New-York tribune., 1876-02-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

THE CENTENNIAL FOURTH OF JULY.
THE PRESENT METHOD OF CELEBRATING THE DAY
nARBARoUs-A PLAN FOR A BETTER MODE on
EXPRESSING NATIONAL JOY.
20 ne EdttOr OF The Tribune
s1R: In the matter of the observance OF tho
rourth OF July there are systematic ana inoiersoie
abuses OF the very spirit Of patriotism ITSELF and there
eat need OF reform. And the centennial year certainly
4, sutable time to institute that reform. hundred
wears one would think, has heen time enough 70 nave
educated the American people up to something hsner
more ennoblng and consistent with the general spirit OF
our institutions than the vulgar and debasihe uSe "
non aring us necessary helps in the eeieDraton VI y
DAY With permission, will suggest pam :" io"7
eutline which, with proper filing up eahno' uo"' Wv
whole people would approve oi-eef''iiii' '"' ''''>
part of them. .,,a have
the dav itself is n national holiday 1t should nave
.,o a,tbo,tv Of Federal recognition To this end would
have passed an act joint resolution OF congress- "p
psinting commission and making siiaii appfoPi i"'
70 enable the commission to procure suitaD'e N"o'
Anthem to be written by some one OF our native
poets which should be appropriately set TO music '
copies OF this placed In the hands of IN e'e'
public school ia the land These teachers shouu "' 10
,ad Tn praetce this anthem with their puplis more vi
a., ovorv week 40 that all the pupils who usually par
teipate in the musical exercises OF the schoo ns" "
ann, peyfectiy familiar with II. so far this pan "ou
no sinpe and practical enough requiring no iurher e
Appropriation, either rtuefa w ot'tc
for the money that Is usually spent lor te Nuhu
.nonoyder would be more than enough, ana no uoupt
eonld he gladly appropriated TO celebration OF the
.glorious Fourth" follows: On the morning. OF the
re of Julv the teachers and pupils OF all the pup
Nc schools OF each township school dlStrct III the
sounry and the same in every city meet IN an alputu
Jacs st n uniform hour throughout the Unlted states
VI Tsrrtores making the necessary allowance Tor me
oidrence OF time, aud then ana there nave one nor
ragraIune OF exercises The great Charter OF tlo peo
- tbe Declaration of Independence, should ne rciu' III
3rarcei NV few tenlsinute speeches Dy chOseh Al'ah
ar Who should relate some interesting ncdchtsV VI .o
Si.inrv of that veuerted instrument Dut Vigorously eA
cIoIirg from The platform and ali tBe SPEAKERS OF
ths spreg ease type The children present might Oe IN
trnfd of most interesting and vital Ollt 0l the ms
- of our nation. This should be followed ny me sihH
n III tho new National Hymn as wei as the Ola ones
witch have worn well the hrst huhdreu years. -
Hov What pleasing spectacle TINS would be 10 con,
t,Dot les than 1O0OO.000 TO 20OOOooo OF
Americas boys and girls, ami adults as we aI tS sl
Ynomcp OF time chanting hymn Oh patrlouc au ~
eentimeuts embracng too thanksgiving 10 1ou iVl i'
han,, i,gn.ce up,n tie Affairs of the American peoIc
In the past and invOcatlons for the cohtnueht vi '
hen, supervison in all the future OF our na'oti tN
i.tenre Tine whole might be rounded on with cOiiaoh
for s schools only made free u the or open 80 ,'e
yulic upOu tickets sold az reasonable chucS' an
(oud be inexpensive, free from noise eeNatS III ~
iiueces upon those who soon are TO f0iO" Us ia luo
national affair." AMI ~ thc RESPONSE
h,v Of nerDptuating our institutions And VINO Wouu
,,nt i'm such celebration IL is not Protest
ant II is not Catholic; IL is not kcpuhhcn IL IL nov
lemociatic IL is American In order that shc cte
6raton msht be well carried out, there sn0dld be the
oost positive municipal prohibition o al lOil ms oi eN
sneh Teuaties as would deter the most daring. and all
persons found drunk should be put in prison tl the day
has passed. ChAfLts LANOAsih"'
NsloQrk Jan. l6, 1876.