New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-06-24
THE NATIONS FOURTH or july.

The whole American people VIII reloca 70
learn that the Centennial Commission, to whom
the arrangement of the great national ceicDra-
ton of our near anniversary was lntfllsted
have adopted the one plan which satisfies MS
| torical propriety and the sentiment OF sacred
local associations. The commemorative soem-
mites of the day will be held in independence
Square the speakers and distinguished guests
occupying platform built against the south
EN- front of the old Hall. Richard Henry Lee
will therefore read the Declaration of indie
pendence within a few yards of the spot where
his grandfather moved its adoption, and very
little further from that where it was first read to
the people. Tie latter act occurred on the 9Th
of .Julv. l776. when John Nixon, Chairman OF
the Committee of Safety, mounted to the bal
cony of little observatory, erected for the
astronomer RIttenhouse, before the transit OF
Venus in the year 1869, and there read aloud
the immortal document to the assembled poo
pie 1t ia not generally known that the
foundations of the obserN atOry (Which disap-
reared long since) have been recently discov-
cred, near the southeastern corner OF the
square.
This is the one place. Of all places in the
country, for the Nations centennial celebra-
ton. Independence Square, of course, Will
not contain tenth part of the multitude
which will seek to behold at n distance, If not
to hear, some portion of the august cere-
monies; but no other spot could possibly oher
greater facilities. For the difficulty is IN
herent in the limited powers OF ear, voice, and
vision Under the most favorable conditions,
il would be simply impossible for more than
10000 persons to hear any part OF the pro
cecdngs, or for more than 10000 to see
| them with toerable dStinctncss. lndcpcnd-
| ence Square, with Fifth, SIKH anu Walnut
sts., will contain the latter number, and s0lno
additional thousands will find places in the
surrounding buildings. In such an inclosed
space the voices of the speakers will 20 fur
thcr and with less painful effort, owing both
to the combining walls and to the greater GER
tainty of silence in the audience. There viii
undoubtedly be twice the number of real par
ticipants in the celebration than if it were TO
take place on the Exhibition grounds or in
any part of Fairmount Park.
In its details, We do not see how the COM
momoration could have been made simpler or
more appropriate. Its chief features viii be
n hymn by Oliver Wendell Holmes of Massa-
chusetts; the reading of the Declaration of
independence by Richard Henry Lee of Vir-
GINA; an ode by Bayard Taylor of Pennsylva-
MA an Grafton by William NJ. Evarts OF New
York, and march by Senior Gomez of Bra
Ill, composed at the request OF Dom Pedro
H., who will be present The four principal
States of tho filst Union are thus represented,
and the greatest power on the other half OF
the American Continent adds its generous con-
graduation.
For the hundreds of thousands who must of
necessity give up all hope of witnessi z tie
chief ceremonies, there will be no lack OF at
tendant celebrations. There will be process
sions, parades, an OVERLOOKING abundance OF
music, banners and omblematic decorations
meetings Of associations, with their own spe-
cl speeches and songs; the planting of
memorial trees, and other tokens which shall
carry the memory of the day into future
years and the patriotic CONSCIOUSNESS of every
man and woman will add its share to the gen.
eral conservation of the occasion. We cannot
doubt that in character, no less than in its
| historical significance, the Fourth OF July,
| 1876, will be day, the like of which none
who see il may ever again behold.