The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-04
Arrangements for the Grand Celebration
on the Goth of May.
PREPARING FOR THE VISITORS
No Intention of "Making
Treason Respectable"
1.-THE HORNETS NEST OF AMERICA"
CHARLOTTE, MecklenDurg county, n. O., |


Carolina city excited over the approaching
eommemoralion or the one hundredth ami
Versary OF the Meckenburg Declaration OF
Independence. I am now convinced that
the Meckenburg Centennial win attract a
numerous attendance. An unaccountable degree
Dl reticence The part OF the managers has hith-
erto prevailed; and outside OF the extending Of in
vitatons soliciting the presence OF sundry notable
individuals and organizations, and or efforts moro
Or less successful to raise funds for the ceebra-
lion, they appear to have followed quite closely
Tho Fabian policy OF "masterly inactivity" There
certainly no lack OF patriotic feeling, at least in
It's local development, among the masses, and they
seem fond OF the traditions which have given re-
Aown to theic revolutionary forefathers. But
while those forefathers furnished, In both their
brave words and deeds, materials for his
tory equally abundant and valuable with
the contributions to our wealth OF national glory
their Northern compatrlos, the latter had the
great advantage OF more numerous and diigent
contemporary scribes, who sedulously gathered
up every iact and circumstance connected wit
Ehelr achievements. had the testimony perpetu-
Ated as lawyer would say and thus weaving
their annals as they went along, at every step or
the whole colonial struggles made sure OF postum
nous fame. The more neglectful and less shrewd
Southerners, on the other hand, seem to have
been unmlniful OF the very Important truth that
the pen is the best ally of the sword. They were
1t appears, content with doing heroic acts and
making equally heroic uLterances and they LETT
the record or them TO take care OF itself. Hence
1t now turns that the strIct and formal proofs
which go abunuanily fortify New EnglGnd's claims
are sadly wanting to confirm those OF North Caro-
lima, aud the eenuineness OF even the Mecklen-
burg Resolves is challenged with impunity.
THE ARRANGEMENTS.
NJ nfa1 fn he nh rvnd
here on the 2oth of May are somewhat retcent
about the plated arrangements, aud IL is diff
hcult learn much OF any thing definite from them
az present. Either the plans are not yet matured,
those who have the anair In hand do not want
premature publication OF them, in which they
are right perhaps, though Is is not altogether SO
agreeable TO q correspondent a more COM
municative disposition on their part would be.
PREPARATIONS FOR CROWD.
1t Is claimed that tremendous crowd Will be
here on the Goth; in fact one enthusiastic gentle
man goes so far as to predict tie attendance OF
3D. 900 people, ii not more. Where they are all to be
slowed away at night surpasses my skill at solving
conundrums. The Central Hotel is enlarging its
accommodations by an addition Of 100 rooms, and
there are several other hotels, besides the board
ing houses. The citizens l am told, will very
generally open their hospitable doors to
the innux OF pilgrims to this new Mecca.
But even Then ! am unable 10 see how this
expected swarm of visitors, numbering i've
or ak times the resident population or the
city, is TO be lodged, unless two-thIrds OF them
take 1t on the noor The Visiting military COM
panies will bring their tents, and the civilian
corners may catch the idea and camp out also, ut
least part OF them. II Barnum would only loan
his big canvas for the occasion solution OF the
problem might be arrived at. Or Lexington might
onA aInu ha fanf nAor haa Wild
spreading canopy the Centennial dinner was dis
cussed.
THE DATE OF THE DECLARATION.
The Charlotte Observer, the BatlIetin aud General
D. e. Hits Southern Home take q lively interest
In the coming celebration, as do the Journal and
the S;dr, published at Wilmington, the Raleigh
Sentinel aud nearly all the other papers in the
Btate. The impeachers OF the authenticity OF the
MecKlen5urg Declaration have no newspaper
organ. ct least not just &C this time. They main
tain discreet silence, and We hear nothing from
ihem.
BY tho way / find the following paragraph in
she Southern Home, which supplies an important
piece OF information touching the mooted mat.
ter
We learn by private letter from Bolivar. Tenn,
that The distinguished GRANDSON OF Colon Ell Thomas
Polk Colonel Horace NJ. Polk OF Revolutionary
tame. mas some important facts in regard 70 the
nrcklenDurg Declaration. Among other things,
a
speech celiverea AT Chapel Hil IN which there Is
au eloquent ailnson TO the great event oil the 20tn
o. May, 1875. The silly notortey hunters object
that lot uutil 1919 did the Decoration attract PUB
lie az ention. Bot Colonel Polk can snow by the
record that en- years before That. and In tue liie
speaker a. the University OF state claimed Tor
old Meckcnourg the honor OF nrst proclaimIng In
aepehdence.
GENERAL HOLIDAY
The press OF the State JOIN heartily IN the sugges-
ton that the 20th or May be generally observed as
q holiday throughout North Carolina. In the event
II IA so observed, there Will be any number OF little
cen tennials all taxing place simultaneously In
every part oftho state. Why isn't the Twentieth
OF May as good as the Fourth or July 2 IL never
was thought necessary to 90 to any particular
place to celebrate the Fourth. The day Is the
main thing-not the locality; which rejection
ought to console the stay-at-nomes. The great
nre az Charlotte on the 10th inst. VIII not In any
way interrupt or Interfere WITH the Centennial
preparations.
THE SPEAKERS.
General Joseph Il. Johnston, who surrendered
70 General Sherman In this very city ten years ago.
will act az Chief Marshal on the occasion or tue
eeleoraiton; and John Kerr, one OF the very
best public speakers 10 the State, will be orator
OF the day. II Is proposed to erect q monument
to the memory OF the immortal twenty
aix-somc accounts soy tUenty-seven--
slRber5 OF tue DeclMAllOn. 10 nave
certain amount for this monument and
to properly carry out the programme at the
Centennial the sum OF 81, 900 is considered nee.
rssary by the Committee OF Arrangements. or
this amount $4,000 is assigned Tor Charlotte to
make up, aud the balance Is expected from the
Of the state. The money ia duly com.
Ing In. A few days ngo Mira. Cicero w. Harris, OF
forwarded 500 she had collected Ia
that CITY, and the ladies OF Hisborough, IN orange
county, are to give festival In that old historic
to1n during court week, whicn begins to-day, the
proceeds u whicn win be applied to the same OBJ.
eet. The township committees IN Ir0dcll will
nod a meeting on the slst. to make up the quota
81 tnat county for the Centennial fund. On May
mass meeting will be held at Concord Tor the
same purpose, among others. Robson county 10
also az work In the same direction. Her Centen'
Dia Executive Committee recently met at Lun.
sarLoA. MMon q Anh. cam EalLtan fhrAn rNaa