The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-07
Fourth of July Celebrations in the
South.

OF wondering contempt often times mistakes
that feeling for one of admiration. Incap-
able, perhaps of comprehending the require
ments of common decency he imagines that
his wanton disregard of the rules of propriety
and courtesy is mark of talent, and is un-
able to see that he is condemned alike by
friend and foe. There are many ways in
which this spirit of disgraceful malignity can
beshown. The latest exhibition we have
seen is an article in the Charlotte Times,
from which we copy the following extracts
to show to what degree a man may he
blinded and controlled by groundless hate
sWe sec that several of our contemporaries
have proposed to unite with the Radicals
and jointly celebrate the I" orious
Fourth.n In Salisbury, we are glad to see,
the RAIDS have refused the union. What
Southern Conservatives have to do with the
Fourth of July now is more than we can con-
ceive. The Radicals can make themselves
ridiculous by celebrating one set OF rebels
and denouncing another to their hearts con
tent; but why should their victims help
them in doing so?
If tue revolution of 1776 was righteous
and just, much more so was the " rebellion y
of 1861. If our ancestors had cause OF
quarrel with George III, much greater and
more grievous cause had we, their descend
ants. with the Yankee Government. ...s
What, in the name OF history, oi manhood,
of common right, have we to celebrate
on the Fourth of July? How much of the
delights of liberty and of the boasted right
of self-government do we enjoy! Are We to
bespatter that flag which degrades Lee and
Stonewall jackson below their sable serv-
ants? .,...
We would like, forsooth, to hear a Con-
seryativc gentleman make a Fourth OF July
speech i! Would he eulogise Washington,
the great rebel, and denounce Lee, the great
er rebel2 Arraign the British Government
for imposing tax on tea and stamps on
paper, and giorify the Yankee concern for
ostracising all the good men of the country,
and for taxing every thing" ,. =. ....
And this is from a paper which has been
whining because the Democrats were not
entrusted with offices Of trust This comes
from the paper which announces that the
rebels surrendered in good faith, and that
they are now the truest friends of the Gov
eminent! This is from the paper which
calls upon Grant to trust the Democrats and
to give them power to control the South !
This is one of those papers which are con-
tinually whimpering about the want of
confidence with which they are treated, and
the barbarism of the government in keep
ing their leaders out of Office !!
If ever proof was needed to show that the
Democrats should not be trusted, such trai
torous sentiments as those expressed in the
article in the Times are proof enough. If
ever proof was needed to show that the
rebels did not lay down their arms "in good
faith,n such utterances are proof enough.
If Ans thing were needed to prevent the
Government from allowing bad men to OH
tain offices of trust, such expressions of dis
loyalty would he cause enough.
We do not believe that the people, the
working people-the men who fought while
many of the present leaders, and would be
leaders of the Copperheads, were skulking
in hospitals, throwing away their medicine
lest they might really be sick-hold the
same opinions as expressed by the Times.
We believe that the people who were forced
into the war; have seen the ruin that jeff
Davis and his co-traitors would have brought
upon the South, and are now glad that the
! rebellion proved failure. Thousands of
the people, men who were in the Confede-
rate army, are now good Republicans, and
are doing their best to undo the evil wrought
by the men who melted the rebellion
These men celebrate the birthday OF the
Independence of America with glad hearts.
The Fourth of July" is dear to every
man who is worthy the name of American.
1t belongs to no one part, but to the VIII ole
country. There may be men whose own in
fanny makes them feel unworthy to join in
the rejoicings of good and loyal citizens at
the anniversary of the Declaration of Ameri-
can Independence. but the fault is in them
selves. ..,-aa sa. a.,-sf.f III.
That the rebellion of 1851 was wrong is
self evident. The Southern people had no
cause for hatred of the government. The
South had always received far more than its
share of the honors and emoluments of the
national patronage. It had made many un-
just demands which were uncomplainingly
complied with. But at last it wished to
implant throughout the whole country an
institution abhorred by every civilized ma
tion of the world-human slavery. The de-
lnand was steadily refused. The aristocra-
cy of the South then conspired against the
government, and forced the Southern peo-
pie into war which they detested. Thus
there can be no likeness between the revolu-
ton of 1776 and the rebellion of 1861. The
former was an uprising of a whole people in
struggle for freedom. The latter Was the
effort of the aristocracy of IL section to per-
petuate and extend the enslayement of four
million of their fellow men. The former
met the glorious success that it merited, the
latter the defeat that it deserved.
The Times asks what the people of the
South have to celebrate on the Fourth of
/ July. They have that to be thankful for
which man disloyal enough to give utter
ance to the sentiments of that editorial could
never apprecate-love of country, pride of
nationality, and above all. gratitude to the
men whose patriotism made America free.
Is there a man in America who does not feel