Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-07-04
REFLECTIONS ON THE FOURTH.

Benjamin Franklin. shortly before his
death In 1890 expressed himself to the
erect that he would like to come back
to earth in a hundred years TO see what
changes a century would bring. He
had reference especially TO sciences,
art. and politics. He expected glorious
results from the Declaration Of In
dependence aud the emancipation OF
man from the yoke NJ despotism, and
bis desire TO see whether time would
bring sweet fruit, or bitter disappoint-
ment was but natural.
Franklin, we have no doubt. has fol-
lowed the development OF this country
ana the effect OF the work OF his age
upon the entire world. with intense
interest. from his place on the other
side OF the veil; for We believe that
men live. though they die. and that
they are not left in ignorance Of what
transpires on earth. From our point OF
view IL would be interesting to know
whether the material development has
not far surpassed the expectations OF
the founders of the Republic. 1t would
Washington Thomas Jefferson and the
other patriots OF that day think of the
United states now; whether its polit-
icat and moral progress has been what
they hoped and expected from their
sacrifices. their efforts.
The material development has been
nothing short Of marvellous. The
thirteen struggling colonies have grown
into nation Of As states. The 3,OO0,-
600 Americans OF that day have ex-
panded into 30 600, 600 The little fringe
Of settlers along the Atlantic seaboard
from New Hampshire To Georgia, 1874
years ago. has spread across a contin-
nent and has advanced to the Gulf of
Mexico. The country now fronts on
two oceans and II has dependencies in
both over Porto Rico, in the "AmorI.
can Mediterranean" the Stars and
Stripes ny, as they do over the Phil
ipplnos. Guam. Tutuila and Alaska's
thousand ISLANDS in the Pacific. The
republic of Cuba ana the republic OF
Panama aye under our guardianship.
And across the isthmus OF Panama,
the United States - building, at an
outlay Of several hundreds OF millions
OF dollars. "A waterway for the use OF
every country In the world on the same
terms as FOR ourselves.
The country began its career in
poverty. To-day the United States with
national wealth Of 100000 900 900. or
more. equals the wealth Of the United
Kingdom and the French republic com
bined. While we have only per cent
OF tho worlds population We produce
20 per celt OF the worlds gold. 90 per
cent Of It's coal, a5 per cent Of it's man
ufacture-, 3s per cent OF its silver. 90
per cont Of It's pig iron, a. per cent OF
It's steel, 50 per cent OF its petroleum,
% per cent OF It's copper. 20 per cent of
il cotton. and so per cent of its corn.
The United states, once ridiculed by
Byron. charles Dickens, and Mrs. Troll
| hope. today is the object OF admiration.
and. 81 the reception accorded 10 Mr
Roosevelt by crowned heads is cu-
tcrIon, of homage. For there is no
doubt that the honors showeIed upon
him were 20 many boquets for the lto-
public of which be is "a distinguished
citizen.
There Is no question OF our material
| advancement. IL has been rapid and
! proceeded with gigantic strides.
In other respects there is not the
same reason lot satisfaction. We have
! an educational system that is among
the best on earth. bat enlightenment
has not diminished the flow OF Grim,
U
IL Is ground 10 dust under the wheels
81 industry and in the streets OF our
! larger cities. Murders, lynchngs. honi-
cides. suicides are drenching the soil
with human blood. Dishonesty Is en-.
throned In many public offices. We
have no reason to he proud over the
recent disclosures in the United states.
but the chief trouble Il that such men
are political leaders with power and