The New York herald., 1869-07-06

recr OF crime and vilany or In those OF the recpi-
ens OF an open-handed, generous charity at Bellevue
Hospital, OF one thing one may be certain, that
from each ana every one OF them a thrill
| or patriotism must last night have animated
them-a feeling that they belong nation the rst
| on TINS vast teemlng giobe-one who can and Will
| look aiter the humbest and the most obscure The
most pretentious display Of the sort occurred at that
| noblest OF monuments, at present bat IA unit OF
WHAT remains 10 DE done In the way OF public
| charity,
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL.
warden Brennan had the superintendent OF the
arrangements, which were In every way perfect.
Gaily iestooned trlumpnal arches laced the grand
stoop overlooking the garden; hags hung every-
where from every available nook while the r0srum
destined for the speakers was handsomely festooned
Win the national drapery. AT eight O'Clock Z. M
there was grand display OF fireworks. diversified
with the martial and patriotic strains of band OF
music, while addresses rom the officials OF the nos
ptal ana those interested In IL were listened TO
with attention by the 700 or more pateats, who as
aoly installed on benches arranged that good
view OF the pyrotechnical display could be obtained,
together with an opportunity OF listening 10 the mu
SIC and the speakers Over 81 900 were expended at
TINS place last night and however much the world at
large may caV at the expense incurred by the civic
authorities at City Hall Park and elsewhere for the
amusement of the people at large, no one can be
found who IL bold enough to assert that tnis In
stance the money was thrown away.
AT RANDALL's ISLAND,
In addition to good Fourth OF July meal, the boys
were uItier entertalhed py an appropriate address
by Horace Greeley which was listened 10 with great
attention. The various establishments at
BLACKwELL's ISLAND
were also not forgotten, music, ieasting, fireworks
and addresses being the order or the day rather
evening, ana every ything passed or pleasantly even
down 10 the unfOrtunates III the Insane Asylum,
VIM showed that there is at least some method IN
their madness by their quiet demeanor, only one
or two OF the most hopeless cases OF insanity PROV
Ing that for the individuals In question the Fourth of
July was to them an uncnerished halluclnation.
The ssFOurth, Among the Germuns.
The Germans, as general thing, look upon the
Fourth with somewhat Of a religious feeling The
word religious" IS here used, not IN It's common
sense as maintaining any creed, dogma, sys-
tenn OF the relation of the natural to the SUPER
natural world, hut in its more extended meaning OF
piety and reverence Even those OF the Germans
who claim 10 have cast OF all allegiance to any OF
the positive religions OF the present or past ages
are fully imbued with this religious sentiment for
the high importance or the day which gave political
liberty and freedom of conscience TO continent
and look upon ITS recurring anniversary with the
same emotion as the Christian would do upon the
day which gave birth to Him who died for the spirit
ual redemption of mankind. The strictly religious
portion OF the Germans are not less outspoken in
their veneraton of the act OF the Continental Con-
gress OF l7I6 on this memorable day which in It's re-
suits not only insured free development to each
Individual IN ''the pursuit of happiness" but for
ever severed the chains which bound the State 10
the Church and gave each denomination full scope
for advancement The more educated classes
while agreeing In general with their fellow country
men In the opinions Just described consider the day
IL still more advanced view. They reason prag
enecis to causes and they find that the successful
maintenance by the succeeding years OF war OF the
American declaration of independence on the 4th OF
July, l776, at Philadelphia, was the first grand
citation by a political body, speaking In the name
OF nascent yet determined nation, OF the truths
flashed to an ast0nsfed Id from the active
minds OF Locke, Voltaire, Diderot, a D'Alem-
bert, a Lessing and others-destined to break the
CHAINS OF medieval bigotry which held mankind In
abject subjecton to heredt tary despotlsm. They be-
eve, and t may be said with justice. that this was
the first effective blow at the prevailing systems OF
past ages, and raised man, In MS own Individuality,
from the condition OF subject and serf 10 that
desnes, subjected only to the rules OF the society
enacted solely with the consent OF all and for the
have have been the dawn Of Detter future for sI man
KIND followed by many revo vontionary upheav-
ais IN the Old and New World and still
quietly, but surely, ut work changing the whole
po itIca and social condition OF mankind from that
OF monarchical subsection to constitutional liberty
from that OF master and servant to equal co-ope.
rators for che common good OF their couatry.
