Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-07-10
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 10, 1869
The Celebration.

III IOulOu ii'' No'iS ""' S'''>'
people have felt patriotic enjoyed the
sights, seen the show, and rclapscd into
their former staid and everyday dccorum.
The celebration, taken as whole, was a
success, although it might have been, and
doubtless will be, hereafter improved uron.
The attendance from abroad was large, cs-
recially from Victoria and the lower part
Of the Sound, and all appeared to have come
with the determination tomake themselves
happy aud others happy with whom they
were thrown in contact. Consequently
the proper spirit was manifested for good
d-fashioncd celebration, and if it was not
realized the blame cannot attach to our
guests nor indeed to the masses of the pco-
rle. We do not assert that anybody is
to blame, although VIC cannot rcprcss the
thought, shared in by nine-tcnths of the
people. that the celebration was not, in
all respects, what it should have been.
The procession, if it could he called one,
was a failure, as light have been forctold
if the committee had reflected that an all
gle of forty-fve degrees is not so pleasant
plane for locomotion as one based upon
zero, or that fine dust is not as pleasant as
Scoth snuff on hot day in midsummer.
But then, our Long Bridge could not be
taken up and turned around, nor would its
width admit of the procession turning and
marching back; SO the hill and the dust,
and the fatigue of the march, were essen
tial evils which the committee had not the
power to successfully combat.
The exercises of the day differed very
little from the usual order, so it is unncc-
cssary to refer to the programme. The
singing by the little girls and the misses
was excellent, and they made fine dis
play on the stage, with their white banners
and the green foliage of our grand forest
trees as a back ground. The band dis
coursed rloQuent music, for the airs of our
country speak volumes to the hearts of her
people, but the usual adjective "silvery,"
is only applicable when We speak of what
it cost. The Declaration was read, in a
manner We have seldom heard cqualed, by
Mr.. Eagan. Its soul-inspirng sentiments
were fully set forth by the mastery clo-
cution of the reader. The Grafton was
very long, and may have been very inter-
esting to those who believe in the peculiar
dogmas of Radicalism. When the speak.
er announced that the age of the nation
as a Republic should be counted from the
date of the emancipation proclamation, he
lost the sympathy Of those of his audience
who were unwilling to have our country
shorne of her glorious prestige in the fam.
lily of nations. IF there is disposition to
accuse us of ringing in party" in these
comments, we would remind the reader
that the " ringing in" occurred much ear.
lier in the programme, in the formation Of
committees and in the preliminary steps
taken for celebration. Moreover, if we
cannot give candid opinion-cspecially
when it is that of large proportion of the
pcople-wc must omit all reference to this
important topic of the week, for we have
not yet learned to cloth ideas in garb Of
talschool to please those of delicate sensi.
bilities. Honest people prefer truth in a
journalist, to the empty platitudes of those
rho cringe that thrift may fawning follow.
Mr.. Mitchell we regard as a gentleman,
and as an invited guest was entitled to,
and received, nothing but courtesy and
Kindness from our people. Any allusion,
therefore to matters which invariably rails c
aartisan feeling aal prejudice at time