The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-07-21
Observation-Disclosures
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Il fIO-AaS 81 --Seficitaly observed III
washing ton ass holiday, the depart
mentalbusincss being suspended. and in
ntost.cascst hespriyate business of the
Fcityaiso. Thcfc is nogcneral observ-
ancc of tEe day beyond the cessation of
bushes operation. The day lisa cool and
pleasant one, and halfthc town is away
on pic-nics, excursions &c. Mayor
Bowen has very 'judiciously issued an
order prohibiting the firing of India
crackers, torpcdoes, or, the training Of
gun powder in thc9strects, and WASH
ington is reasonably quiet.
An interesting feature of the day
was the negro picnic Which assembled
in tho grounds attached to the White
House and there lnxuriated III all the
diversions incidental to the negro race,
and which arc so effected by the heart
of Ulysses. The little "nigs y were
disappointed, understand, in not hay-
ing a speech from His Majesty. This
is minor grievance however, and /
am bound to record that the darIcys
of Washington engaged their picnic on
the Executive grounds. You well re-
collect the thrill Of Indignation which
ran through the country when on the
4th of Jnly 1884 number of negroes
were allowed the use of these grounds
for pic-nickcny purposes when permits
sion for the same privilege by a white
Sunday school had been asked aad re-
fused. Now it is 4 matter of course.
1t would excite no surprise nor indig-
nation in Washington at least if the
negroes were to pass n general confis-
cation law, and drive the whites out of
the city. 1t, is well, perhaps, that the
old fashion of celebrating the 4tll of
July with bonfires, with ringing of
| of bells, firing Of cannon, .orations, sc,
has grown obsolete. There Is no need
of carrying on the farce of celebrating
a day when the benefits first flowing
from it are no longer ours. The prin-
ciplcs of constitutional liberty, first so
boldly and emphaticaliy declared on
this day and i'll whose name we were in
the habit of making our demonstrations
of joy, are now trampled under foot
and openly scorned. Republican free
dom is a thing of the past, and every
gun fred on the fourth Of July, every
speech made, every congratulation us
cd about" Independence day." is sim
4 ply mockcry. The sooner the prac-
tice is thoroughly exploded the better,
SO long as Rydicalism holds the CONN.,
try it's despotism.
When the fourth has once been broken
Let the memory perish too" -, .ri5
Perhaps better days may dawn for
us yet, and then, When the country
once more enjoys the blessings of con-
stitutional liberty, once more realizes
theibenetits, flowing from the sacrifices
I'of those great and nnselfil men who
hallowed the 9Th, of July I776, then it
may be meet and proper that the old
observances of this day shall be resum-
ed. Until then, ''yale, vale, longe
vale!" Saturday afternoon the Steamer
Colt left its wharf for Norfolk bearing
a largo number of excursionists, and
making the first of its regular trips
from Washington to the city first nam
ed. This is the beginning of an enter
prise which cannot fail to imure most
advantageously to the material pros
perity of this city. For many years
our commerce has been confined to a
couple of ricketty old Ferry boats be-
tween here and Alexandria, and few
oyster sloops from the lower Patomac.
Now the dawn of a better era has COM
menccd. Id a few days the Colt will
receive mate and regular trips twice
% week be made. With the opening OF
the railroads now in contemplation
about Washington, do not see why
the Getty of magnificent distances
cannot assume, with equal appropri-
;iteness, the title of t".,the city of mag
| nificent prosperity Perhaps no town
in the entire country is moro favorably
located for manufacturing purposes
than Washington. 1t is famous for it,
water power, and there is only one
mill (at which is made the famous
Welch's family flour) within a periphes
ry of ten miles from the Capitol 5r
Mayor Bowen, after: practically illus
trating tho doctrine of equality, at Get.
tysburg comes home, and anticipated
/ the revenue of the corporation to the
t extent of $500 wherewith to pay tho
' the teachers of the. public schools ono
} months salary. The corporation is IN
, dcbted to the, teachers for tire,
months salary, this petty way of pay
:. ing them cxcitcs much comment. 1t j
: : openly said, that the School Fund ha
been appriated for partizan purposes
by the party in power, and there seems
to be good reason for the Statements.
The election n,Virginia tomorrow
: is now generally conceded to be safe
$ for the conservative Republican o.
S Walker ticket. Tho letter Of Genera
S Stoneman with regard to Wells offe
20. +1,o Cko<o' De- h,no.1o Los To.