The Portland daily press., 1869-06-19
THE PRESS,
Saturday Morning, June 10, 1869.
Tho Gren, Peace Jubitec.

The GREAT Peace Jubilee.
1t would be contemplate to allow any local
envy or jealousy to diminish or suppress our
hearty satisfaction as Americans and New
Englanders in the splendid success of this
great national celebration The commemora-
ton was worthy the event. Peace after SO
frightful and fatal war; that so long threaten
ed the disruption of our country, or the over
throw of our liberties, peace, or the basis OF
the Acknowledgement of all the people, and the
extension of the national authority over all
our territory, is an event, over which not we
alone, but all mankind and the angels in hea-
ven can rejoice.
The celebration came none too late for the
completed fact of peace, since we must re-
member that though actual war was suspend
ed five years ago, the terms of peace were new
er dictated by Congress, representing the ma
tional sovereignty, and accepted by the late
malcontents, till the last general election set
tied definitely the terms of pacifcation and re-
union.
Boston was the very city to inaugurate this
ovation. 1t was Massachusetts,, inspired and
led by Boston, that had the largest stake in
the great war. The war was indeed contest
for the mastery of continent, betwixt vast
aristocracy OF planters and the democracy
which was the political development of Puri-
tanism. Massachusetts and Virginia had
combatted each other in the national council,
till the argument demanded hotter and sharp
er weapons than words. 1t was Massachus-
etts, that through the prescience of the pro-
phetc Andrew, understood best the magni-
fn6 49, {sxof 81 Iox.1 ~
her newly equipphd regiments to dedicate the
war by pouring out of her blood to liberty
and universal democracy. Massachusetts, was
tower OF strength all through the weary con-
hict and inspired her sister States with her
own energy and hopefulness. Let her lead the
reioicings over the triumphant result and let
all tie loyal land enter heartily and patrioti-
cally into her joy.
On the whole Boston was perhaps the only
city, that could have conceived and carried out
this great project with spirit, prestige and sue
cess. New York is weather. and more met
ropolitan, more profuse in expenditure, more
extravagant in the magnitude and eccentricity
of enterprises undertaken by indipidual men.
But New York is not organized; it is a social
and commercial chaos; its civic offairs are
managed by committee of the mob, and its
social affairs manage themselves One of her
merchant princes or one of the successful
gamblers OF her stock exchange might ON his
own account undertake TO build The Pacific
hallway, or the Darien canal or pay the ma
tional debt, or do any other stupendons thing:
but no two of them could ever unite upon anv
undertaking. Boston is SO organized. that
of and /.
some great work, and he shall have all the
brains and all the money of the city made sub
seryient to his plans To live in Boston. and
10 nave an idea is to rule the age 1t was a
naughty and preposterous thing fer its most
cultivated snob to call Boston the sstatb of The
'tnfoerse." We're it ever so true, they said it
who ought not. Perhaps that young New Eng
land colony, who flash out with such stunning
enterprises at the foot of Lake Michigan.
might have done something as great But
the spirit of Chicago would not have taken
this artistic and esthetic direction. 1t will
doubtless do something in its own unique and
original way to keep up its reputation.
And this is the feature of the celebration to
be especially commended. 1t is an improve
ment upon our immemorial methods Of ms
tration Without being half so grave as we
look, or half SO stolid as we are called. we
Yankees never knew how to go to work to en-
JOY ourselves. Our holidays have been pui-
sances OF ear-spltting and discordant noise.-
The incessant SCATTERING of tortur;ng explo-
sions have made us each fourth of July lament
our Independence, while Washington coming
back annually on the I'D of February, with the
provoking lmpudence of his tin horn, has COM
peiied the saintlest of us to curse his memo
ry Big, big noises, gushing, grandioquent
oratoiy, and fiery, strong potations, this is the
American idea of being jolly
Mr.. Gilmore, albeit an Irishman, understands
and caters wisely to the extravaganza national
penchant. he gratifes us with magnificent
volume Of sound. You must split Yaukee,s
head to make him feel comfortable. The fiftv
bells, parks of artillery, and the one hundred
anviis put the very 4th of July into all our old
boys.
But it was more than mere sound and furv
slgniiylng nothing. II was wild chaotic noise
subdued within the bonds of time and oked
10 inc harmonious movement of song The
rude relish of mere uproar is taught the place
which every voice of nature has in the vast
choral, that every day is poured out upon the
echoing sky. The love of music is NOT mite
universal, but it is created by its qualification.
once formed, it is the most refined of human
pleasures, and brings with it a relish for all
beauty and all good. Five days spent nv fiftv
thousand persons in listening to the best mu-
SIC, IS an epoch in our civilization, real ac-
cess of culture to the whole people. Its infiu-
ence, only for good will be felt in the remotest
corner of the country.
In TINS connection we are gratified at the |
Judgment, everywhere expressed by those who
are better capable of judging than ourselves.
mat tie celebration was successful in q criti- |
cal as well as in popular point Of view. The
best musical effects were produced. There |
was not volume of sound at the expense Of |
sweetness and proportion. but everything was |
rendered in the highest style of art. This was
no more than was to be expected from the en- |
'nent performers connected with the occasion.
whose genius has made their names household
words ON both sides of the Atlantic. Tn a con.
cert led by zerrahn and Gilmore. inspired NV
'"' wonderful voice of Parepa, and where such
performers as Ole Bull and Carl Rosa are
A"ong the rank and file, nothing secondary or
uhartistlc or incomplete was to have been ex-
pected
Let these, whose minds incline to sucb cal |
CITATIONS, assert that the whole thing was
mere advertising dodge from the start and
reckon how much profits inure to BOSTON
landlords, carriers, shop-keepers, showmen,
hackmen, and the ga,nins that
shane your boots. Such things strike some
minds powerfully. The peddler element is
pretty strong among all modern people. The
great drudgery of life is to turn peunv: IL
employs large though not necessarily con-
'plcuous crowd We dare say the peddler
class was sufficiently alive to its interest to be
On hand to sell to enthusiastic and generous
VISITORS with plenty Of money in their pockets
"nateVcr they had fancy to buy, and to
lulcken that fancy by all the legitimate arti-
ices OF putting and advertising. Doubtless
ne sellers OF beer had a good day upon the field
Il Waterloo, and the chance of setting up a
'ooth along the route of the funeral procession
Il Lincoln was thriftily improved by somebodv
p that line of business, but such persons naver
ret mentioned in the history of the grand
vents with which they happen to be cotem.
'orary. 1t was for this class to look out for
ne physical comforts of the jubilant multi
ude, and that they did so on this occasion
with as little extortion and lying as would
ave been practised in any quarter of the
'onntfy or the globe we have no doubt.
Finally, we rejoice in the complete success of
he great Peace Jubilee. We believe the Yam
a