The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-07-04
The IOlst Anniversary.

Last night was a quiet night in Wheel
ing and in remarkable contrast TO the
night Of July Sd, ls7G,-the ever mem.
OrAble night in which was ushered in the
Tooth anniversary Of American Indepen.
dence. It would seem as il our patrio.
tism had fully expended itself during the
Centennial year Of the Republic, inaS.
much aS we do not observe, here or else.
where, that any special preparations have
been made for the observance OF the day
One year ago everybody gave themselves
up completely TO the occasion. The
whole country made duty Of doing its
very best 10 render the one hundredth
anniversary Of the 4lh OF July ever
memorable in our national annals. No
such day was ever seen on this continent.
Indeed, the world never before witnessed
such celebration. Not only was the
great Day itsclf celebrated in the most
demonstrative manner possible in every
city and town in The land, but the whole
summer and fall were more or less devot-
ed to Centennial matters. Millions OF
the American people went 10 Philadel.
phiA to witness the great International
Exhibition. Somebody was leaving
every railroad depot in the land almost
every day for several months, to visit the
city in which American Independence
was declaredIone hundred years before.
When these visitors returned home
again, after week or months absence,
their experiences-what they had seen
and what they had heard-was the theme
OF conversation among all their friends
and acqusintances. Nothing else scarce.
ly. was talked about during last July,
August, September and October through.
out the country. The whole land, as it
were, had Centennial on the brain. The
newspapers were constantly full to over
flowing with it, and every man, woman
and child was made familiar with the
meaning Oft great event in our history
which ewere thus every day celebrating.
1t could not be expected but that this
excitement would have its appropriate
reaction. All excitements have their re.
action. We were all agog last year, and
are therefore very passive and undemon
stratlve this year. Besides the Centen,
nialism Of last year, we passed through
long d.it .NJst exciting Presidential
contest, lasting from Summer until
Spring, and, in addition, have suffered
the disappointments Of continued bnsi,
ness depression. The people expended
their money and their patriotism last
year in expectation that the Centennial
OF our history was to be the turning
point OF low prices and business depreS.
sion, and that with its close would come
IN era OF good feeling and new born
prosperity. Thus far these hopes, in the
latter respect, have not been realized, and
We are yet, rs n people, carrying heavy
burdens Of business anxietics. Under
such circumstances the l0lst Anniversary
Of Independence dawns upon US. 1t does
not witness the realizatiOns Of last year,
expectations. II sees us still struggling
with debt and with declining values. i
sees vast numbers Of our people unem
ployed. In word, It sees n good dea
OF gloom and Encouragement ABROAD
in the land. And yet, while al
thisi is true, the lOlst anniversary wit
nesSeS great change for tho better. The
great struggle Of last year, that ut Ont
time threatened the destruction Of the
Government, has safely passed, and to-day
we are stronger and more united as a peo
pie, aud more assured Of our destiny as I
selt.goyerning Nation, than at any form
or period OF our history. The two sec
tions o! the Union are more than satisfied
with the results Of last years Presiden
tial struggle. The verwheln,ing verdic
of the people is tha! we have good ad.
ninistration in power, and that IA soor
a. the present business cloud shall have
sunk below the horizon we shall see III,
skieS brighter than ever before in the his
Tory Of our country.