Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-29
SHALL WE CELEBRATE, IF so, Whats

SHALL WE CELEbhAAS - -
Running through our minds, as bright
dreams through young girl S pnre soul
are memories Of the fourth of July, as
observed inahe past and golden years OF
The Republic. These memories are
mart Of every Americans past life, for
they are Of ...saas when the emblems OF
liberty knew no enemies, and when the
inspirations Of single occasion stirred
the profoundest depths of feeling and.
made the land of Washington the home
Of orators and poets. five have faltered
in our admiration of the system OF gov
eminent our fathers gave us, and there
fore love the memories of old lndepend-
ence dav less. we should consider that
the fault is ours, and not the principles
we commemorate. We should endearor
to4rekindle those ancient fires of patri-
olic, feeling, and call back the thought
that would seek elsewhere, and
among alien systems, the means of
q
political happiness. If any one
idea of Government has been educated
into the minds aud affections cf our
people, that idea is personal and national
liberty and if any one occasion has
been the best, because the most faithful
instrument that occasion has been the
national celebration Of the fourth OF
July. We fired cannon, rang bells, deliv-
cred otaiio,is. gave feasts, shouted and
sung from yonih TO age. When the sun
Of the giorions fourth rose over the hills,
ityebeh the ma sses astir with prepara-
ton Tor the national event. We all re-
member Tie vast streams Of people Of all
ages. sexes. eolors, and conditions of life,
pouring On through clouds of dust to
the appointed place All the avoes-
tons Of life were suspended The pillow
was left in the furrow, the hoe in the
corner, .yhile the bronzed sons of toll
went to the celebration And for what I?
Poreioice that the day had come-a day
dedicated 10 freedom, personal and ma
tionh -whenthe fires Of patriotism we're
to he relii, and the event that tore the
Amerioah colonies as bleeding limbs
from an inlolerani empire commemo-
rated
Where do We stand to-day? The colo
MES Iehelled on account of the Stamp
act, and the assumption of the right ON
the part of The British Government to
tax them without allowing them repre-
sentation. These were the main causes
of the Revolution Others enumerated in
the Declaration Of Independence, of
Themselves, conld not have driven the
colonista 10 armed resistance II was,
Their resistance 10 these two measures
that gave liberty to America These were
the themes Of orators and poets IL was
the downfall of these and the advent Of
independence over them that gathered
the people together and sanctifed
the anniversary day Of Independence
abnye 81 other secular days. In
word. our Fourth of July celebrations
were rsjoicings over the destruction Of
the tamp act and taxation without re-
presentation. II is eminenfly proper for
the North TO celebrate the day in the old
fashion, At least, IA part That section
has the stamp act bnt it has representa-
ton. The South has the FIRST, bat
mountainous taxation without The latter
IL We celebrate the day, what idea, as APP
plicable 10 our present status shall We
celebrate? Downfall of the stamp act
Ii is not down Downfall Of taxation
without representation 1t is not down.
II is tremendously erect IL is a vast
tower. under whose shadow eleven States
lie immovable. What else-what other
idea, can zoe commemorate with cannon,
and bells. and music, and shont and
laughter, aud slipperd feet, and oratory,
and poetry, and song, and joyous Jubili-
cation We ask-we only ask. We do
not answer to-day We may tomorrow.