Middletown transcript., 1873-06-28
THE SOUTH AND THE CENTEN'
NAL.

some great thing. in which tae American
people are so fruitful, We have hitherto
treated it with indifference. and refrained
fro~ expressing sn opinion in regard to
i, We considered it myth and believed
It would result. like the determinations to
build monuments TO great men and o'her
undertakings Of like nature, in abandon
n,eut aud failure But, judging from the
efforts being made in its behalf, this CEN
teuuial affair promises to 60 beyond the
resolution point, and il !, does not realize
,he ideas Of its projectors, j, bids fair to
be at least reality. Extensive prcpara-.
lions are being made. Means have been
provided for raising large sums Of money,
and il the programme now proposed be
carried out, i, will doubtless be maguie-
ecu, affair
|, i, but jus, and proper that free and
independent people shsuld celebrate the
anniversary Of the birth Of their nation
Yhe fourth Of July. 1876, will commcmo-
rate the one hundrcd,h anniversary of
American Independence. and freedom
from foreign government, aud it is emf
usntly meet that the people, who enjoy
the incs,in,abc blessings Of political, civil
md religious liberty should unite in cele
bratipr that event In order tha, it shall
be as imposing as possible, it is greatly
J,..ired by those mos, interested in this
movement, to secure the active par,ieipa-
lion Of the entire nation. Such being the
ease il behooves the citizens Of the South
to consider what portion or lot they have
in this matter Shall the States Of the
South take part in the celebration OF this
cen,eunial Anniversary!
II is true that the South had her repre-
s.nta,iycs in the Assembly ,ha, proclaim
ed the determination Of the American
colonies 10 be free from the British yoke ;
that yrguiau drew the " Declaration
~ Independence, and that the armies Of
the coloni.ts wert led. in the struggle for
liberty, by son ot the South but it is
equally true tin, in later days the very
liberty. which her .nns aided so materially
in Wrestling fion England, has been
wres,ed from them hy the people whom
they helped make free. The scenes Of
the war of ls6l.lsG5 are too recent the
recollection of the deeds therein enacted
is too vivid to permit the victims to strike
hands in friendly alliance with the vic:ors,
aud unite with tbcm in a celebration,
which, while TO the one il would be a
source of proud rejoicing over their pow
,r and independence, to the other it would
bring bu, feelings Of sadness, humiliation
and bitter remembrance Of happier days.
Thoughts of the spolialion, degradation
and humiliation which they suffered at the
hands Of the people with whom they were
comniingliug. would rise up TO crush out
all feelings Of pleasure that might other
wise be eugendercd by that occasion. In
such an assemblage as wonld there be
gathered they mus, necessarily come in
contact with persons for whom they can
but entertain feelings Of the most intense
dislike. il not Of bitter hatred. The
base incebdiary who applied tha torch t'
Jefenseless homes, the wanton destroyer
Who committed the most cruel acts o
vandalism aud unprovoked outrage, thu
mercilcss maraudcr who revcllcd in th'
ligh, Of burning cities, and whose ''patl
tn the sea- was marked by the shoulder
ing ruins Of Southern homes. and VIII
Loas,cd tina, he .'lef, no shelter for rebel
in bis track" These are some Of the pa
fe;ats whom the Southern man must NEE
who takes part in the Grand Centenniu
Celebration in the u,isnamed city Of Phil
si.lphia, in 1876.
Can the people Of the South submit
such degradation, such humiliation q
ihi.? For them to take part in th
esstenpial would be to act the part Of III
fasning spaniel tha, lieks the hand th'
gave The blow. The South has no lot ns
part in this matter She Is, it is ,ru,
noininaily in the Union, but she is not
il. Since the surrender of her armie
ssL the close Of the war in 1865.
,sesns have been spared by the people
the North. through their Representative
u Cougrcss, 10 reduce the South to a. ia
psvesishsd and humiliating condition
possible.
Her noblSr end bettss citizens hs
bssa ostseeised; her talent aud intel
6ssse dsbsssd, and ignorance and Vi
f6ss tesn ~ up il bish places 70 n