The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-03-04
Reasons Why a Virginia Editor Can.
not Celebrate the Centennial.

From tbs Richmond DISpalch.l
In the matter ol the centennial anni-
versary Of American independence VI
desire to be fully understood. We fee
not the slightest sympathy with 1t, As fol
the place where 1t should be celebrated
Il at all, and the manner Of the same, WI
have our opinions. But the celebration
per % has our profound Indifference Al
the Israelites In captivity hung their
harps upon the willows that bordered the
rivers Of Babylon and struck no music
from them, 90 we here In captivity have
no enthusiasm, no sympathy, Tor those ma.
tional anniversaries which are understood
10 celebrate the triumph Of principles
that are no longer respected and Of llber-
y which We do NOT enjoy. .a
What Significance would there be In
our joining the thrOng In Philadelphia
shouting for libertyi Would II not be
that we confessed that tho principles and
freedom established by the rebellion OF
20 had been cherished and faithfully
handed down 10 the present day, and that
we, as heirs 10 the achievements and
glories Of our ancestors, inherited unim-
paired the legacy they bequeathed to US
Shall we make this confession In viola.
tion Of truth, and make It to those and in
the company ol and in shouting cordial.
ity with those who have perverted the
principles and curtailed the liberties that
the day Is meant to celebrated To do 80
would be an act Of insincerity for which
our northern friends would think none
the better Of Us. They might feel an added
complacency agreeable 10 power from
our act OF submission in counterfeiting an
enthusiasm we could not feel; but they
could not regard US as equals with them.
selves, and must look upon Us as only de.
graded by our hypocrisy.
No; while six southern States are under
barbarous rule, groaning under oppression,
and distracted and impoverished, we can.
not celebrate the anniversaries that were
Intended to signalize the triumphs Of lib
erty regulated by law under the direction
oil civilization and political philosophy. It
Is q mockery to celebrate any such day at
o time like this. Itwould be more appro.
pirate to have funeral over principles
discarded, over liberties and rights ignor.
ed, over that declaration ado pied the 4th
ot July, '76, every sentence Of which
save few platitudes borrowed from the
bloody theorists OF France-damns the
government Of this nation for nine years
past.
When the sacred principles ofour faith.
ers are revived and the Government thev
framed Is re.established we shall hail the
anniversaries and join in their celebration
In all proper modes. Until then we shall
not take part in rejoicing with regard to
them. Let others do what they may, We
shall follow the dictates OF our own judg.
ment upon the subject.
And this determination Is entirely con.
sistent with the well.known policy Of this
paper to make the best Of the situation.
We were overcome in war, aud are COM
PEELED TO live under the Government oi
the Republic OF North American States,
We must endeavor to make the Govern
ment as good as we can, and to make our
own condition as comfortable as possible
by industry and enterprise, and by 30
regulating our social affairs as to produce
the greatest possible amount OF harmony
and cOntentment. But in the matter Of
sentiments we are free TO entertain that
which our judgment suggests to be
proper, and We would be traitors-moral,
social, and political-to profess and mani.
fest any other.
SO we are not for the centennial at all,
and for reasons entirely satisfactory to Us.