Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-04-18
THE APPROACH OF GREAT ANN
YSRSARY,

America outdid all previous efforts in cele.
brating the centennial anniversary OF the
nations Independence. We hcnored the
centenary of Yorktown also, but grea-
er anniversary than that is near at
hand, and may pass by without
worthy commemorative exercises. The
celebration in 1876 was in honor of the
anniversary of the initial point of great
experiment. The battle of Yorktown in
l7SI did not close the war, but the crown
of our victory adorned the nations brow
when Adams, Fraaklin, Laurens and Jay,
the American Commissioners to negotiate
a treaty Of peace with England, wrurg
from an unwilling King and hesitating
Parliament the acknowledgment and recog-
milton of the independence of the American
colonies and Of our existence as nation.
This occurred in 1888, and is an event in
many respects fit to rank with the decla-
ration OF independence or the surrender of
Cornwallis. There are no details in the
diplomatic history of the United States of
greater interest, or upon which SO much
depended, as those that make up the record
of the negotiations conducted by the Amer
icnn Commissioners. The record involves
such names of American patriots as those
of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Henry
LAurens and John Jay, and such on the
side of England as Pitt, Burke and Fox.
Lords North, Rock ingham, Shelburne, the
Dake of Portland, and other British stateg-
men. There is some disagreement as to
the exact date when Englands acknowl.
edgment Of our independence was made,
and this has been suggested as an excuse
Hor the want Of attention being given to
tno approaching anniversary, but il is not
sufficient. It was recognized by General
Washington as proper to celebrate
the event on the l93h of April.
The provisional treaty, conditionslly recog-
nizing us nation, was drawn and agreed
to and reported to Parliament December,
1882 some months before the final compact
WAS sealed, for negotiations with France
and Spain were involved, and these were
not concluded until late in the spring of
1888. Washington, On the 18Th of April,
proclaimed st the army headquarters
az Newburg that hostilities had ceased,
aud the army celebrated ON that day the
termination of Che war. Washipgtons
proclamation referred to tn final action BY
the King and Parliament in regard TO the
provisional trexty, which action was had
IN January, 1888. for in those days long
time was consumed il the transnission of
news across the Atlantic. April 10Th.
Hartley, for the King, proposed to the
American Commissioners full reciprocity
treaty, but it was May 2lst before reply
TO Che acceptance of the offer was
made. 1t was not until September
81 that tho defniive treaty was
settled, and our Congress did not meet to
ratify il until November Sd. So few men,
bers were then present fifteen-that &C.
ton was delayed until January IA, 1854,
when, by great effort, enough delegates
were got together representing nine States,
to sanction the compact. BIT as the real
event of Importance culminated in the year
1883, no matter what dates the original
documents show IN the history of the
transaction, it seems to us that the usual
fourth of July celebration could this year
be made especially interesting By deyoting
It largely 80 exercises commemorative of
the great events aud great names associated
with the negotiation for the treaty Of peae-,
and through which we won the acknoWl-
edgment of the nation that Heretofore
cIa;nlsd our allegiance, that we were fres