Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-07-04
. THE POURTH.''

@HN -NN4cA . DoAANs1g kAtto IClufuGu 10
be enjoyed with perhaps remarkable
Unanimity. In all the cities of the
country business-houses, workshops.
warehouses and factories will be
closed, and many of the people
will betake themselves to popular places
OF resort, TO suburban retreats and pic
nic-grounds, and there enjoy themselves
quietly and decorously, while the more
noisily-disposed will give free vent to
tReir effervescing patriotism, and with
loud shouts, rockets, squibs and
crackers, giOrify the ''day Of ali DAYS
IN the year. Memphis will be no ex-
cepuOn on the occasion. Our banks and
public offices, our courts and business
houses, viii all be closed, and though
we shall not have, as in days gone
hy, formal grafton, preceded
oy the reading of the declaration of in
dependence, there viii be none the less
most hearty joy at the recurrence of the
birthday Of the republic, especially on
The part Of those Of our people to whom
our government is something mora
than mere form. Mindful of the fact
that we have much occasion for sorrow
and regret, that we have not quite laid
aside our mourning for the dead Con-
federacy, We have yet reason to be
thankful that in the dreadful
struggle that ended so disas-
uously to these States, sIl eur
rights and liberties were not lost and
tnat there remains enough yet to make
our country more dear, more precious
TO us than any other on the
globe. We fIsve reason TO be thank
III that t1ere remains to US more
lnah the mere forms of law, and that
WIN every recurring year the heartfelt
unity dat once characterized US as a I
peoi lie, is returning TO invigorate Us. to
u 1hue US with hope and give us
assurance that we are in the
Onion aud Of the Union, one
and insepsrable." Through the ex-
citemeLts of a feverish political contest. /
through " battle, and murder, and sud
den DEATH" through the agonies of re-
construction; through it all we have
passed to come cut purified, to come
cut stronger, and, perhaps, better
TO enter upon the ac-
complishment of our destiny. Since
1851, We have, as a people, passed
through many Ordeals; for a while the
spirit Of the declaration of independ.
snee" was lost, aud the liberties it so
tersely declares for, were almost buried
out Of sight. The strong arm Of the SOL
tier supplanted that of the peace !
Ofheer. Confusion, wreck and ruin !
vas the result. But, thank God, there 6
-emained to US, in the south, always the {
owe Of liberty; that to-day we have :
'esce, and, in the midst of plenty, are G
reemen in free land; that we possess j
he fullest measure of individual liberty; I
nat We manage our own municipal and !,
'tste affairs, and can boast of unexam- n
led prosperity. Slow, tedious and u
roublesome as was our political recu- s.
'eration, it must always remain a spe- h
ial wonder that in nine years, amid the -
lOst annoying and harrassing condi- b
lon Of our public affairs, we were able =
recuperate 50 fast as to defy any COM b,
in either Chicago or Boston. Il
or few brief weeks, we stood amid II
le ruin Of war, and then, with a will, q ~
nergy and pluck that must surprise all ~
loughtful people, we attacked our diff CO
lltesl and in eight years have almost =
.plaeed the thousands Of millions which Ie It
e lost, or were plundered of, in war. a.
nd this We have done in the teeth of OF
le thieving freedmen's bureau. with OF
hich We We're cursed so long. %
ld in the face Of a perverse and ~
ialicious system Of repression, taxing 70
II patience and endurance to the last ch
sgree of tension. But the spirit of rs
ld '6l was ours. 1t sustained Us. The
emories Of the ever-glorious fourth ~
ere with US through it all to revive ouf Sc
aging energies and dropping spirits, m
I'd sustain US until victory over our ga
Ives and our enemies was declared. IN
4 the bright and hopeful light of to- of
ay we remember these thing as dis m
mpered dream, and eagerly press for 20 20
ard in the race Of competition, and M
lgage in the peaceful strife of pro- TT
'ess. The memories Of the revolution or
e ours, the "fourth" is ours, the glori- 90
Is history Of the war Of 1872 is ours. M,
e declaration Of independence is ours, on
is ours, and the Union is sta
rs, one and indivisible, to grow great y
to become more luminous as a light wi
the poor and downtrOdden of other aw
lions, to be grander and better, our str
sent hope and blessing to posterity. 10 10
e have faith in the future, and, iudg- IF oS
by what We have, after what we Co
We passed through, feel justified in the Wi
ief that with free schools and a free = Sc
IS the Union is > TO be perpetuated. vii
mote il be. ON,