The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-07-06
Celebration Of the Fourth.

much less display and parade than has beer
usual for number of years past The day
was pleasant one, the sky being overcast
with clouds which rendered the weather coo
and comfortable.
The celebration commenced about 8 o'clock
Friday evening, by the firing of guns: pistols
crackers and fireworks, which was kept up al
night, much to the annoyance Of large por
ton OF the citizens. At sunrise Saturday
morning all the bells in the city were rung
half an hour, and National salute was fred
The morning train on the railroads came
into the city crowded with passengers, and all
sorts of vehicles came pouring in from the
country towns, laden with women and children
and at an early hour our streets were alive
with human beings. Flags were displayed on
all the public buildings, the hotels, and on
many private residences and stores. The
shipping in the harbor had flags flying and
Moody as usual, gaily decked the Observatory
with his long lines of flags and streamers.
EXERCISES IN THE CITY HALL
Before ten O'Clock the City Hall and Gallery
were filed with gentlemen and ladies who had
assembled TO listen to the addresses advertised
to be made by several of the city clergymen.
At 10 80, the Mayor, speakers, members of the
city government, and several other gentlemen,
took seats upon the stage. The Mayor pre-
sided, and the Portland Band furnished the
instrumental music, while an attractive fea-
ture was the singing by volunteer Quartette
club, consisting of Messrs. Shaw and Gardi-
ner, and Mrs. Humphrey and Mrs. Allen, of
the choir at Rev. Mr.. -Bolles' church.
After the meeting was called to order by
the Mayor, the band played :" The Star-span-
gled Banner" with stirring effect, and this was
followed by an appropriate prayer by Rev.
Geo. Knox, recently chaplain of the Maine
10th regiment.
The Declaration of Independence was read
and well readily Rev. VIM. S. Perry, Rec
tor of St. Stephens church.
A patriotic piece was sung by the Quartette
club, which was rapturously applaudcd.
SPEECH OF REV. MIR. BoLLEs.
The first speaker introduced was Rev. Z. C.
Bolles, pastor Of the Universalist Church, who
spoke for about fifteen minutes, and was. fire.
quently interrupted by applause. Mr.. B. had
expected, till he came to the hall, that anoth-
or gentleman, distinguished for his relations to
another church, was TO precede him-Bishop
Bacon, Of the Catholic Church-and regretted
that be had thought it necessary to decline
the courteous invitation extended to him by
the authorities to participate in the festivities
Of the occasion. The speaker regarded the
present as no time for equivocation, doubt or
hesitency, but time emphatically for conse-
ration of heart, for devotion to country, to
forget prejudices, and to stand together de-
termedly for the Right and the Union. He
did not forget that to-day new star was adj
ded to our national flag, and, though it had
been forced upon the ornament and had risen
In blood, that it was nevertheless a true star, a
star Of liberty, shining brilliantly on the dark
background Of rebellious Virginia Mr.. B.
was followed by music by the Band
SPEECH OF REV. MIR. sTEBBINs.
Rev. Horatio Stebbins, pastor of the LIST
Parish Church, deeply regretted that owing to
a misunderstanding and mistake on the part
Of the Committee, his venerable friend and
brother-Rev. DR.. Dwight-who was expect
ed to precede him was absent He always
listened to that gentleman with pleasure, for
his words were square, direct, well-dehned and
patriotic. Recently the speaker had had his
confidence in his country and its final success
signally and singularly strengthened, and it
Lad become deep and firm as the inspiration
Of God; deepened by what had recently oc-
CURED in our harbor-acts that had won the
praises of the whole country and elevated
Munjoy and Bramhall to places of eminence.
He was in Boston when the event referred to
occurred, and he watched the telegraph with
intense interest, and never before felt so proud
to think he was a citizen Of Portland. Big as
he always felt himself to be, he felt bigger
that day than ever. When he came home the
Mayor, who was usually looked upon as a
short man, doomed up taller than he had ever
seen him before. He had heard of man in
the West who ordinarily weighed one hundred
and sixty, but when he was mad said that he
weighed ton. So of the Mayor, from short
man, by the exploits of that eventful Saturday
he doomed up into giant proportions. He re-
when some one intimated, because the Mayor
was run as a Union candidate by one party
last year, and run and elected as Union can
didate this year by the other party, that he
had turned his coat; but-pointing to the May
or who deeply blushed beneath the compli-
ment-he would ask his fellow-citizens to look
him square in the face and say il God ever
put whiting soul behind such Roman
countenance. This called forth a perfect
storm Of applause.
But said the speaker, the war goes BOOM
ing on Its relentless way. 1t has gone on as
though regardless of all human design. 1t
has gone In its own way under God. Our ex-
pectations have all been at fault. II is assim-
ilating all to ITSELF The war has converted
more minds than discussion. Discussion is
too late. Nothing is left for us but to put
down rebellion by force of arms The simple
propagandism of the war is doing its own
work, and bringing out and solving its own
issues. What we need is not discussion. Int
good temper, and happy is he who keeps cool
and good natured
The speaker was satisfied, in these times
when loyalty is so much talked Of, that man
may obey every letter of the constitution and
not be loyal man, as a man might obey
every requirement of the law and every pre-
cept Of christianity and not be a christian
= n. a. r IL -.