New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-07-04
THE FOURTH oF July.


the gulf of Mexico, and of the Pacific ocean
Whatever differences and controversies may
have arisen since the day on which the memo
rable declaration" was promulgated, it car
never be forgotten that the immortal documen
i was the production of Southern pen tha
it was signed by representatives OF all the coS
/ onies and that it was maintained and en-
forced by the swords of Northern and O
Southern soldiers If the first blow for indie
: pendence was struck at Lexington, the last
? was delivered at Yorktown. If Nathaniel
Greene Of Rhode Island commanded the
Southern troops in those memorable cam
paigns which have made his name illustrious
George Washington of Virginia led the conn.,
bined forces of North and South from Mass4n
chusetts to Delaware, through the tryirt!Ll
scenes Of Valley Forge the alternate defA ii
and victories of Long Island and Tredll not
lBrandywine and Monmouth, to the Gull socro+
ting triumph of the struggle. Whatever Stters
tieal future is in store for us we can alw'te'
recur to that period as the one during whI5IG
a common danger, and common object,
united both sections in common effort for
deliverance. Hence the Fourth of July must
ever rremain eonsecrated day in the affections
of the American people, at the South, as well
as at the North, If there it is venerated as
the origin of national grandeur and renown,
here it is reverenced as day made illustrious
by a successful struggle for independence.
The extensive preparations which have been
made to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the
day show that it has lost none of its interest
and attractions in the minds of our people.
Indeed the celebrations Of former years are to
be ecipsed on this occasion, in variety, splen-
dor and extent. First on the list we have the
grand celebration by the fire department Of New
Orleans This, although ostensibly special
affair, is really the great popular demonstra-
tion-the one to which public interest is at
traeted and in which public sympathy is en-
listed. The festival which is to last five days,
and is to be in the words of the committee,
'' in every way peoples teStiudl," is intended
as an agency to raise fund 'for the purposel
Of building an imposing monument to com-E
memorate the dead of the fire department
who in the discharge of their duties as soldiers
and firemen, yielded up their lives" The,
Fourth of July has appropriately been chosen
for the initiation of this grand popular move
ment. The celebration and subsequent fes-
tiyities are to be held at the Fair Grounds, ,
and, if we may judge from the published pro- (
gramme, they will be of the most attractive
character. ]. N. Marks, ESQ, will read the /
Declaration Of Independence, and an Grafton
will be delivered by G. H. Braughn, Esq. After
wards there will be engine trials, foot-races,
baseball matches, acrobatio and gymnastic
trottinga and running races, and,
in the evening, grand instrumental concert,
fireworks and dancing. The last is novel
and peculiarly attractive feature, and it will be
continued every evening during the five days
of the festival. We should not omit to state
hat restaurants and saloons for soda water,
ce-cream, ETC., will be established on the
grounds.
There will likewise be special military
celebration, under the direction of the United
States military authorities. By an order from
Major-General Baird, we learn that all military
labor, except necessary guard duty, Will be
during the day The troops in the
'ieinity of New Orleans, consisting Of the 1st
egiment United States Infantry Battery K,
st United States Artillery and the 81st United
'tates Colored Infantry will be paraded on
)anal street at s A. NJ, and viii afterwards be
marched through some of the principal streets.
salutes of thirty-seyen guns-one for each
be fred at sunrise, at noon and at
unset
Finally we have what, strangely enough t
called citizens celebration, " the prinoi- !
al feature of which is total oblivion of
olors and odors The leaders in this affair C
to themselves the military salutes G
nd parade; but the public will understand t
lat there is really no connection whatever $
etween the celebration under the auspices of q
le United States military authorities, and v
le anonymous affair which is to come off at I
Leehanies. Hall. Of this performance Mr.. Il
itkin is to be the poet, and Mr.. T. J. Durant r
le orator. The proceedings are to wind up
ith "Home, Sweet Home by the band.
In addition to these local celebrations there I
e to be the usual excursions across the lake
I'D elsewhere, all of which promise agreeable q
creation and diversion to those who may tt
ize this opportunity of relieving them !
Ives from the hot and dusty atmosphere of o
roccnpied terai the are waiting for arrives. =
1elenranh- H. A ARRInA