Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-21
The Glorious Fourth.

AS lime goes on there IS Il likelihood
that days OF remembrance commemora-
tive ofgfcdt events n history VIII either
be les. generally observed or will lose
.heir significance. 70 guard against
these evil results the Intent of such eel
,ebra5ions ought always 10 ho clearly
kept before the minds Of the people.
Perhaps in no instance are these tend
cncics SO marked rs in that of the
anniversary of the Nations indepeud-
ence, the Fourth Of July. Previous to
the War of the Rebellion cye1v local
community held its oVu celebration.
and the patriotism Of the people was
satisfied By gushing oratory. which has
been iiitin@Ir Gated spread cagIeism,' .
from itS bom|ms.i,., inflated and windy
character. 1t was, hoWcycr. suited to
those early yeays, To the infancy OF the
Nation, and kept alive the spirit OF
national pride and unity SO essential 10
a hea!ill.u. growth During and after
the great struggle for the Union this
paerIle period was, however, out.rown,
and the tendency has developed to
ignore the celebration of thc anniyer-
aary If the, Nations birth, because Of
the feeling that the oldish methods, The
crude boasting Of he earlier days, were
childish, and the mistake has too often
and too widely been made Of convert
ing the objection to the tling, to the
iucarnatcd idea itself.
The Declaration of Independence bv
the American colonies on July !. l776.
Was al event OF such importance to the
world at large, but specifically to the
American people, that lis celebration as
a national anniversary every wear has
had and viii have an enormous 5nfiu-
cnce III preserving those free institu-
jions Of which ii was the Irst formal
declaration. No objection to former
crude methods Of celebrating the dav
shonld operate to lessen the regard All
believers IL the institutions, all citizens
of the Republic, ought 10 feel in the
preservation and extension Of the
principles Of liberty for which the reyo-
Iutionary eires fought, and for which
more recently the men of '6l laid down
their lives. Instead of ncglceting the
celebration, rather bring It into con
formity with modern ideas The time
fof spread eagleism has passed away.
but the time for losing sight Of the grand
Ideas Of which the day is Il representa-
tive and an embodiment has not come
and ought never to come.
The Grand Rapids Fire Company
have taken steps for the proper obser-
vance Of this day and it is earnestly re-
quested of all citizens, who are able, on
both sides of the river, to make suitable
decorations about their homes on this
day. Strangers viii be among US
and if they can see decorated
homes and business places they will
return home with good impressions of
our patriotism if nothing more. The
Wausau Light Guards, whose reputa-
ton as one of the best drilled COM
pany' IL the Northwest, ought to be
attraction enough to ill the fair grounds
with sight-seers. Dana 5 Silver Cornet
Band Will furnish music enough on this
occasion to instilI enthusiasm and patri-
otism enough TO revoIutionize both
cities.
/ Let everybody turn out and celebrate
the anniversary of our independence to
the fullest extent and thus eommemo-
rate one of the most important holi-
DAYS.