The day being thus viewed by the German popula-
ton Of the city and country at large 1t is wonder
that they annually celebrate 1t with great unaninty
and enthusiasm, though with good deal less OF
NOISY show and buncOmbe than MANY Others since
they are of q more contemplative turn of mind.
All their churches were filed. catholic, Old Luther
an, Calvnstlc, modern Protestant, indeed the
churches and temples or all denominations
secs and hues had their seats occupied by
deYout congregations, 0Ierlng PRAYERS OF thanks
to the Almighty for the bene1cent grant or liberty
through the fathers OF the republic ninety-three
years ago Other celebrations were innumeraDe.
Every German society, of whatever character ana
with Whatever objects, arranged indoor outdoor
and friends, In honor OF the day, and at each the
reading OF the Declaration OF independence and an
oralon on Its principles causes and effects formed
the chlef feature OF the programme.
But there was some hitch rather dlsagreeabe, and
In many instances even distastefu to a large por-
ton OF the Germans. The Fourth this year fell upon
sunday, ana In obedience the custom OF the
austere Puritan Fathers the Anglo American part OF
this feeling, The authorities also, have val. ali
long ago consented 10 celebrate the day on
the succeeding Monday the 5tn. The Germans, with
aS
cannot see the proprlety OF this course. Some of
them assert that they have investigated the matter
and say that toe very 4th day OF july 1776 when the
Declaration OF Independence adopted and signed
by the Continental Congress IN independence Hall,
at Philadelphia, was Sunday, and from this tney |
reason that II 1t was no desecratl0n OF the Sabbath
for the fathers TO proclaim the seeydeut truths of
OF right Independent states on Sunday 1t cannot
be Tor those who now enjoy the precious fruits of
their solemn and grand act OF freedom 10 celebrate
its anniversary on sunday, If IL should happen TO
come on that day OF the week. Nay, they say, |
1t ought TO be done with still greater solemnty on
the sunday, 1or that the true anniversary OF the
Declaration and recurring at the end OF every cycle
OF seven years 1t should be marked more solennly |
than the Intervening days, as the sep enniai cycle.
1hls argument might be wel cacdlated To arrest |
attention were 1t based on fact But as tue 4th OF
July, lI76 was Thursday, those VINO have higgled |
on the supposed fact that 10 was a Sunday may as |
well give II up aud say no more about H.
Yet ought the Germans not to complain. The ar |
rangement as 1t was made gave them two holidays
instead OF and chance to demonstrate their de-
voton to the halowed memory Of the day, |
for twice consecutive twenty-four hours
and they did improve It. All the suburbs were alive
with thousands upon thousands of German families |
already on Sunday, and again Yesterday In honor
OF the day and as we said the Declaration OF indie
pendence was nowhere forgotten, nor the reverence
due TO such men as JEFFERSON, Franklin and their
compeers In that mighty struggle. The Turner So
cieeies OF the New York district, assisted by in
the cities IN the vicinity did thus assemble on both
days at Mueller's Morris Park. Fifth street, Nor |
rlsania, In very large numbers. At Funk's Union
Park. at jones' Wood at Rabenstein's Bellevue
Park, at Suzer's East river Park at .Kapns Lion
PARK, In this clty-n TACT, every spot where pure
air and fresh breeze could be enjoyed, the Ger
mans congregatea in their might and did honor TO |
the Fourth the attn and also on the 9th. And last
but not least the German LADIES' Society In aid OF
the fund for the erection OF a German hospital on
Seventy seventh street and Fourth avenue had |
grand celebration yesterday at Landmarks Hamll- |
ton Park, appealing to the Germans the city and
to their patriotic sentiment that on this day, COM
of the great deeds for their country
of nfth tha Amor Nui,tt |