The herald., 1897-07-04
THE ANNIVERSARY OF INDIE
PENDENCE

. It Is said to be in accord with a uni
and that men do not become wearied by
It's repetition. Though for a hundred
and twenty liars our people have con-
tinually been reminded through speech
and pen of the grand principles on which
our government and institutions are con-
structed, yet they are as fresh and in
spring to the great mass as when first
uttered. AS the Sabbath is set apart
for man to reflect on his duty to his
Maker and to his fellow beings, so on
the anniversary Of our independence it
is designed that we shall take our bear
ings and determine whether as ma
tion we have journeyed under direction
of the political truths which were de-
clared on the 4th day of July, 177e.
When the American people cease to
recognize this as great day, decay
will cast its shadow on our national
pathway, the wheels of progress will be
reversed and the structure of our free
dom will be borne into that vortex in
which the free nations of the past have
been wrecked and lost.
It is not necessary to philosophize to
establish the correctness and value of
our theory of national independence,
and of personal freedom regulated by
law, for we have advanced beyond the
theoretical period and into that of prac-
tical and successful experiment. This
experiment has not been confined, as in
ancient Greece. to a city, nor to few
mountain cantons, as in modern Switz-
erland, but it has embraced city and
country, mountain and plain, every eli
mate, interest and race Of men, and il
may almost be said to have been CONT
mental.
The generation which conceived the
theory of our government and institu-
tions and put it in operation has long
since passed from the stage of action,
and the third and fourth in descent are
now conducting affairs on vastly en-
larged scale. Strangers from many
lands and from governments bearing
no resemblance to our own, the op-
pressed and the poor, have come to us
in myriad numbers, adapted themselves
to our customs and have been blest by
our generous institutions. Educa ton un-
der our system and influence has in
single generation produced substaut
homogeniety. Exciting issues and gil
gantic struggles have not disturbed
single block in our fabric. Enough has
been accomplished to show that a pop
ular system is adapted to the govern
ment of world "God hath made of
one blood all the nations of the earth"
America has done more in recognition
OF that fraternal truth than all nations
that have gone before.
The Revolutionary fathers manifested
great wisdom in devising and courage
and fortitude in establishing and main
tanning our system. Their descendants
have the merit of preserving and
strengthening it. The former thought
the greater danger was from kingly
power, the latter realize that there is
most to fear from anarchy. In this
country monarchy is an impossibility
but anarchy is an insidious tyrant, the
offspring of numerous parents, and un-
less summarily dethroned when it ap-
pears, 1t may instill CALLING despot-
ism. AS population increases and con-
flicting interests multiply, perils will.
become more threatening, and the wisest
efforts on the part of the people will be
required. 1t is not more necessary to
cherish love Of freedom than TO en-