The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-04
Gha11telEiatnre
The 4lh Of July.


A patriotic gentleman called at this
office day or two ago, and In the course
OF conversation upon the near approach
Of our national holiday expressed him
self in very deprecatory and almcst
melancholy terms IN regard TO the seem.
Iug indifference existing among the peo:.
pie in regard to any public Observance
whatever Of the day. onr people, said
he, arc apparently not only without any
enthusiasm themselves in regard to the
significance Of The day, but likewise have
no appreciation Of the value Of incul.
eating 0 sentiment in regard to It among
their children. The rising generation
arc growing up without any associations
conneGtcd with 1t save in tho way Of Gre.
crackers and plcnlcs. Ills 10 them sim.
pip a day Of license, an occasion for irol.
les, and for sort Of sensual abandon. It
is no longer q grand occasion such as 1t
was toour fathers. Itdoes not anymore
commemorate momentous event. No In.
spira,ion oI q great presence among US
seems TO be felt, We do not assemble In
the groves to hear the Declaration of-Iu.
dependence read as We once did; or to
sing our National songs; or TO. listen to
fervent and eloquent commemorative ad.
dresses; OF TO remind ourselves by other
appropriate ceremonies that this day Is
the anniversary Of American freedom.
Instead Of commemorating 1t in such a
way we take, said he, . severely practical
yiew.oi the day. We enjoy it more as D
release.trom business than anything dc
Each. one goes bis own way. We pro.
videno facilities for public demonstra-
ton. We have ntit1et military nor civic
displays. We betake ourselves to our
shells, individual and collective. And
thus the rising generation is being edu-
Gated to observe the day as a common
holiday. $50.
The foregoing Is one way Of hooking al
the present popular style Of celebrating
the Fourth, of, July. There Is undoubt-
edly, as our friend says. . prevailing ten.
dency to take q practical view OF the day,
1t isnot to be denied that the growing hsb.
1t Of this age Is to take a,businessView Of
almost all questions. Thete Is more intel.
ligeuce and less sentiment IN regard to all
historic events than at any previous pc.
rlod. The Fourth of July oratory that
was current in former years Is not as
popular now as 1t used 10 be. Much Of
it was the merest clap, trap, and the peo-
pie have gradually arrived at knowl.
edge oI that fact They have no desire
to devote day 10 the woods, or in the
city, to hearing spread eagle speeches that
neither amuss nor instruct them. Not
that they lack patriotism as compared
with former days, but simply that
the charms of stump orstory have been
worn verysthread bare. Intelligent peo.
pic prefer quiet day ina social way to
that soft Of entertainment, and as for peo.
plegenerally they naturally seek o re-
spite from labor and confinement at this
season Of the year without respect to any
other consideration. It Is scarcely TO be
spprehended that the American people
will ever cease to hold the Fourth Of
July in just remembrance, however, util-
itaris they may become in their ideas.
II docs not follow that because we make
less display that therefore We have less
appreciation Of the real significance Ofour
National holiday. At no former period
have the young been SO we'll instructed
in the history Of their country. AT no
former period have The people as mass
been 60 capable Of separating the chat
from the wheat as regards the mere out.
ward semblances Of patriotism. It may
be said .oi,thsm thatthey arc moro in
telllgent, more critical, and less demon
strative than formerly, and yet, as the late
war proved, just as ready TO take up
arms In defense Of their nationality as
were their fathers before them.