The San Francisco call., 1899-07-04
INDEPENDENCE Day.

IN Yesterday issue OF one OF contemporaries,
after treating the usual method OF celebrating the
Fourth OF July as Asiatic the following sentiments
are expressed:
When the celebration OF the Fourth OF July is so
raised in dignity that it may correspond 10 that
which heralds the birthday OF the Queen or the name
ietes OF European Kings and Erperors, II will COM
rland the good will OF the people who really make
America what il Is. But rot till then
The Call has energeticaly opposed the iInper1alis-
tic tendencies OF the times but until yesterday
has it found in an American newspaper the atrocous
proposition that our national patriotism uninspired
by the ponp OF royalty, Is common and unolean It
denounces each syllable OF the quotation as wanton
insult 10 every American citizen in the land
In the entire history OF the world there IS no Paral
lei for Independence Day. All nations have their les
rivals some centering in names some II incidents
few in sentiments. But our national anniversary IS
fixed by the date OF the first complete declaration OF
human rights OF the sovereignty OF man There were
great battles fought in the Revolutionary NaT Bun
ker Hill though technical defeat, has never ceased
10 influence the destiny OF mankind No battle, how
ever was chosen as the converging point OF American
patriotism The end OF hostiltes with Great
Britain the treaty OF peace the articles OF conedera-
ton the adoption OF the Federal constitution. the
war OF 1872 the war with Mexico. our Civil War
have all furnished opportunities for national cele0ra-
lions which in Russia in Germany, in France, even
in Great Britain in every country where the alnt OF
monarchy or imperialism remains, would have been
promptly appropriated
But in this vast continental republic with is popu-
Iaton OF more than seyenty-lve millions and with rs
inl.able resources our day OF days continues to be
the selection OF the revolutionary fathers In each
wear now in the hundred and twenty-third alter
it was formulated we concentrate our American sen
T-Se
enunciation OF the underlying principles upon which
CIR national fabric has been erected The occasion
which produced this eternal yindication OF Individual
lied manhood was merely the preamble 10 an act OF
the British Parliament. But the document itself ab-
solutely struck the keynote for humanity Emanating
from thirteen feeble colonies il inspired by the
hereditary and collateral strength OF the human race
Il spoke for the Fiipnos then struggling with SPAN
as spoke for the colonsts determined 10 throw on
the British yoke. Il anticipated everything that was
not delusion or curse in the French revolution.
Il reached human intelligence and the human con
science by the assertion OF indestrucble principles.
applicable in all ages and TO all races Il proclaimed
the inaenable right OF every child OF mortality, what
ever the color OF his skin the inferOrlty OF his
condition TO life 10 liberty and 10 the pursuit OF hap
piness. II acknowledged II every man the possession
OF sovereignty as an endowment derived from his
Creator Il fattened the ridiculous pretensiOns OF
blood and caste and raised the ordinary people OF the
earth 10 the level OF the only divine right that did not
originate in violence or in fraud
In 1890 after all the experience OF the past year in
the midst OF the shining glories OF our naval and milf
tary trumphs notwithstanding all the perplexities
that the actual situation in Asia and in the Antilles
reveals despite all our far-reaching domestic contro-
versies that illustrate human nperfection the Amer
lean people are still united in honoring gtheir certificate
OF baptism with all Il expresses and implies This
deep and pe-yading national sentiment, which tenn
porary conditions can extirpate depress, will prove
to be the solvent OF all our troubles As antidote
to the inexpcable un-Americansm OF the sentiments
quoted in the first part OF this article, It IS refreshing
10 observe that in contradiction all the departures
from our national faith with which he has been falsely
charged the Chief Magistrate OF the republic retains
his patriotism in all It's simplicity and in all its eryor.
In The Call OF Sunday the greater part OF page was
devoted TO the expressions OF distinguished Ameri-
cans in relation 70 this particular anniversary The
words OF President Mckinley were memorable and
deserve TO be handed down to posterity: I'VE have
arisen from slavery to freedom" Liberty.
labor and love have accomplished It all. "Au
men have equal rights I'VE are all Americans;
we are all sovereigns. equal in the ballot, and that
citizen is the best who does his best who follows the
light as God gives him TO see the light who comedies
to ali the races OF mankind what he claims for him
self"
These are the great thoughts OF the man who,
through his political elevation IS the first citizen
in the United States They cheering to the
American heart and chilling only TO traitors and
revolutionists They will be consecrated to-day by
the festivities all over the continent in every foreign
land and in every sea, that will mark the reign OF
manhood and prove that the American experiment OF
sefgovernnnent was never further removed from the
possibility OF failure that would plunge the human
race into black despair.