Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1910-07-02
THE NATIONS CRADLE


rocks the cradle, rules the world. One
hundred and thirty-four years ago
next Monday, when the most remark
able body Of men, in Philadelphia.
that this world has ever known (4th
July, 1870 adopted the Declaration Of
independence in favor of popular lib
erty as against all forms of monar-
chical rule, the whole human race took
pause and began a new computation
Of mans individual worth both to his
: God and hts fellow man.
Not quite five generations of our
race. since that epochal hour in the
worlds history played its part
in life's great drama, and yet how
pregnantly eventful "of vast concern
ments" has been every year since the
old bell in independence Hall chimed
out the hours of mans more perfect
liberty and more perfect union Of the
infant colonies
= We do not propose today To enter
upon any well deserved eulogism upon
the labors Of John Hancock, or any
one Of his most noble conferees, rich
as they may deserve it. nor yet to
dilate upon the splendid genius of
Thomas jefferson. that myriadminded
apostle of human liberty and the
sovereignty of the people. The wealth
er is very hot and this is still the era
of strenuosity, more or less, although
not of the Roosevelt type quite.
Still it is too hot to point moral and
adorn a tale. As the descendants of
our noble forbears, we have gotten SO
far away from the old-fashioned way
of celebrating the Fourth of July,
when the Declaration Of independence
was read and thoughtful. brainy ora
tions. expository Of the same, were
delivered. that for the most part pa
triotism Is spelled with a Z, but the
exacting sufliX of pleasure is the pass
word to the caricature.
This condition of affairs is not
ominous of good, but rather of evil to
the country We affirm with great
emphasis that Edward Everett, Rufus
Choate and the matchIess Prentiss nor
poet nor orator, could by any posi-
bility overstate the great debt that
we, of this generation. owe the great
republc-builders of 1916, whVn with
halters around their necks. they risk
ed life, liberty and property, in de-
Tense of popular liberty and flung def
ance in the face of George III.
We would not indulge the vapid
croakings of either the mossback or
the old fogy. We are free to say that
this is a wonderfully great country in
many aspects and painfully small from
more than one view point. Geo
graphically great, marvellous in re-
sources, unparalleled in varied produc-
tions and, all-in-all, with the worlds
best climate with a heterogeneous
population, the contribution of both
pagan and christianized civilizations,
which under the magic touch of
Americanism becomes solidly soldered
and compact, well may we command
the admiration of the world watching
our gigantic strides in education, in
science, in art, in the power of the
press and much, but all. that builds up
people upon a sound, enduring foun-
dation.
The French philosopher, DR.. Tocque-
vile, was right when he said that
great wealth. with the deep seated
love Of money. was a great cancer on
the body polite, eating out the very
vitals of liberty. Will say. how
ever, that with the long list of crimes
with which the press is so very full,
that some fearful agency is at work
likely to destroy the Republic
Can il be the gold craze the long
list Of divorces. the high carnival of
graft, The self-inhated egotism and
vaingIoriousness, the growing disre-
pect of both the Sabbath and human
life? What is it that is holding US
back from that high estate of virtue
and Righteousness, which alone ex-
alteth a nation, and without which a
whole population of Carnegies. Rookie
fellers. Morgans and Harrimans are as
paupeis before the God of Nations.
Standing by the graves of two of our
great Presidents, the anniversary of
whose death is the nations birthday,
jefferson and Adams), while q
Joyous occasion, Monday, July 4,
should also be thoughtful day.