Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-07-20
CORRESPONDENTS.
WASHINGTON, July Is, 1872.
Fourth or July i'm Sunbary.-.The
Centennial.

WASHINGTON, July Is, 1872.
Fourth or July I'm Sunbary.-.The
Centennial.
Wien we were boy n 4th of July cele-
bration had peculiar charm, which we
might define as a mixture of juvenile pa
trotism, and juvenile love of sport. This
natural and necessary feeling does not die
out, fortunately for our well-being, as we
advance in life, but the sentiment changes
IN its character as the tender sprout chang
cs after it has burst tile soil, to more sub.
stantial growth When we were taking
our first lesson of love and loyalty to our
country, the excitement incident to the
celebration of our great national holiday
was understood as mere excitement, and
we had but slight idea of the nature of
its primary cause. Then the excitement
was the enticement, bu. as we advance in
life the seriousness of the occasion becomes
the enticement which draws us from bus
iness to participate in n 4th of July cele-
hraton.
Such was our case in regard to the late
celebration in Sunbury, an occasion long
to be remembered by its inhabitants, and
particularly by that class, the juveniles,
who least understand the nature of the
case.
We left Washington for Sunbury on the
arily reside here from our prosperous town,
influenced by that sentiment which we
term patriotic loyalty, and in this case the
| feeling was that of Il local as well as OF 4
national character. How often when life
was new. and the ardor ofyouth was pro-
mnent, have We assembled in connection
with material of the same stamp to cele-
brate our great national birthday on
the very spot upon which was assembled
on the late ever memorable occasion, the
sober wisdom of age, who spoke gravely,
and yet ecstatcally, of the events of the far
distant past which on that day had drawn
so many thousands together. But this oc-
casion had another feature of interest-our
town was celebrating its one hundredth
anniversary; and still another, the marking
out of the spot upon which is to be erect
ed monument in memory Of the brave
| dead of our counry who fell in battle du-
ring the late rebellion. This was q dis
tinguishing feature of the occasion. The
erection of monument within the square
selected and has been an unsuggested idea of
ours ever since the war closed, and we are
gratilied to see that the influential and pro-
minent men of our place are about to ac-
complish our long cherished idea. For the
satisfaction and benefit of future genera
tions let there be n substantial monument
erected in commemoration of the fallen,
and of the event of which history is the re-
cord that the youth Of the future may be
! taught by this memorial to the honored
dead, long after the participants in the
great drama of the last decade have passed
away, what it is to die sacrifice for lib
| crty-how the reward of honor has been
| bestowed. by the men ana women of to-
/ day, upon thnse who fell in the nublest
! fight that mankind has ever waged for JUS
tice and the right, and to whom they owe.
Il debt of gratitude for the liberties they
may enjoy. As time progresses they will
be honOred more and more, and so it
should bet is the only tribute that lv.
ing gratitude can bestow upon departed
worth. We should like to write lengthi!y
upon this subject, but time will not per-
init.
We hope that the project of surrounding
our square at home, according to the pre-
sent plan, with good substantial iron
fence, will be carried out as soon as possi-
BILE. Here, in Washington. within the city
limits, no space has been left for public
square, the grounds surrounding the
public buildings affOrding places Of Ie-
sort. Notwithstanding these places the
authorities have taken advantages of some
of the small triangular spaces which are
formed by the manner in which the letter.
ed streets enter the Avenue, and surround
ed them with substantial iron fences. They
are we'll supplied with ornamental trees,
and choice shrubbery, and afford delight
! full places as evening resort for all VINO wish
to enjoy them. Your humble servant is
| frequent visitor during this extremely hot
weather. They are located Immediately
on the Avenue, and are not one sixteenth
as large rs our square at home will be-
Iron benches are distributed about these
little squares for the comfort Of the weary.
We hope to see just such beautiful little
square formed out Of the vacant space,
now known as Market Square, Sunbury,
and we hope that the promised monument
will be pushed to completion as rapidly as
possible.
We every day hear good political news
from that great old State, the keystone ef
the great federal arch, Notwithstanding
Mr.. Forney's efforts to demoraliZe things
politically. We wonder whether Forney
supposcs that he can disguise the fact that
he is one of Gen. Grants bit,erest oppon-
ents. Mr.. Sumner made grand display
Of his bitterness in his violent speech
against Grant. Mr.. Forney is making q
Ounce of himself through his opposition to
Hartranft on account of q private feeling
against Gen. Cameron, the nature of which
we all understand, and at the same time
giving his support to Gen. Grant. 1t is a
little inconsistency that won't exactly knit
together, and the insincerity of Forney's
support of Grant can easily be detected by
the most ignorant. After the smoke of the
battle has cleared away, and the reelection
of Gen. Grant has been accomplished, Mr.
Forney will leave the field of strife again,
as he has so often done before this, with
his usual reward, the sympathy of a few
friends, and the contempt of those whom
he, through his own diligent efforts, has
changed into enemies. Yours &C., j.
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Los Angeles, California, June %, 1872.