielded the point. but the passage
remains as a permanent record not only 10
his broad philanthropy and exalted patri-
otism, but to his marvellous sagacity and
foresight as one OF the ablest and nobIest
that what was I'm the hearts OF Jefferson
and many of his associates nearlys1l9 years
ago continued &c stir the hearts OF mankind,
and that men would not slumber until slav-
cry was totally exiting uished. 1t took nearly
finally a war. which cost the Country hun
dreds of thousands OF brave men and mill
r lions Of the P p9 Tic treasury re,,Sq to 1b put J isfo the
wanted to put into the first great declara-
ton OF liberty.
ssr = ;<N~o-+f,- ~+,1v - 49, --Lox
seemed the almost insuperable obstacles TO
the final victory which inaugurated free
government on tbs continent. In the limi-
tations OF an address like this il Is impos-
sible TO give them even a casual review.
There was one great menace that seems TO
have received little attention at the time
which impresses me deeply and may possess
some interest to you, since IL brings into
prominence the nobler character OF Wash
ington and his agency in securing the bless
ings we now enjoy. 1t was after hostilit es
had ceased. although no public p~roclama-
ton OF peace had yet been made. WASH
ington had been urged to accept a kingship.
but had sternly rebuked every suggestion of
dictatorship on his part. The army was at
Newburg without pay, almost without food.
and suffering in rags. Washington best de-
scribes Its condition in a letter TO the Sec
rotary of War. from which l read: Under
present circumstances. when / see a number
OF men goaded by a thousand stings OF re-
lection on the past and anticipation OF the
forced by penury and what they call the in
gratitude OF the. public. involved in debt.
without one farthlng TO carry them home,
after spending the flower of their days and
many of their patrimon.es in establishing
the freedom OF their country. and suffer-
ing everything this side of deathII repeat
II. when I consider these irritating circum-
stances. without one thing TO soothe their
feelings or dispel their prospects,. / cannot
avoid apprehending that a train OF evils
will follow of a very serious and distressing
nature. You may rely upon Il. the patriot
ism and long suffering OF this army is we'll
nigh exhausted. and there never was so
great q spirit OF discomfort as at present
A TIME OF PERIL
He stood between the army and Con-
gress. sympathizing deeply with his brave
comrades in their deplorable condition, and
yet In their presence and IN all his relations
Will them he upheld Congress and found
good excuses for its failure TO provide for
the continental army. The greatest dlscon-
tent was prevalent. and a manifesto was is
sued and circulated amohg officers and men
which was we'll calculated TO move them to
acts OF disorder and violence. This was its
strong language: Faith has its limits as
well as its temper. and there are points be-
yond which neither can be stretched with
out sinking into cowardsce or plunging into
creduiity- If this be your treatment while
the swords you wear are necessary TO the
protection OF your country. what have You
10 expect from peace when your voice shall
sink and your strength dissipate by division.
when those very swords. the instruments
and companions of your glory. shall be
mark of your military distinction left but
YOUR u1rmitipS and VOur scars2 Can you