The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-04
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
TIA Peculiar Significance suggestions NJ 10
Its Observance.


Its Observance.
No national holiday kept anywhere
among tho peoples ~ tho world has quite
tho significance which we attach ~ the
Fourth of July. England has no such feie
dhy Her development has boon slow,
continuous, unmarried by any really rad.
ichl o0ny ulsiOns which essentially up.
turned her political status France. 10
n true, crlebrntcA the taking of the Bus
lille. which inAugumtid the French rcyo.
luton, but II II In porfunctOry fashion,
which IN no wny reflects grcnt nhtion1i
sentiment Germany makes nn imperial
holidhy 0f the date 0i the self crOwDIng
of Emperor Willinm ! nt Versailles, but
this II rather Qualification of the Hohcn-
zollcTn tnc". specially dear 20 the Prus.
sim heart and only hcquirsced In hy tho
rcst ~ tho Gcrinnnc empire, which has
had many kniscrs u other rdyDing fam.
ilics before.
Tho Declaration Oi Independence on
July I. I77G, with us hnd peculiar sig d.
niiicnnco far greater than Lexington, or
Bunker Hi. or the Iorming Of Ticon.
drogu, Ur the first organization Of the
continental congress. all u! which occurred
In l775. Tho net Of political birth was
fully contaminated before that solemn
APPEAL 20 the world and b. history, which
wc cHll Independence day But nll that
year Of struggle before the adoption Of
Jcfcrs0D's great masterpiece Of national
self assertion simply marked us In the
eyes oi foreign nations nA rebels fighting
against their riRhtful sovereign. When
the declaration lcnl,d out its resOundinR
trumpet tones to humanity, the power
and logic Of The Flea ~ Justification Of
the taking up -; arms Ht once gave us %
new status It was the legal seal which
consccrnioi aud iHndg oilcial the actual
fnct. 1hcncclDrwnrd the Uniled Stntes
began % be- known not rs "a rebellious
mob, but ns "a gallant people, struggling
against tyranuicil upprc.surs Probably
~ political act ever bad mare immediate
aud radical effect than thi. grent docu.
mont. far mpre indeed than it, author and
gigncrs ever anticipated They considered
they owed it 20 themselves and 70 the
cnusr thry rrlrr.rntcd u set forth the rca-
Sons fur revolt b. the world IL was at
once gluriiud ~ the magma chhrtA OF "a
newborn commonwealth. Tbcnceforward
IL was but natural that our history as u
people should date from this time, a. IL
was the curncrstOnu, even the whole
foundation, Of our milton bnilding.
II has sometime, bccn -aid that the cele
bration Of the independence anniversary
has fallen oil In the physical joyousncss
and enthusiasm which used ~ make II
the great dny oi the year, particularly
chldrvns day Perhaps this Is 10 In large
cities, where life las become more artil
cihl and blnsc II may b. that the keen
sense ot the peril of frs from the explo.
sion ol Chinese cruckrrs and other fire
works has grown stronger, too, In com
mun!tics when, there II an enormous con.
ccntrntion Of wealth IN buildings But IL Is
pleasant 20 know that In the rural regions
and small towns thcrcArr the same old fash.
toned hullahnloo and innocent, simple
minded Jubilee OF old and young What II
the orator, too, mnkus the American eagle
spnad his pinious wide and emit his most
piercing .hrieksl This is as II should b..
Probably "a mcIiCum u bombast and rhe
torical fustian rally goes quite as far In
wbetting The patriotic appetite as would
the most rational aud painstaking expusi
ton
The traditional Fourth Of July celehra
tion, with it, picnic junketings and social
asscmhlhgcs and It's fireworks, whether
composed Of gunpowder or OF eloquence is
a wholesome institution, good 10 encuur
age May 1t wave as long rs Old Glory
streams above &C. One thing may be sug
gcstcd IN this connection, however, In view
Of the fact that ii Is ~ much "A children :
day The celebration might be made TO
stimulate young people 10 a closer and
kccncr stuLy OF American history. Why
should 1t NOT hc mnde the ocrasion OF Civ.
ing prizes and other public hOnors to those
pupils Of the public schools who shall have
passed the bcst examination In the history
OF their country such function ns this
might bc 50 managed as 10 invest the day
with tenfolG morr interest 10 the old as
well rs the young. &. i. r.