, 1874-07-04


main political machines. only confirms suspl-
clon which has long boon ontortainod by intolil-
gent mon In all parts Of the country.
THE DAY WE DO NOT CELEBRATE.
Tho Anniversary Of Independence has onco
moro CONT Eouna. Tho great fack which 1t COM
mcmoratos still romatns. Patriotism sti1l orops
hold in blessed and revoreutial memory. Tho
lustro Of Washington'a achievements has not
d'mmed In those ninety-oisht years. Ths prin-
ciploB for which ho fought ara Incorporated into
our form Of government. The country Ia pro-
gressing satisfactorily. Church and State arc
distinct. Eyory mau ia a. good aa avery other
man. Tho negro has got bis rights. Slavery
il abolished forever. Lovely woman Is
almost within reach Of the ballot. John Bull
has paid us s16,0000oo. Everything is 1oyaly,
md tho savior OF the Roman Capital is at his OK
tronio altitude.
Notwithstanding thin satisfactory condition Of
tho national beatitudes, tho American Eagle is
not particularly strong In bis fight nor gritty in
his aoroam to-day. &c will fly low and sing
small. Tho day will not be memorable by its
celebration; on the other hand, by kind Of
common assont, this duty has boon re1sgatcd to
small boyB Throughout the United States, the
day will scarcely be recognized except es q
gonorM holiday, on which somo will rest,
fow will got their arms and legs blown OF,
Bome wilt got drunk, and those who 'oan will fly
to remote spotH to Escape tho noige. The dis
tinct17e 1eatures which hare hitherto marked tho
celebration Of Fourth Of July will bo almost uni
vereally discarded. There will be few or no pro-
oeaslons thronging tho public streels Of tho
large citles. The mania for procosaions In this
country aoems to bo dying ont, and few,
except the a1asona aud oshor organi-
zhtfous which wear apronst and must OK
libit themselves to koep up their esprit de corps
and mako = public effect, now caro- to march
about in the sun, with no special object In view:
Tho Azz and splutser Of fireworks, which have
heretofore illuminated the closing hours Of the
Fourth, leaving nothing to show for the sums
expended but D collection Of b1ackonod sticks
and pasteboard, will also DO sbsent from civic
programmes, aud Coggla's comet will DO
loft to ahino comparatively undiaturbed.
The public e1ocusionist will not to-day deolaim
the sounding periods OF the Declaration Of 1nlc.
pendonco. TAs vil1age Ciceroa and Demosthe-
pesea will not numerouHly air their patriotic
rhetoric nor hurl bolte OF defiance at George
III. aud hia descendants. The stump will bo COM
parativo1y deserted. Brass bands will not draw
extra pay. The militia will not parade
with Its gorgeous uniforms mud more
gorgeous drill major, It Ia doubtful ghethor
tho conventional thirty-aeyen young women
In white ana pink wil do duty for tho States to-
day, and the rural Goddess Of Liberty, instead
OF riding On tho apox Of tho hay-rIggng, with a
Phsyglan cap to give her tho headache and a
dag-ataH to give her the baol-aohe, will probably
milk her cows this morning and churn her but
ter. ns II thore wore no Fourth Of July.
In Chicago, It Ia presumab1e, some bclls will bo
rung; como cannon may be fired; some
citizens will got drunk; aome horsoa will
run away; sono houses will burn down;
Bomo youngsters will be minus fingers or eyes
somobody will cat too many ohorrtes or oucun,-
bors and drink too much Hoda-water; somebody
will get drowned; several will get into tho Police
Court; tho young athletes known as tho Chicago
base Ball Club will got aa soundly whipped by
the athletes from Boston as ever tho Britlshora
wore hundred yoass ago; the e'.tant terrible
will blaze away with cracker, squb. aud aorpont,
from daylight to dark, and this will be the suna
total Of Fourth Of July in Chicago.
It does not follow, from all this, that pcople
arc any leHs patriotic than they used to bo; that
they arc less mindful Of tho blessings Of liberty
bequeathed to them by their forefatlors; that
they are less determined to porpetuato tho re-
publican form Of government; or that thoy
would not dofond It again by the forco OF arma,
| as they have done three before. But timeB and
people are changed, and George III. Is only q
distant "Reminiscences. Tho nation ,s outgrowing
moro noise for tho sake Of noise, and show for
tho sake Of abow. Buncomhe and slam
bang have had their day. Something else
| Is now wanted. some lees noisy and more
rational programme OF celebration Ia de-
| Hired, and ho will bo national bone
! factor who suggeata 1t. Long-winded oratIona,
burning of gunrowdor, and waving Of flags,
| moan nothing, aud have grown, by frequent rep
etition, to be nuisance. Who will auggoat a
plan for tho celebration OF the Fourth Of July In
such manner that people wil not run anay
| from 1t, and be glad when II ia oyor?
THE BPECIE HoBGo BLIN.
We sro asked by a correspondent Tin another
Rpeoio payments permanently; whether b specie
basis Las not always failed when tested by a
panic; and whsther. In this case, 1t Ia not un-