Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-07-17
EARLY INDEPENDENCE DAYS.

The first reading of the Declaration
of Independence occurred in New York
city July 9, l77G. II was read amid
universal rejoicing and shouts of con
graduation and boniircs, firing cannon.
and every mode of expressing the graf
ification of the people. The year pre-
coding this action of the continental
congress had been one Of almost con
tinuous disaster, and gloom and de-
spondency filled many patriot hearts.
The differences which prevailed were II
source of painful uneasiness. Many
opinions were entertained by whole
bodies of citizens in various states adj
verse TO total separation from the
mother country, as she was still called,
and those differences led to some of the
disasters that had SO severely tried the
very souls of that race Of patriots to
whom we are indebted for the freedom
we enjoy. The Declaration of hide
pcndence came Just at this time to heal
all differences, TO close every breach in
the wall Of patriotic endcavor for the
rights of man, and although years of
toll and suffering lay before them. they
felt the inspiration Of the immortal ut
terances proclaiming the severing of
all the ties that had bound them
10 their unnatural parent, and were
prepared to endure all that lay before
them, trusting in God and the Justice
npf their cause. This city for years
after felt the heavy hand of the
oppressor, subjecting them to every
form of injustice that tyranny could
devise iii its efforts 20 destroy that pat
riotic fervOr which increased as years
rolled ON, bringing no release, but
keeping alive the hope born of deter
mination to succeed. The heavy hand
was ut length lifted and peace was
won, but il was not until November,
1884, that the people stood erect and
freed from the yoke of bondage. No
telegraph, as in these days, flashed the
glad iidings, but nearly II year inter-
vened before the final ratification of
the treaty Of peace gave them release.
The following year, 1888. we find ne
mention of II general celebration of the
glorious Fourth.
In 1886, one hundred years ago, the
common council passed IA resolution
ordering a municipal celebration of the
day. The day was ushered in by "na
tional salutes fired in front of the aims
house, and the bells of the city were
rung for an hour from sunrise. At II
o'clock Il procession was formed III
front of the city hall, and proceeded
through Queen street to the
residence of the governor, who
joined the procession. and
with the other state and municipal Of
iiccrs called on the President, whore
the compliments OF the day were offer
ed by the governor and the mayor.
The procession then procecdcdb by Beck
man street and 1.-The Broadway to the
City Tavern, where Il collation. was pre-
pared by the city and partaken OF, amid
the ringing Of all the bells of the city
for two hours, and the booming of can
non from every available point in the
city.
They were enthusiastic, these ancient
worthless, and with salutes at sunset
the dav closed. The fear of danger
from fireworks and Examinations caused
them. as it was expressed in the pub
lished program, to omit the fireworks,
etc. A fine display, however, took
place at Governors Island. and from
the theater in John street Il patriotic
transparency was exhibited. The So
ciety of the Cincinnati celebrated the
day by a dinner, where patriotic toaSts
and speeches were INDUCED in. The
orator of tie day was Alexander Ham
ilton, and after the close of what we
may well consider an eloquent address
the Declaration of independence was
read.
In 1887 the day was celebrated with
increased enthusiasm. The firing Of
cannon and beating of drums ushered
in the eleventh anniversary. 1.-The
was "A beautiful one" as Green
!. saf's Journal records, and the military
display, consisting of the G~renadicrs,
Light Infantry and General Malcolm's
brigade, All under command of Major
Christie, was very fine, and after the
parade and review .'in the fields" the
officers dined at Cores tavern.
Thirteen patriotic toasts were drunk
and speeches made, and general joy
prevailed" An Grafton was delivered
ut the city hall by Hon. K. b. Living
ston before the Society of the Cincin-
natl and addresses by Col. Henry Liv-
ingston and Gen. Floyd, after which
the society went in procession to the
fort, where, under tents, Il collation.
was served and the usual thirteen pat
riotic toasts drunk. The Journal, re-
cording the events of the day. says:
s.The conviyiality was marked by
true decency and decorum, for which
they contend, and each, animated by
the appearance Of those c~ountenances