The workingman's advocate., 1876-07-15
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.


C1AJ " AOtOs
great pageant like great battle can
be seen only ut points; especially in this the
case in . city with narrow streets and high
houses; . birds eye view is not attainabfe.
and all that the spectator sees, Of what has
been heraldsd with such imposing length
OF programme, In q section here and there
of the procession as it marches before the
dense mass Of patient humanity on the
side walk. IL is doubtful ii Roman Gen
eral returning from conquest was ever re-
ceived BY larger or more enthusiastic
crowd than awaited ON pavement, in win
dows, or climbed trees and telegraph poles,
to see the professions that moved along
the streets on the evening Of the third, and
the forenoon of the fourth Of July. The
volunteer corps from all the states march
ed bravely through the hot streets, the
bands Of music played incessantly, every
body wanted something to drink, but could
find nothing but beer, vile soda water, and
filthy lemonade, sold by irresponsible peo-
1 PAO AAOAu WOO4cn OUCACSo why HAS uOt
some speculator, the genius to invent ice
water fountains, and sell it for two or three
cents per glass "There's millions in it. T"
OF the many imposing military demon
strstions that have been seen in Philadel-
phia, none equAlled that of yesterday, and
it In questionable if it has ever been equal
led in this country except when the COM
bined armies of Grant and Sherman march
cd through Washington at the close Of the
war. In the parade was the very flower Of
the soldiery from the different states. The
southern organizations seemed to represent
the beau ideal of southern soldiery, and
they won encomiums both on account of
their martial bearing and excellent disci-
pline, and their earnest responses to every
patriotic demonstration. They were greet
cd with hearty enthusia m on all sides.
At half past seven o'clock under a scorch-
ing sun on Tuesday, the 4th of July, the
line formed on Broad street, the right rest
ing on Chestnut street. Even at this ear
ly hour the streets all along the route Of
the anticipated procession were deusely
thrOnged. The column marched from
Broad street down Chestnut to Fourth,
passing in review at Independence Hall,
down Fourth to Pine street, and up Pine
to Broad. 1t consisted Of about ten thOus-
and men rank and file, and contained de-
tachment of Spanish Engineers forwarded
by the Spanish Government to be present
at the Centennial Exposition. DESTROYS
Of expressing the friendly feeling Of their
Government to the United Statos, they
participated in the parade and attracted
much attention by their graceful swinging
style of march.
In all the ceremonies so far both in form
and sentiment there has been on this EN-.
phAtically National occasion, the strictest
courtesy and regard shown all foreigner:
and foreign nations.
Yesterday We were celebrating our escape
from British bondage, with the British
foreign minister on the stand, but no senti
ment in Bayard Taylor's glorious poem
was so enthusiastically cheered as that il
which he referred to our English origin
''broad- based under all is planted Eng
lands open-hearted mood"
The celebration Of the Fourth" in the
square in the rear of Independence Hal
was as successful as the insuterably warm
weather and contracted space would allow
Conspicuous upan the stand were Vice
President Ferry, Governor Hayes, the
Republican candidate for President, Gen
erals Banks, Sheridan, aud Sherman, Don
Pedro. Emperor of Brazil, Sir Edward
Thornton, minister from England, Bayart
Taylor, VIM. Nj. Evarts, Richard Henry
Lee, and many others. After the rendi
tion Of the Grand Oveture "TEE GREAl
REPUBLIC, by the orchestra, led by p
). Gilmore, Gen. Hawley, President of tn,
Centennial Commission, called the assem-
bly, to order, and, the President of the
United States being absent, announced
Vice President Thos. w. Ferry, presiding
officer for the day. After prayer, by Bishop
Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, the hymn o.
welcome to all nations, composed by Oliver
Wndell Holmes, was sung with orchestra
accompaniment. When Vice President
Ferry announced that the Declaration o.
Independence would be read by a grand
son and namesake of one of the siners
Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, there wa,
loud and continued applause the "sar
dIned" masses in Independence square
miraculously extricated their arms, waved
hats, andkerchiefs, fans and umbrellas
and spent their vocal strength SO prodigal
ly that they had little strength to shout
on subsequent occasions when hurrah,
were appropriate. The enthusiasm wa
renewed and continued when Mayor
Stokely, of this city, brought forward the
veritable original copy Of the Declaration
and held it up to the gaze Of the multitude
The National Ode written by Bayard Tay
lor, was reCited by the author, with fne
elocutionery effect, interrupted by frequent
applause, when some noble Sentiment ol
appeal touched the patriotic heart. 1t il
] think truly great production, but
will spare comment here for it and tn,
Grafton BY Mr.. Evarts will be read by
everybody.
No fourth of July celebration would b,
complete without its display Of fireworks
but those last evening were dwarfed By
the Intimately grander hghtenings Of heay
en-, and cut short by the rain which fol
lowed. The display was on Lemon Hill
in East Park, and was witnessed by many