The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-28
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PHILADELPHIA AND THE ENOAMpMENT.

The provincialism of Philadelphia was never
shown more clearly than in its course in re-
gard to the proposed national military en-
campment in Paramount Park. Months ago
arrangements were made for holding the en-
campment in the vicinity of Philadelphia.
No local opposition followed the announce
ment of the projected affair, but on the con-
trary no interest was aroused in regard to
what, If properly managed, must be one Of
the largest and most interesting gatherings
Of men from all sections of the country to
assemble during the season. In any other
city than Philadelphia the citizens and bust
ness men would have sought to aid the project
by every means in their power. They would
have bestirred themselves to offer such enter
tainment as was possible to the military
visitors, and their sisters, and cousins and
aunts. Philadelphia is large city, and the
advent Of ten thousand soldiers, with the ac-
companying crowd of excursionists, would,
perhaps, not make ripple on the calm and
considerations did not suggest warm well
come, patriotic hospitality should have done
3d. Neither sentiment, however, seems to
have moved the phlegmatic soul of the Phila-
delphian. He gave no heed to the encamp-
ment, either as to its possible benefit to him
self or as to his duty in regard to it, until
suddenly it was discovered that fence was
being built across the park, and he was forth
with filed with alarm. A temporary fence,
it seems superfuous to say, is not a
permanent DETACHMENT; but Judging by
the ado made over this barrier, it looks like
phia. It was the DETACHMENT to the sacred
park which he talked about, but there is rea-
son to believe that his dull consciousness had
not been penetrated by the fact that the com
ing military display was not to be a free show
until the sight of the fence enlightened him.
A universal howl arose simultaneously with
the discovery Of the fence. The grass would
be injured, the shrubbery destroyed, other
portions of the park aside from the half
barren one set apart for the camp, would be
made unsafe for women and children; the
camp would produce sickness, possibly cholera.
Now and then some one paused in his TRADE
long enough to remark that the cutlery was
not against the soldiers, but merely against
he, of I,
the managers of the affair endeavored to prove
that the inclosure would suffer no serious
damage by their presence, the attacking party
took a new turn, and sought to show the ex-
istence of a deep-laid scheme on the part Of
the managers to pocket the profits of the af
fair. If Philadelphia wanted to share in the
profits, it had the opportunity but threw it
away BY the boorishness of those who have
assumed to speak with authority, the project
has been crippled by the checking of the local
interest which might have been taken by the
citizens and by the creation of an unpleasant
feeling of resentment in the minds Of the
soldiery. The City of Brotherly Love will
undoubtedly be the greatest sufferer in the
end, although the present disappointment and
disgust of the many strangers who are attend
ing for possible profit and pleasure are mex
pressible. The best that can be said is that
the people knew no better, but it must be
added that they are old enough to know how
to behave