The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-15

How PUBLIC SENTIMENT IS EXPRESSED IN
New YoRK.-N0 one can live week in New
York without becoming impressed with the
conviction that our citizens are among the
most mercurial, cxcitable, and at the same
time good humorcd and nationally disposed
communities ON the face of the earth. If they
arc pleased with any public act or event in
which the nation, the State, or the city is in
tercstcd, they Immediately set to work and con
vcnc in cOngratulatory mass meetings, and ex-
hibit their delight in fireworks, skyrockets,
tetn de joe, speeches, huzzas and torch light
professions. If they are indignant on account
of any like public act or event, they exhibit
their indignation--if we can apply such term
to such manifestations--in much the same man.
ner. They hold mass meetings, burn tar bar
rcls, fire big guns, march by torch light, listen
to music and speeches, and huzza, or groan,
as their humor or sentiment suggest. II par
ty triumphs in an election, the triumph is cclc-
brated in a grand .public gloridcation. If the
Legislature enact an unjust and oppressive
law, the like programme Of public meetings,
guns, fireworks, music, &C., is observed. And
everything goes on in the most amusing,
harmless and funny way in the world. We
have no disgusting hangings in efigy, sacking
OF churches, burning of innocent women and
children, or other like scenes volative Of law
and repulsipc TO nature. No. Our citizens
arc at once too humane, too gobd natured and
too sensible TO resort to such gross exhibitions
Their sentiments are expressed in more gal
liant, more harmless and infinitely more anus
ing manner.
And it is worthy Of remark that while New
Workers are engaged in any of these public
pastimcs-as they are once or twice week
they never fail to compliment that engine Of
true popular opinion, the press. We come in
for more than full share of these compliments,
whether in the shape Of loud cheers and hur-
rahs from popular assembly or Kisses from a
puritanic abolitionist or sectional convention,
or sercnades from military companies as they
pass TO or from their target excursions. We
welcome all these manifestations, and rejoice
thereat. They arc highly amusing, even where
the character of the compliment is doubtful.
And more than all, they are, as we have said,
noteworthy, as being the popular mode of cx-
hibiting the sentiments Of the people.
Hardly day passes that we do not receive
some of these funny and delcctable compl-
ments. Military companies exhibiting them
selves lin all the pride, pomp and circum-
stance of glorious war''-Trc companies return
ing with their new engine, or extending hospi
tally to their brethren of other ctics--fantas-
ticals in all the trumpcry and laughabe cos
tunes that Imagination can dcvise-trades on
a strike-iolly fellows on chowder excursions
all turn down Fulton street. and rarely fail
to honor ms with n Present Arms" Yankee
Doodle Hail Columbia" or Poor Dor
Tray and, where the rules Of subordination do
not forbid with three cheers. They keen nm
the excitement al the time, and in our Office
we have seldom 10 complain Of absence Of
music.
This is one OF the modes in which the popu.
larity of the Herald is evidenced The other
and more profitable mode i, Of course. in its
circulation We are fully satisfied with both.
But il Is with the former that We now have to
do. ON Monday, for instance, we were honorcd
in this way some halfdozcn times. We had
first a visit from the Hart Guards. proceeding
on their animal excursion for target practice.
and by them we we're honored with true mill