Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1875-06-17
The Centennial 4th at Philadelphia.

Not long since, it was announced
though the announcement seems tC
have been premature, that the commit
tee OF arrangements for the Centennial
celebration on the 4th of July, 1876. at
Philadelphia, had adopted an order OF
proceedings, and had selected the ora.
tors and officers of the occasion. We
have made no comments because we
doubted the truth of the report, though
we have seen the supposed action criti-
ciSed quite severely, because it seemed
that Massachusetts was CARRYING off the
honors OF the literary part of the pro-
ceedings, and also, more especially be-
cause Lucius q. G.. Lamar, a member
OF congress from Massachusetts, was
to he one of the orators, and the Con-
federate General Joseph E. Johnston
was to be Master of Ceremonies. Com
menting on the presumed appointment
of these leading rebels, the Logansport
Phdros rejOiced over it and congratu-
lated the country on the fact, whereup-
on the Delphi Journal pointedly and
truly presents the other side making
the Pharos article its text. 1t says:
1t is hardly necessary to tell our
readers that the above is from north
en Democratic papers that at the time
opposed the prosecution of the war
against the rebellion, and whose pres
ent editor is fearful that the disloyal
element of the south will not have more
than its share of the hOnOrs of our ap-
preaching general jubilee. While we
are in favor of extending every courte-
sy to those who were plotting our de-
StructiOn, and in favor of the erection
of permanent suspension bridge across
the bloody chasm, and are quite willing
to forgive the enemies of our country,
both North and South, for their enor-
nous sins, we are certainly opposed to
it upon the basis of the above article.
The centennial celebration of our dear
ly bought liberties, purchased with
blood and treasure, will be celebrated
but once by the present generation. 1t
will be very appropriate for those who
participated in achieving our second
liberty as it were, to assist in the first
centennial demonstration in honor of
our independence and release from
British tyranny. But are we to make a
farce of it and insult the loyal element
of the nation by the appointment of
such men as Joe JOhntSOn as Master of
Ceremonies?" Do the hundreds and
thousands of loyal men all over this
country who will attend this demon
stration, the blood of whose sons and
brothers was shed by Johnson and his
deluded followers, wish to honor him
with this exalted position upon this
glorious Occasioe? The Phdros says ''it
will be the means of advancing vigor-
Gus prosecution of peace" So it would
have been ''means of aGvancinga Wig
orous prosecution of peace" with these
southern gentlemen to have given
each one of them a fat government
office for life. 1t would have been the
greatest panacea that could have been
and the bigger the pay
the more peaceful they would have be-
come. Why make such sacrifices for
peace when all is tranquil. when no
threatening war cloud is visible in the
political heavens? This sentence has
its peculiar significance. These trail
tors to their flag instead of having been
or banished from the
land they tried to deluge in innocent
blood, have been exalted to place and
power. The present congress is brist-
ling with them. The whole atmos-
phere of our national capitol will, be-
fore another session, be surcharged
with this destructive and poisonous ele-
ment. Step by step they are advanc-
ing, not with patient hearts, but with
wicked designs; not with love for their
country, but with hatred and malice
towards the flag they abhor and de-
spise.