Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-03
TEE FouRrH.

ucinS y hdtiVuA DoLOal'
will generally be suspended. The
banks will be closed, the pOstofice
only open for an hour in the morn
ing, and the LEDGER will not be
issued after this issue until Thurs
day afternoon. Owing to the ex-
IRENE heat and the frequency OF
pienics aud public gatherings all
season there will be no formal pro-
ceedings of a public character with
specid reference to the day in a
national or political sense. The
people Of the country, however,
viii give barbecues, have speakings
and in other ways celebrate the
day as in the olden times.
There is an increasing tendency
among most Of our people to pay
more attention to holidays, and the
Fourth Of July among the rest.
There is some sentiment in this-a
healthy respect for good govern.
ment and all its blessings, and a
common desire to express it in
some unmistakable manner. The
weather we have in this section Is
rather against the day. If it could
be brought on in the spring, or
postponed until the golden days Of
October, it would be easier to stir
patriot hearts and awaken enthu-
siasm for the stars and stripes.
We may have ever so many
parties, or a man may get
along in a quiet, humdrum
way without any party for a while,
but he cannot live without a coun-
try, especially after he has once
lived in this. The time has passed
when any American citizen desires
to ~expatriate himself unless he has
had his arms too deepin the public
chest, like a few voluntary exiles
who have Travelled under an alias in
foreign lands. This is one common
country and one flag, and we all
have more pride in it and would
fight for it harder and longer than
we are apt to imagine. Drafts
upon our national pride are al
ways honored when presented.
and it is therefore an easy matter
to touch the sentiments of nation
ality that lie so near the surface 0.
our system and yet are so seldom
greatly stirred. These celebration
as formerly conducted were never
thought Of as tests of loyalty and
good citizenship, where all were
loyal alike, but rather as occasions
of political Thanksgiving and social
reunions. Many such reunions will
take place to morrow in this
vicinity. The people will enjoy and
amuse themselves as seems most
convenient and admissible with the
thermometer at ninety-6ve degrees
in the shade. Some viii go to pic.
MICS, others on steamboat and rail.
road excursions, and others still vii
go out among the grangers ant
farmers to partake Of their liberia
hospitality, all, we hope, to enjo.
themselves and to strengthen thei
conscientious convictions as to tn
value Of q free Democratic govern
ment under which we live.
-~-
HAYES is possessed Of one quail
ity peculiar to his predecessor, an,
that is stubbornness, or to max
milder, frmness. Having an
nounced the civil service reforr
policy he stands up to it withou
finching, to the great disgust G
many federal ofice-holders and az
pirants. They cannot understan
any such an order, and denounC
it in muttered tones. The Reput
hcan party has been kept in powe
for the last ten or twelve years b
bringing the entire power of IL
government to bear upon loo
elections. Ali the legislation
congress has been shaped with
view to this end. The Yeteral
could always carry an election vii