Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-06-07
CAN WE CELEBRATE.
A Plea for the Fourth OF July that Is
Applicable to Rock Island.


Applicable to Rock Island.
The Freeport Bulletin in endeavoring
to create sentiment in favor of Fourth
of July celebration in that city. publishes
the following article which is applicable
to Rock Island as we'll:
1t seems something like 'steen years
since Freeport has had any kind of a
Fourth of July demonstration. Every
other city within 1925 miles has INDUCED
in a celebration of some character since
the red paint flew in this city on the ma
tions natal day. Fourth of July celebra-
tons may not be very beneficial or very
desirable. but they are a necessity. The
American citizen is as full of patriotism
as q ward hummer is of three year old
| schnapps and there must be an outlet to
his enthusiasm. In such guise comes
the Independence day celebration with its
fuss and feathers, furnishing slot in
which the patriot may drop his nickel and
draw noisy dividend. Then. too, there
are those who argue that celebration is
productive of much genuine good. 1t
brings several thousand people into town
with little extra money in their pockets
which they are willing to drop into the
legitimate channels of trade. A dollar
or two is quickly dropped at such times
and much of it is apt to 60 into the
hands of those who do not ordinarily
get whack at the regular trade.
The small dealers, the corner mer-
chants, the man with the iron jaw
and other figures in commerce, receive
their dividend just as well as the
man with the fifty thousand dollar store
who watches the surging crowds through
a huge transparency of French plate
glass. 1t is also argued that these cele>
brations are serviceable in intoxicating a
spirit of patriotism and admiration for
American institutions in the breast of the
American youth. One of the most astute
and renowned statesmen that Michigan
ever owned, no less person than Zach
Chandler. who carried the republican
party in his pants pockets until the afore.
said unmentionables were worn out, once
said that he had no faith in the patriots
ism of an American who wouldn't howl
and hurrah on the Fourth of july. Zach>
ariah may have been a little out of the
way. but all the same there is deal of
fervor about gathering of the character
indicated and British regiment that
would charge an average Fourth of July
procession would be knocked as high as
pigeon could hy in three weeks. When
the fire cracker snaps and the rocket
sizes the American citizen feels rs large
as load of hay and his heart alone is as
big as a smoked ham.
ha i
indulging in celebrations, and all point
their thumb over their shoulders and muir.
muir Poor old Freeport." Everybody
wants to come to Freeport and would pres
Ter spending the day in this city than in
any other place within fifty miles, but the
people will not come unless some attrac-
ton is offered and there is assurance of
some one else being in the town. Furth-
ermore Freeport does not keep her own
citizens In town. On the Fourth of July
they his them away to other cities by hun
dreds. Every man among them has his
little old 81 in his inside pocket and he
wants to blow it the worst way. He would
as lieve stay home and fill up on peanuts
and soda water, but he won't stay home
alone. Man is gregarious animal and
will follow the crowd every time. even
should 1t lead him to such dismal places
rs Rockford or Monona lake. As well
attempt to put out the sun with a squirt
gun or to hang the ocean on barb wire
fence to dry as to keep the average gay
Freeporter at home when the town is as
voiceless, stolId and recumbent as a
smoked herring. Even ball or chain
won't fasten him down to home institu>
tons.
A very decent celebration can be ar
ranged at an outlay of 81 900 and even
half that will furnish quite bit of attrac-
ton. The former sum could undoubted>
ly be secured In an hours canvass; only
II anything is done it should be done at
once. If there is to be anything in the
movement there must be no grass grow
ing under its feet