Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-07-03
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.

It Is a somewhat surprising fact
that the glorious Fourth. which will
be SO generally celebrated Throughout.
the United States tomorrow. Is no: n
National holiday. There isn't a line
in the statutes of any of the states
that can be construed into Civ
ing the day any national sig
niiicance. A few Of the states name
the day as a legal holiday. but even
this Is the exception.
So much for what the laws have
declared. But greater than the Consti-
tuition, greater than statutes, national
or state; greater than proclamations
or the absence Of them. Is the will
Of the people. BY common consent
the Fourth is a national holiday, and
as such the people will celebrate 1t.
For instance, the mayor Of Las Vegas
has failed to issue a proclamation
per lifting those who desire to man
4 Their patriotism by operating de-
AK W Tor the production OF all sorts
q uncarthly noises; but the practice,
honored by more than a century's
strenuous observance, will, neverthe-
1858, not be overlooked In Las Vegas.
Throughout the territory and the I'm.
ion 1t won't matter a particle whether
or not any legal declaration on the
subject has been made, the people
will celebrate as they list.
II is true that of late the observ-
ance Of the Fourth Is more and more
beginning to DO a tale Of baseball
matches, picnics. tremendous noises
and fireworks. Even the Chauvinis-
tic orator and the Declaration of Fi-
dependence are becoming u%nessential.
But the starry banner Of the republic
floats from many staffs. the national
colors are much Ia evidence, and all
the Observation-Disclosures who comprise
the brains and, therefore. the maln-
stay OF the nation-take the time to
p~hilosophize upon the glorious his. ory
Of the older day and the real condi
tions and trend of events Of tie pres
ent.
Though there be noise, and buncome
and braggadocio, there is not less true
patriotism. And there Is very much
In the history Of the nation today to
give ple~asnreable reflections to the
thoughtful man and cause for congrat-
ulation for the patriot. Prosperity is
with a capital letter In every
part OF the wide republic. Never in
the worlds record have figures Of
trade and commerce reached SO high
a total. The recognition OF the pow
and wealth, and influence of this
nation has reached to every land on
the globe. The development of re.
sources, the augmentation of moral
and material achievement have never
been equalled. The LOSSES Of tens OF
millions by fire and food and decline
of stock quotations are infinitely
small in the light of the magnificent
gains.
Away with the pessimist. He prates
OF the commercialism Of the age, OF
race suicide. OF increase of immortality.
He is lachrymose and superstitious.
He is an eternal affiction, but he is
to be taken seriously.
We are yet far from perfection. but
this nation and this old world Is get
ting better. We have our serious
problems. It's well that we have.
We have our wickedness and u evil
tendencies. Also well. What would
there be left for man TO struggle for II
every serious problem had been
solved, every evil tendency oyerromeg
Nothing. Are we ready for stagna-
ton? This year measures up a little
better than last year. This century
finds us much higher In all that makes
life worth living than q hundred years