The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-21
AN EXCEEDING GREAT MULTITUDE
Military and Civic Bodies in
Procession.
Orations by John Kerr and John
M. Bright.
DISTINGUISHED ORATORS AT THE BANQUET

CHARLOTTE, n. o., May 20. 1879.
AS tile altitude of q mountain is measured by
The height of its topmost peak, that each part oil
It. from base TO summit, shows in the greatness OF
The whole, so do the noble deeds or the foremost
men OF q State, whether done the present or In
the past give dignity 10 all Its people. Thus does
the glory OF Mecklenburg, May, 1876, illuminate
the entire annals OF all North Carolina. and give
to her citizens, from Roanoke Island to Cherokee
an hlsoric eminence OF which each OF them may
Justly buast The Whole appearance OF this city
is suddenly transformed. grand illumlna.
tion last night, 10 the completeness OF
which even the very humbest cabin con-
tributed at least It's candles, made oeauti-
1ul Charlotte "queenly with golden light"
And to-day the illusion-il may call IL so-is not
dispelled Everywhere are gay nags and steamers
symbols OF gadness, emblems. mute but iull OF
meaning, or re oicing in the magnificent iruttion
which hundred years has brought Of the seeds or
independence and local seli-government planted
here by few bold and prayerlul men In May, 1875.
Like the scriptural grain Of mustard seed which
waxed TO tree mat covered the whole earth
the germ OF liberty and home rule then planted III
heroic trust by nese pious yeonlen. who, though
but an handful In number, knew that they had the
Divine omnlp0tence behind them, matured at
length, yields its abundant fruit freely for all
men and covers with its protecting shade an
ocean-bound Republic. II Is well that the ono
hundredlh anniversary OF an event. whose conse-
auences have proved so widely and soiidly beneh-
sent, should be commemorated with all the para
phernala OF Jubllant observance.
Ana so there Is prolusion or the traditional
bunting on all sides. Emblazoped on the walls OF
che houses, alike OF ricn and poor, are the brave
words or 1916, now become the watchwords and
war.cries OF freedom for oil future ages. Hundreds
Of patriotic notices. venerable IN their Revolu-
l0nnrv III a
atterances Of Brevard and Polk. and Reese ana
Baich ana Irwin and Foard and Flenniken-of the
Alexanders Significantly named, and OF their
brave compatriots VINO set their names on Mag
10, l775, to the nrst definite, deliberate Declare
lion or Independence, recall TO the minds OF their
aescendants-Rrandsons and great-grandsons-
the debt OF gratitude which they. and all Ameri-
cans as wen must always owe to those superb
figures In the panorama OF our history. II even
the worship OF ancestors was morally allo wable,
lis honors may well be rendered to The sublime
shades OF the men OF Mecklenpurg who lived and
moved ana had their being In 1775.
An HoHoRED SPOT PRESERVED.
The old log Court House that stood AZ the inter-
section or Wade and Tryon streets when Char
Iottetown was only crossroads hamlet OF twenty
Or thirty houses, had disappeared more than half
q century ago. The memorable resolves which
were proclaimed nom its entrance this day one
hundred years ago have given IT, however, per-
petuity OF fame. Its successor, Quilt or brick, has
also gone utterly without trace even OF It's
foundation, and the vacant space Is now known
as Independence square. In tue centre OF this re-
nowned square stands lofty nacstan, when
few days since was forest tree one hundred
and nfty miles away. From other poles erected
at various points throughout the city also float
national colors. Across almost all the streets. and
from nearly every house, the glorious ola banner.
the stars and Stripes, gracefully undulates TO
the ntful breatnings OF the wind. The decorations
are proiuse, appropriate ana tasteful.
THE ADVENT OF THE 6ULTIrCDK.
Visitors HAD been arriving. Individually and In
parties, Tor week The multitude proper how
ever, began to nock In yesterday. And ir Is, In
deed. q multituds-such, In TACT, as was never
seen before within the limits OF q North Carolina
town. The long anticipated avalanche OF the
peopler IL here last. The frequent trains Of the
ave railroads centrinR here nave been pouring
in their 'tidal waves or humanity for two days.
and the CRY ls-or might he VITA truth-''stil they
Gomez the rowd Is varlousy estimated at from
1900 to &c, 0O0 The hotels, boarding houses and
private residences full to repeuon. The lofts or
stores. ouhouses nails aud nearly everything avail
able for shelter, nave been made 10 serve as In
provised lodging and eaung places. Thousands
have come with their tents and cooked ratons
for three days. OF course, Charlotte could not pe
expected 70 iced so huge gathering. But the
great mass came from the immediate vicinity
that Is, within radius OF say nifty mIles-and have
brought thor snacks or luncneons. And then
many OF them were Confederate soldiers, and these
boys In gray learned very thoroughly during
the war how to rough it ana how to put up with
short commons on occasion.
RESPECT AND GOOD ORDER.
The complete good order a1d so5riety nam
tained BY rlis immense assemblage strikes me a.
something remarkable in q country which IL sup
posed to require the presence or TROOPS TO keep
the peace. saw but few policemen, constables
or similar offcers ana no arrests This voluntary
good behavior on tue part OF so great q body o (
people, or all sorts and conditions and OF botn
races, Is significant EXHIBITION OF tnat peculiarly
American trait OF self-goyernment which may be
said to constitute toe MODEST feature OF demo.
cratIc.repuolcan autonomy. such people need
no rulers put themselves they realize the great.
ness wnicn, We arc told, Is superior 20 nm that
"taketn city, No disturbance or a1ray on other
untuward incident has marred the pacific current
81 the obsstvAnces.
JuEILASr rsHERISG IN OF DAY.
Tc.iay's sunrlsng was mado Jocund by the
ringing Of oil the church pells 81 Charlotte and
the nlng OF salute OF 100 guns. Never did the
merry peas sound Iortn with such lulncss and
JOY. Patriotism ana holy zeal seemed proclaimed
~ these hundred tongues -of iron. And as the
sweet harmony assembled In the Dalniy air, wnie
~ ~ und was JOY and peace, one was led 70 dwell
lpoa the days 81 sorrow and suffering, the mental
ana pnysical torture, Ibe brave selLapnegattop OF
0ur iorelatners, VINO Dors the horrors and honors
martYrdom that their descendants nighs enjoy
me blessings Of freedom aud prosperity. And
ihen the reveroeranous Of the cannon recaled
the time when Charlotte stood the strains d war
aud bIoodsned; wnen tns tramp o. sae Regulators
vas hsArd 10 me narrow, old atIeesgs wnen sne
thnndsIed Iorth she aouna that THRILLED nalilien
mAmrtnMthn gail "a axNnn ana Ana Se.a fae ntsagfe