The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-07-16
Correspondence of the Minnesotian.
Fourth of July in New York-the Military-For-
Tremendous Hail Siorm-Loss of
Life.
New YORK, July 4th 81

New YORK, July 4th, '53.
EDIToRs MINNEsoTrAN The pcnt up patriot
ism of Il year has exploded itself to-day in one
universal phiz, pop and bang of all sorts of pow
der machines from the harmless India crack
er and torpedo to twenty-four- FOUNDERS and
other huge, black moutbed red throated. fire.
splitting devils of war Powder and patriot
ism! | never could understand what affinity
there was between the two. but to-day convn-
ccs me that they are inscparaLle and will be
while you and | live. The firing of crackers
and small pistols and torpedoS and an OCCASION
al rocket was cOmmcncedlast Saturday, by pre-
cocious Young Americans anxious to get their
hands in for the glorious Fourth. on in side
streets. mounted on dry goods boxes. could be
seen ardent Juvenile independents, hatless and
bootless, sucking Ike patent air pumps at
"penny-a-grab cigars to keep up the fire,
while group of eager faced urchns around
would light the fuse and discharge the rcdoubt-
able explosive. Whether patriotism or powder,
one or both, made those boys so absorbinely
happy, l will not stop to discuss, but happy
they were Notwithstanding the occasional call
of the smoker for relief, '.llere Bill. you come
and smoke this ere cigar awhile: I'm gittin so
dizzy | can't keep her lit And so they kept
up practice Saturday and Sunday, with short
intermission tor church, and Monday morning
the Corporation full grown boys capable Of
stronger tobacco and longer puftng,) took the
matter i'll hand and from daylight until ten
o'clock tonight. one continual smoke offering
OF birthstone, nitre and charcoal has assembled
to appcase the names and in honor of-yOu
know who it was in honor Of and for whose
benefit, comfort and adv antagc, no doubt quite
as well as do, for do not profess much accu-
rate knowledge on that branch of the subject
The military were out in hostly array and in the
early morning looked rigid and marched to
time, but about noon they were not quite up to
time, and the lines had certain wavy inclina-
tions. the muskcts made a larger angle with
the plumb of the body in some cases a right an
gle to the shoulder but decidedly uyonp an
gle to the cXasperatcd rear file, and by three or
four clock the stately pride of soldcry was
cleanly wIltcd ont of whole battaliOns for the
thermometer stood at SO degrees The fire.
works in front of the City Hall went off much
to the delight OF the thirty thousand spectators
gathered into and around the Park Looking
down from the top of my hotel, (Which was
most favorable lOcation) the sea of faces lit up
by the red. yellow and blue lights reminded me
forclbiy OF the gathering together of the ma
tons VIC read about. which is to take place in
the hereafter. APPLY enough, too, so far as the
diversity OF nation is concerned, for if any ma
ton on the earth had not a representative in
that crowd. 1t Is a nation whose country will
not be reached by the echo of the last trumpet
One thing remarkable about the celebration
was the very few Americans native indigenous
Yankees to be found in the crowd. took the
trouble to walk around and through the crowd
10 cndcafof TO form some correct estimate of
the proportion OF foreigners. and my conclu-
sion was that not more than one out of twenty
five were American, that is four out of 100, and
OF these fomr, probably three were from the
country. The inHiction of one fourth of july
Is sufficient for time, and all who can leave
the city 60 The mayor, public officers, soldi-
ers, &c. must of necessity stay and perform
Tor the great qualification and cdiicatiOn of our
foreign and recently imported brethren and sis
tiers No dOubt that they imbibc during the
enlightened exercises of this day those politi-
cal, profound and social ideas which fit them
dlscrectly to control the welfare and property
OF those among whom they have sit themselves
down. If they do not acquire their political
education upon such occasions. when rendered |
impressible Ivy strong potations of whisky or
Lager beer, it is difficult to say when they do |
acquire that enthusiastic patriotism which bub- |
Dies up with enthusiasm at the mention of a
ballot box. The mass of foreigners take more
interest in elections than the mass of Ameri-
cans This is true only in the cities where they
are cOngregatcd together more Immediately !
under the influence of Oflice-seckers and dcma-
gOgucs.
Inc foreign population now coming into the
country are of far better character than here
tofore The law requiring the masters of the
vessels to give bonds in the sum of $500 for
each passenger, conditioned that they shall not
become a tax upon the State for the term of
!ive years has had an excellent effect. | have
learned that emigrants are sent through to Chi
cago from New York for seven dollars. When
the railroad communication with Galena is
complete, We may look for large increase of
population from this source. There are thou
sands OF German and Norwegian farmers, many
Df them intelligent educated men who. did they
know the advantages of settling in Minnesota
would prefer it to any other place, as the eli
mate more nearly agrees with that of their own
countries. They are the very men whose set
age.
cannot hope that you have had as brilliant