Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-07-06
THE GREAT ANNIVERSARY.
The Fourth of July Celebrated Yes.
terday In q Picnic style,
Whites and Blacks Indulge in Re-
jOicing over Events whieh Took
place Ninety-Nine Years
Ago, July 4Ih.

Ago, July 4Ih.
Yesterday was a big day in Memphis
and suburbs. From early morn till
dewy eve, aud later, fre-crackers, torpe-
does pistol, guns and anvils went off
promiscuously all cver the city, and
even the thermometers sprang up to
nearly ninety-nine degrees mot years.
in the shade. Bunting Aoated from
house-tops and steamboats,; the flag Of
our Union, Of the old thirteen colonies,
Hoated, or rather hung listlessly in the
air, as not a breeze came up to disturb
either the stars or stripes. This was on
the 9th Of July, or the 4th by brevet,
as the 4th proper happened to fall upon
Sunday. The mixed or dual Fourth re-
minded our dramatic critic of the scene
in Henry w as follows:
Justice Shallow am, sir, under the
king in some authority"
Pistol" Under which king, Bezopi-
AMI Speak or diel
shallow-"Under King Harry"
Pistol-"H AIRY the fourth or ffth2"
Shallow-"Harry the fourth"
Pistol-"A foutra for thine Office
Harry the fifth s the man"
And SO was it yesterday; the fifth
took the place Of the dead Fourth with
all the "Shallews and Pistols of the
United States Of America, as we'll as
with every other man, woman and child
both black and white, in this confedera.
ton Of governments.
H FAIL GROUNDS.
At the Fair Grounds the negro society
OF Pole-Bearers made amends for their
%disgraceful conduct at the National
Cemetery two years ago by celebrating
the natal day of the Republic in a very
creditable manner. The invited guests,
consisting of Messrs. N. R. Forrest,
Gideon j. Pillow, NJ. c. Galloway, of
the Appeal; j. Harvey Mathes, Of the
LEDGER; Minor Meriwether, DR.. Clarke,
G. P. M. Turner and a few others, Wis
tied the Fair Grounds in the afternoon.
and were received right royalty by the
Pole Bearers, through their President,
Colonel Henley. Then there was a
flourish Of trumpetS, and a mulatto girl,
Mile Lewis, walked up and presented
General Forrest with a bouquet Of choice
flowers as an mathematical peace offer
ing. General Forrest responded at
length in a speech full of good advice to
the man of color, as he delights to be
called.
President Henley then introduced
General Pillow as the orator Of the day.
General Pillow delivered an elaborate
and carefully prepared address, giving a
brief history Of the rise and progress Of
this country, the history of the freedom
of the negro and his duties toward his
! fellow white citizen. The speech closed
with a chapter Of sound advice to the
man of color, showing the dangers Incl
dent to fighting GU the colored line and
banding against the white men who form
the dominant race in this land. The
closing sentences OF General Pillows
speech smack slightly of agrarianism:
No nan has a + gbt to hold and W
property on which he cannot pay the
taxes due to the government for protect.
ing his rights of property and person.
Allegiance and prott ction are c~orelative
duties. A nan who cannot or will not
pay his taxes has forfeited his allegiance
and cannot claim the protection of the
laws OF the government. If all the peo-
pie Of Tennessee should cease to pay the
taxes on their lands, we should cease to
have any government. If one may never
pay his taxes, then justice requires that
none shall be required to do so. Upon
the principle of justice all governments
must rest. There is no justice or equal
ity Of rights in a government making
one class Of its population pay taxes
and of its allowing another class never
to pay. The State government cannot
continue to exist without its revenues
1t men cannot, or will not, pay their
taxes aud help to support the govern
ment, pass the land to those who can
and will pay the taxes.
Speeches we're also made by Colouels
M. c. Galloway, G, P. M. Turner, Alder
man Dent, Major Minor Meriwether and
also by several black men.
AT OTHER POINTS.
At James Park a picnic was held by
St. Peters Orphan Asylum. This was
largely attended by white people, and a
very pleasant day was enjoyed by all.
At night the park was brilliantly lighted
up for the benefit of the dancers, who
tripped the light fantastic until after
midnight.
AT Humboldt Park and at A~lexander's
Park the Sons apd Daughters of Ham
held picnics, and seemed to enjoy a
good time.
COURT SQUARE.
The white American citizens met at