Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1859 — INDEPENDENCE DAY. [ARTICLE]

INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Next Monday is the Fourth of July, the eighty-third Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The fourth day of July, 1776, is the most important, the most glorious day, politically speaking, that the world has ever seen. That day gave birth to a nation before whose power and greatness, the fame and splendor of ancient Greece and Rome, and of modern France and England, haved paled, and are destined to dwindle into insignificance. On the sth of July, 1776 John Adams wrote as follows to his wife: “The 4th of July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history of America. lam apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God. It ought to be Lsolemnized with pomp, showes,games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward, forever. You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but 1 am not. lam well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost to maintain I this delaration, and support and defend these : States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means; and that posterity’ will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I hope we shall not.” A nation whose “manifest destiny,” we believe, is not only to rule the whole continent of America, but the whole world; not like Rome, through the terror of her armies and rivers of blood; not like England,through the power of her fleet and the thunder of her cannon; but by the power and influence of her [glorious institutions—unschackled, enlightened Christianity—free press—free thought —free speech—free schools, and the clear demonstration of the great political problem, that man is capable of self-government. How rapid—how vast—has been the progress of our nation under the benign influ-ence-of the great truths and principle declared and established by the Declaration of Independence—that “men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these governments are institutefl among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Eighty-three years ago to-day! What mighty changes have taken place since that little Spartan band stood in Independence Hall! Then the Colonists, numbering some two millions, widely scattered over a large extent of territory, were just entering upon a doubtful conflict with the strongest government in the world—to-day, as the result of that contest, the thirteen original Colonies have increased to thirty-three Stales, the two millions to nearly thirty millions, and our wealth, prosperity and happiness is constantly’ and steadily’ increasing. Then we were known as a nation, struggling for existence within the grasp of the mightiest nation upon earth; and our fathers only succeeded in establishing the independence they had so nobly and fearlessly declared by a long, bloody, seven years’ war. Now we are not only known, but feared and respected in every part of the habitable globe, and able to stand successfully against the united world in arms. Look, top, at the mighty influence which that Declaration has and is exerting upon the world, j The great truths and principles therein set forth, and their proof and establishment by our nation, like a great burning lens, is melting the cold, icy despotism of the Old World. “There is a spirit working in the world, Like to a silent, subterranean fire; Yet ever and anon, some monarch hurl’d Aghast and pale, attests its fearful ire; The dungeon’d nations now once more respire I The keen and stirring airof Liberty.” | And the spirit of American institutions is gradually gaining power and influence in all parts of the world. Reforms and human progress are never backward, always on ward. “For freedom’s battle once begun, Bequeath’d by bleeding sire to son, Though baffled oft, is ever won.” How great sh >uld be our gratitude to the j men who, by the Declaration of Independi ence, unshackled human progress! —ar.d how deep should be our veneration for the anniversary of that great event!