The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-05
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
,o~>>~.>~~>~~~~~-~~N~o~
Celebration Of the Ninety fourth Anniver-
sary Of the Nations independence.
THE JUBILATI0N OF THE PEOPLE
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Imposing Parades, Reviews and
Pyrotochnic Displays.
PlCNlCS EXCURSIONS, REcATTAS.
THE JUBILATION OF THE PEOPLE
PICHICS EZCURgEoNS, REcATTAS.
Observance of the Day in New York, Brooklyn,
The Suburbs and Elsewhere.

dependence, he might have fatered before he wrote
his immortal prefacs 10 our national history; for
succeeding that brief Introduction have followed
nearly one hundred serial chapter each OF which is
chronicle OF wild, Incorporate enthusiasm, saugh
ter sudden death, misery, multiplied conclusions
and national bombasr.
The Fourth Of Juiy Is the bcqucst of the Cont
mental Congress ard the legacy OF the American
people, and it is sub EFT for public congratuatoa
that attacks 40 900 ooG or American citizens with
only an In terInttcnt II chronic, fever. Thus the
offences. OF yesterday, however SINFUL must have
something IN cxrcnuation for they indicted but
once year. .,9
Ali over the word 4. was a day OF rejoicing
among Americans-in the capitals of Europe,
among Our own great cities ana in
every town, vii age and hamlet in the Unioa: but
this deiirious Joy was generally manifested by an
eferves oence Of ephemeral roth, very eyanescent
in its character. How many do you suppose
thought OF the Revolutionary FILTERS, who, as the
orator would say "gave birth e Z 9Tran1es repu5.
lie in the worlds history?n How many, IN COM
memoratlng serious anniversary, did not bur-
issdae perilOuS h. a-!ey..a 4 e,;eaeion. sgh the
tyranpies OF the Qa WQiid -.t ZEE eliminated from the
government o. me new How many made yesie,-
DAY d time OF thanksgiving, and how many maze it
q hideous beelam2
same breath that our national eyhuberance is but
the average American trait. Nnety-four years.
they say, since America hos been ire, and stiil
ninety four years that America has not eujoyed
peaceable Fourth OF July. Yesterday was no
exception. In the city II was undoubtedly
qme,er than New YORK has known for many
years. Tbis was owing 10 the large eilux OF
population, superlnduced BY thc extremely heated
weather of The last week. but the country all was
as OF yore. The people lndaIged, the demagogues
INDUCED and those "onaccuStnnel to public speak
ing" expressed sapient opinions upon progress,
civilization and material Advancement 1t would
be fine book-that Volume IN which could
be printed the declamali6ns OF yesterday. 1t would
tell the reader what we have done nation,
what we shond do as leading enlightened and
progressive people,
Here is the great fault OF the orators They mount
the platforms TO eulogize the past to goat on his
tory brilliant and bewdering. How much better
If the Fourth or July were set apart as
aAay Of national instruction, where every statesman
and man of culture and acute Discrimination would
be expected to teach lesson In civil liberty in po
ltcal economy social law. Instead of an inflated
bag OF nonsense, we might then have prccepts that
would correct political abuses, ameorate social
evils and lead republican institutions to a maturity
they have never known.
demagogue prefers to say we are per'ect-that the
vfrtue Of the people is the security of the State.
Undoubtedly this Is fine In the abstract; but how
does 1t obtain in our municipal afa,rs9 And why
do men sigh for q despotism9 Blackstone 1t was
who said that q government demanded the virtue
ard goodness OF the people for It's sovereign power
the education and statesmanshIp OF the gentry for
its legislation and the Will Of the king for its execu-
tive administration This proposition, reduced
to American politics, finds that these three vital
social forces are confined In one body-the pack of
politicians. 1t Is they who orated yesterday. And
it must have been very suggestive commentary
upon our politics to know that the very fireworks
burned in honor Of American independence we've in
volved in corrupt bargains where "to be Scent Is
very good investment upon political capital.
AS the reader Will ind elsewhere In these col
umns, the oratons were generally the old stuff
There was little new-little characteristic OF a cOun.
try blooming into golden youth and yet in the
spring time Of its glory. All know the poverty of
American literature; all know our mbecilky In art
and our backwardness in everything that will make
the readable history OF the past Why did
not our orators drop word for the
dormant intellect; why not say word for the en-
ceuragement OF letters and the Sciences and why
not show how we have failed as nation to encour-
. ege aesthetic pursuits7
Intent upon national politics. monetary affairs and
foreign policy Congress and the President have never
said word for invention never offered even the
most patry inducements extended by the monarchies
OF the Old World to men Of genius never invited
those efforts by which alone Greece and Rome are
known to modern times General Grant could re-
deem the political errors Of his administration by CO.
operating with those who the architects OF public
opinion-wth those who only need the weight OF OFF,
cia influence to tell many useful stories now out
lawed by the public indifference and apathy. The
thermometer below eighty, 1t was not strange
that the citizens OF New York made capital of tile
mercury and large investments In cool airs and re-
resning breezes The majority OF city residents had
gone TO the country, and 1t is doubtful il they enjoy
ed themselves as well II they had been In the civ
Numerous excursions went down the Sound, beyond
Sandy Hook, up the Hudson and to various subur
ban retreats and all the people accompanying these
exhibitions escaped from the delusions of the ora
tors. The exercises IN Tammany Hail. rs found IN
the HERALD, Will be recognized as ordered by the
/, distinguished Sachems.
One fact was painfully evident in all the orati ons
Throughout the Unon-no voices and intelects such
as those possessed by Morton, 1hayer, Voorhees,.
GARFIELD, Chaplin Sumner and HOFFMAN, were
poured into the public ear Grant had his celebration
sar WOODSTOCK, and other exercises, full Of sgnif
canoe, occurred all over the countr Y. Coifax and
3teet|her spoke, and many statesmen who remained
Uient'h&d their hands in the political promulCations
,What topics ware not discussed privately or puplic.
Tyr They were almostnnumerabe. The government
tsen: the extraordinary reduction of the national
debt; the July interest; the ocean yacht race; the
status OF international relations; the subjugatlon OF
Cuba; the imbecility CT Spain; the triumphant vim
dicaton OF the Emperor in France; the oppression
In Ireland the strange policy OF Austria; the increas
ing liberalism Of Russia; the growing republican,
ism OF the South American Powers: the
territorial grandeur Of the United States;
he abuses Of monarchy: the grand i'm.
provements OF the age; the coming Darlen Canal;
the Suez Canal, and the general tendency toward
Contamination IN the national government-these
were sll spoken OF the country over.
In the city, especially salutes were fred from tho