The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-06
''With One Auspicious and One Dropping
Eve -

The attitude in which the Southern States stood
on the Fourth of July is as unique as it is
amusing. Feeling confident that any neglect on
their part to celebrate the anniversary of the
birth of the American nation would be seized
upon and converted into political capital by
their opponents, they we're compelled to join in
the festivities of the day. Yet they did 80 with
so bad grace, that it reminds us of the ancient
wood.cut of the sailor compelled by band of
pirates to dance a Scottish fling, under the
penalty of death should he refuse. There is a
stlted formalty about the manner in which our
"wayward sistersb reioiced that partakes largely
of the comic element.
In some parts of the South their honesty ex.
ceeded their valuation of policy, and they openly
disregarded all notice OF the day. Where United
States troops were stationed some show was
made, but as general rule there was either
formal farce enacted or no notice taken what.
ever. The Richmonders preferred the latter,
and the tone of the press clearly indicates the
popular feeling The Wig says;-
"Well, here is the Fourth but as far as we are
concerned, 1t might well be the fitt0, sixth,
seventh or any other number, or no number at all.
rum, Niagara of spouting, and volcano of pow
der explosions. Down here in Dixie we are not
going to jump for joy over the graves of ga lant
grey. jacket, nor introduce voracious Gag into
a sociaton with the little orphan children Of the
South"
The Examiner remarks:-
"Ths day brings with IL a strange mlngling of
emotions 10 the Southern heart 1t IS the annver-
sary OF the birth OF the United States, but 1t is
the anniversary of the tall Vicksburg-a disaster
that gave our short-lived Coniederacy its mortal
hurt. Shall we rejoice or shall we be sad2 Where.
toie should we be gladI The rights which it gave
us are taken away from us. and the blessings that
it conferred have been changed TO evils "
There is not one spark of patriotism in the
Southern heart, there is not the flame where with
to kindle any fire on the altar of common
country. The soul of the subugated Rebel is
TUNED from our land; nothing belonging to it is
of interest TO him. He is an alien and an enemy,
as far as he can make himself so. And yet we
are told that the power of governing the
country is to be intrusted to such men To
communities we are to extend political power,
in which no show loyal devotion is attempted,
or if attempted, is merely a mockery. The tone
of the Richmond journals will do as a clear ex-
position of the conduct OF such as quietly pass
the day by in contempt
much more difficult work was IL for those
who pretended its celebration. 'With one
auspicious andgone dropping eye'' they view the
day, and strange commingling of the recolec-
tons of Gettysburg and Independence Hall fill
the memory. As long as the former is viewed as
a curse, and the doctrines of the document
framed at the latter are denied, so long will the
Fourth be to them "no different from the fifth
sixth, or seventh" and so long will theyihaug
like Mahomet's coffin, midway between the
heaven of political power and the earth in
which they al present dwell.