Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-06-25
CHE DAY WE CELEBRATE.

"A. -. EBEkhAkI-
CHE DAY WE CELEBRATE.
On the second day of July. 1716, the
Continental congress passed the resoiu-
tons which finally separated the Ameri-
can colonies from the mother country
The declaration of Independence was
announced two days thereafter And
so it will 127 years. by Saturday OF next
week. since patriotic old John Adams,
member of the Continental congress,
writing from Philadelphia to his wife
in Boston, used these memorable words;
.sThe second day Of July, 117G, will be
the most memorable epoch IN the MS
tory of America. | am apt to believe
that ii will be celebrated by successive
generations as the great anniversary
festival. 1t ought to be commemorated
a. the day of deliverance by solemn acts
of devotion to God Almighty. 1t ought
to be solemnized with pomp and parade,
with shows. games, sports, guns, bells,
bonfires and illuminations, from one
end of this continent to the other, from
this time forward, forevermore-
However it was the 4th day of July,
the day-the day of the signing and
promulgation of the Declaration-that
has been adopted az the National Holi-
dgy, and review of the celebrations OF
the GLORIOUS Fourth, since the
achievement Of our independence from
Great Britain, would be one Of the most
interesting and instructive contributions
to the worlds history. For long time
after independence was achieved the
annual reioicings had all the fervency
and prophetic glow Of hope that were
shown in the matchless and immortal
song Of Miriam, after the children OF
Israel. under Divine guidance and with
Divine help. crossed the Red Sea dry
shod, while Pharaohs hosts were de-
stroyed by the swift return Of the part
ed waters to their normal condition.
When, in the war Of 1912, the young
Republic became victor, on land and
sea, over foreign soldiers and over the
ships OF the first naval power in the
world, the feeling Of American ednality
to all struggles and the demonstrated
strength of the United States, changed
the situation and put into our Fourth Of
July oratcry different tone-more con
fidence, with more consciousness OF a
tional power and promise, and with a
sense Of absolute security.
Although the Mexican war was begun
at the dictation of the Slave Power, and
was unholy and unjust. from the ont
set, it was made success by the anti
war, Wing generals, Scott and Taylor.
and by the splendid work Of our army
and by the magnificent yalor Of our
volunteers. Webster and Clay. both
bitterly opposed TO the war, lost their
sons in the conflict. Divine Providence
again came to our relief and brought
good out Of evil That war trained, for
the salvation Of the Union, Grant and
Thomas and Logan and Baker and
Negley, and scores Of other able and
true commanders OF the Union forces.
II gave California to the Union. and
that result Of the war turned the bal
ance against the secession conspiracy.
On this day we should all remember
the words OF the great Declaration, and
also those Of Abraham Lincoln. who
fulfilled and perfected the work OF
Washington and the prophecies Of JEFF
ferson and who said on the Gettysburg
battlefield, while the war against ecces-
sion was still continningY
seFourscors and seven years ago our
fathers brought forth upon this con
tinent q new nation, conceived in liberty
and dedicated to the proposition that all
men are created equal. Now we are
engaged in a great civil war, testing
whether that nation, or any nation 70
conceived and NO dedicated, can long
endure"
On this day, we are all brethren Of
one farnily-fellow counfrymcn Of
Washington and Lincoln.
But the Fourth Of Julyspiri has rela-
tion not only to the past and to the
present, but to the future also.
II we would continue to celebrate this
anniversary day we must keep alive the
spirit Of i77g.
Wealth and luxury arc apt To demon
alize nations as they demoralizc men.
A successful government Of the people
implies virtuons and intelligent
people. A virtuous and intelligent
people implies virtuous and intelligent
individuals. 1t pertains then to every
American to zee to it that he faithfully
and conscientiously performs the duties
OF citizenship. In the midst Of our
glorying we must not loss sight of the
fact that grave social and political prob
lens lie in our own pathway. Their
proper solution will tax the highest
statesmanship, the deepest philosophy.
the most intelligent thought. Every
loyal citizen should feel that with him
rests the responsibility for their solution
and should act accordingly. Let ~
then. proud Of the past, thankful for the
present, light anew from the aItars Of
patriotism, the torch that shall light as
In the future along the pathway that
leads to the sturdy virtues and the cor
rect principles that has made us great
and shall make us yet greater.
AT Harrisburg Tuesday. Judge
Jstcobs, Rep. who was appointed Judge
of Dauphin county by Gov Penny
packer on the death Of Judge Simon
ton. was defeated by WIN. VI. Hain in
the Democratic Convention for the
Judicial nomination of that party. The
votc was fO3 to "a. A few weeks ago
Gorge KuDkIe defeated Jacobs for the
Republican nomination--Jacobs repre-
senting the prcss-muzzler and Kunkle
the anti-prcgsmuzzlcr sentiment
J3e,bs then sought Democratic en-
dorrement with Tuesdays failure.
CHARLES J. Bopaparts Of Baltimore