The Fourth of July has been a great day ever since 1776. Before that year
the Fourth of this month came and went like other days. But then a great
event happened: an event which made a great difference to the entire world;
the boundaries of many countries would be very different to-day if the
important event of that day had not transpired. It was a terrible blow to
the foes of humanity and even to many weak-kneed friends. The exhortation
of one of the signers of the Declaration on that day, "We must all hang
together," with the grim but very reasonable rejoinder, "If we do not, we
will assuredly hang separately." The bloodshed and suffering which followed
and which seem to be the only price at which human liberty and advancement
can be procured. We had to deal with our old friends the English very much
as the peace-loving Quaker did with the pirate who boarded his ship; taking
him by the collar Broad-brim dropped him over the ship's side into the
water, saying, "Friend, thee has no business on this ship." We have shown
that we own and can navigate the ship of State ourselves, and now we are
willing to welcome here not only John Bull but all nations of the world
when they have any friendly business with us.
The gunpowder that has been consumed. First, during the Revolutionary war
and the second war with England; and then the powder that has been exploded
by small and large boys in the hundred and odd Fourths that have followed.