New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-08
and compel them to exchange socinl courtesies
with carpet-baggers.
rUE HORNETS NEST OF AMERICA.

II was to the secluded County Of Meckien-
burg, N. c., of which Charlotte Town was tho
county eeat, that Lord CORVALLIS applied this
singing appellation, nearly one hundred years
ago. The City OF Charlotte, into which Chnr-
lOtte Town has grown. now wears
Cornwallis's uncOmplimentary designation as
q feather in its cap. Hornets Nests
will probably be conspicuous feature In the
Centennial celebration to take place In that
city fortnight hence, and for which all North
Carolina, from Cherokee TO Currituck, is now
making ready. 1t would DO q sad thing if the
historians who are now shedding upon us
such food of encyclopaedia lore as to
the event to bo cOmmcmOrated on this
occasion, were to meet at Charlotte on the
day appointed for the Centennial exercises and
fight ont their differences after the manner OF
the North CarOlinans and ROyalists at Ala
nance. Yet we do not know that it would not
bo preferable for the wOrdy conflict now
going on to have this issue rather than that
there should be heated discussion between
credulous patriots and skeptical historians lac
companied by hurting of musty manuscripts at
each others heads over every revolutionary
event which is to receive centennial hOnOrs
Nltlln tlb HCAJ SIX years. IIOHl NOH'oiu W
YorktOwn-if this thing is not stopped-what
an array of hornets nests is yet to be en-
counterod! The truth Of history should be
vindicatcd indeed, but surely it is not neces-
sary to fight over all the battles Of the Revo-
luton TO secure that end.
As to this Mecklenburg Declaration OF Inde-
pendencc, the discussion of the last few weeks
has served tho double purpose of advertising
the exercises announced to take place in
Charlotte on the Goth of May, and of reviving
our knowledge OF some historical incidents OF
minor importance but it has really been most
Improbable in the way of either proving or
disproving the Meckenburg claim. The whole
ground was traversed nearly fifty years ago,
and we fail to see that tho new eX-
plorcrs have found anything Of importance on
the old field. The question IA to the day of
the month on which the patriotic gathering at
Charlotte took place, and as TO the wording OF
the Declaration of Independence there adopted
will always challenge discussion, and IL not
likely to receive any more satisfactory solution
than was given "a the result OF the
thorough investigation made by COM
mttee of the North Carolina Leg
stature at tho session Of 1S30-31, published
in pamphlet form then and in 1916, and pre-
fixed to the Revised Statutes of tho STATE by
legislative enactment in 1854. 1t still devOlvcs
upon the skeDtics to produce some new evidence
to overthrow the traditions of hundrcd years,
derived originally from the statements Of par
Elephants in the meeting, preserved not only
by those of their descendants who remained
in North Carolina, but by those who emf
oil Stntac
strengthened by local anniversary Observances
through long series of years, and fortified.
not indeed by the highest kind Of dOcu-
mentary evidence, but by authorities Of indubit-
able weight. Unless something new is brought
forward TO break the force of these, it must BE
admitted that the North CarOlinians have very
fair pretext for a Centennial celebration of the
first order and, for one, we are not disposed to
detract particle from their claims, because
the document which they allege is copy OF
the Meclllenburg Declaration of Independence
bears internal evidence that it was patched
with scraps of the Philadelphia Declaration by
some of its iniuGcious custodians before it
found its way into print.
We hope therefore that the Charlotte oele-
bratiOn will be as great success as those ut
Concord and Lexington. Throughout the South
preparations for it have already been made
with o patriotic enthusiasm which ought to
invoke the cordial sympathy of the North. 1t
has served to divert the minds of depressed
people from the ills of the present to reminis-
ccnces of the great part borne by their fore
fathers in securing the liberties of the Ameri
can colonies and has given birth TO new
hopes Of fraternal relations between the
estranged sections, and of a glorious destiny
for our common country. The Goth of May is
to be observed i'm North Carolina as holiday,
and Charlotte will be OH that day the Mecca
Of the sons of the Old North State wherever
dispersed. Among the thousands who will
take part in the celebration it is to be hoped
that there will be not few representative
men Of the North and West, who
will be ready TO assure the Southern
ers once more not only OF our
sympathy with them in these patriotic rcvivals,
but of our earnest desire for reconciliation
and peace, and to express hearty confidence
in their loyalty and good faith. 1t would DO
too much to expect the President to reconsider
his hasty declination OF a courteous invitation
to be present, but we cannot but regret that
he is unable to take days journey from the
Capital in answer to such Il call. With all his
travelling, it is o pity that he cannot get
farther South than the White Sulphur Springs
of West Virginia.