Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-07-03
REFLECTIONS ON THE FOURTH.

REFLECTIONS ON THE FOURTH.
July ith this year marks the both on.
.nlyersary OF the adoption by Congress
Of the Declaration OF Independence. one
hundred and thirty years is not O. long
period OF time. f measured by the
standards Of history. And yet what a
wonderful Republic has developed an.
der the principles embodied 10 thlt
Declaration Whether the territorial
expansion IS considered. o. the growth
Of the population whether we look az
the wealth acquired or the influence
exercised upon the worlds affairs. We
are confronted hy one OF the greatest
maryels ga the history OF nations. There
have been world-powers before, from
the time of Nebuchadnezzar "the head
Of gold" but there never was q power
that rose to the highest emlnenca so
rapidly az the United States, solely on
the strength Of the Justice and truth Of
It's government principles, and not MS
the result Of unjust wars OF conquest
The position OF our country Is unique
IN this respect, IN the entire range Of
history The men who laid the fodnda-
tons Of this wonderful structure were
INSPIRED" 10 do 90. No other explain
alton accounts for The results achieved.
II is the work OF God. not Of man.
on May %. 1857 Lord Macaulay, IN
q letter 10 a prominent New Yorker who
had sent him a copy Of Life Of Jefer.
son" expressed The opinion that 'in.
situations purely democratic" must,
sooner or later destroy liberty, or
civilization, or both" That was as near
a. could be Judged by even the most
cbsevant students Of history. They
thought this Republic would fall, rs a
building reared on the sand and wash
Cd by the waves OF a storm-btaten sea.
S. Ear were American government prn-
oiples from the plans suggested by 1T
man wisdom alone Macaulay argued
that what happened Do France would |
he repeated here. In ls4s a pure DEM
ccfacy was established 10 that country.
The result was general spoliatlon, high /
prices, and mlnous taxation. Then /
came the reaction and The establish
nent Of a despotism. and an enslayei |
press. Liberty had 10 be sacrificed for /
civilization Tho same result win come /
in due time. Macaulay said here. when /
the country is densely populated and /
the wages low. lie predicted a time |
when, "eithcr some Caesar or Napoleon |
win seize the reins of government with /
r. strong hand or your Republic win /
be as fearfully pundcred ana laid
waste by harbarlans IN the twentieth
century as the Roman Empire was IN
the hfth-with this difference, that the
Huns and Vandals who ravarcd the
Roman empire came from without, ana
that your Huns and Nandals viii have
been engendered within your country |
by your own Institutions
Il Is pleasing AZ this time 10 reflect
upon the fact that this prediction seems
~ far from fulnllment now, as at the
time u was penncd The American
government does not appear 10 be- In
any danger from the "Bsrblrhns'
within. The laboring classes. the come
mon people, the great majority. are the
ftaunch supporters OF This government
They are. moreover conservative ana
rot easily made the victims of the
aGitaiors whose aim is destruction II
there is any danger today. throwing It's
shadow uron the face Of tho land. Il
romcs from The side opposite so that
from which Macausy expected 10. n
turks iu ihc aggression aud Arrogance
of the barons NJ Plu'oeracy. % is q
fact that thIs country. in which oquaH-
Is IN opportunities as VOL as before
The law wac 70 ba ono of the leading
rules there is now q wen marked tcn-
lncy TO class distinctions with au ms
attendant evils dependent on wealth. /
This menace fo free institutions ha,
come not as MHrluIay predicted. as "a
result az poverty but oi prosperity 70 !
Is totally Different from that predicted I
Tho question be- whether t1e country
Is equal io ths task of meeting thc I
dangers Com that side. We believe b.
E Tho wonderful awakening of The
publ, conscience during tho last few
months, which bass resulted Don thor
'ugh Investigation of me business
methods Of many Institutions. tar-
rants The conclusion that the process ~
cleansing has commenced u earnest
The ak has been lsil to tbe root OF the
.ree 20 may be.oms necessary 10 in-
erfere by iaH with the rr1afh Of large
Estates ana provide tor their dstf.bl-
bon. as has been done iu France. or
hero may be some other remedy Rot /
whatever DC IS 20 $500 bc found Th,
Fourth ~ July marks the establishment
y a government that is q blessing foo
il mankind. ana that $500 surely one
lure untl 10 shall have accomplished
ne great and glorious mission for
which sc was founded. by srs.ai
oi God