The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-02
A BROADER ASPECT.

Proud as Americans are or the STIR
ring days of '76. the tendency Is to
think OF the great struggle for liberty
as a matter Of interest to those alone
whom it made free. The broader as
pect Of the revolution, its direct bear
ing upon the worlds history from that
day to this, while not ignored is lost
sight Of in the triumph directly in
volved. Tt Is this too often forgotten
phase of the conflict which is empha-
sized in ''The Story Of the Revolution"
the first chapters Of which, from the
pen of Senator Lodge, Of Massachu-
sets, appear IN the current number Of
scribners. Dealing with the events
themselves the narrative Is graphic
and spirited, but it Is notable rather
for its side lights than for it's stirring
md graceful style.
In dealing with the history Of the
days from Concord Bridge to York
town 1t Is well to remember that the
Americans were not resisting stamp
taxes OF any other specific grievance
alone. They were declaring a princd-
pie that was just coming to be recog-
nized in the world; the principle that
government Is for the people and not
the people for government This doc
trtne, stated with fear and trembling,
as befftted SO radical a departure
from all the notions of an age still
dominated by the ideas of felldansm,
grew in force through all the days Of
the revolution as men showed their
Willingness to die that it might live.
and with the recognition of American
Independence 1t came into final being
as recognized factor in human af-
fairs. But the development in America
was but phase of It's growth. The
blood that was spilled in the French
revolution, the reconstruction of dy-
nasties and political systems in all Eu-
rope. that followed the rise and fall of
Napoleon. the reform In English par
liamentary practice, no less radical
even If less bloody than the overturn-
ings Of the continent, were, all, as Sem
ator Lodge points out logical sequences
INCEPTION
America. The rattle OF musketry at
Lexington echoed and re-echoed
through the world until the noise was
lost in the roar Of the almost universal
conflict that sounded from Austerlitz
to Moscow, and which was hushed,
though only for q time, when a star of
empire went out at Waterloo.
In this thought lies the real impor-
lance and the real lesson of the battle
OF freedom waged by her colonies
against Great Britain. In considering
that struggle from the standpoint of
the historian, it may be that the ac-
tual sequence Of events comes first in
logical importance, and that next
comes the direct result as It is en-
bodied in the development of demo-
cratic government in the United States.
But hardly less important in patriotic
lessons is the related growth of what
may be called the American idea In
the nations of Europe The republic
Of France and the limited scope of
in England stand as monu-
ments to the sacrifices Of Valley Forge
hardly less than does the governmental
structure to which Americans owe
proud allegiance.
1t cannot be said that this idea has
not been made the basis Of former his
torical work or that it Is entirely orig
inal, even in treatment with Senator
Lodge; but If he shall popularize it
and impress it's Importance upon the
great public, he will have added great
ly to the national stock of patriotic
pride, and he who does that Is deserv-
ing of gratitude and honor. Respect for
the forefathers Of the republic cannot
but grow into reverence with the
thought that they were in the van Of
a great movement, the final history of
which is yet to be written and which J
cannot be measured in its Importance
until the tale Of the development of
is told.