The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-08-01
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS.
Their Institution Belongs In a Peculiar
Sense to Popular Government.

L
Sense to Popular Government.
The institution of national holidays,
in commemoration of great events in
which the whole people have figured, is
almost without exception, thing of
quite recent times, and belongs in Pc
culiar sense to republican, or at least
popular, governments. Formerly,
though holidays might DO numerous,
they had almost invariably a religious
significance. They were saints days,
or church celebrations of some kind.
This is still true in most of tho mon
archical countries of tho old world.
Even in England almost the only holt
day having national, as distinguished
from an ecclesiastical, significance, is
the birthday of the Queen.
The greatest civic events connected
with the history of the English people
events which have made profound
impression upon the history of the
world-are not COMMUNICATED by the
regular public observance of their ami
versaries-unless we except tho decay
ing celebration of Guy Faux's day.
The United States was one of the
first nations to set the example of
creating public holidays which had
direct reference to the peoples achieve
ments in their own behalf. The observ-
ance of the Fourth of July dates from
its first anniversary, and has never been
interrupted since the establishment of
the Republic.
The French nation, with some vicis-
STUDIES and monarchical Interruptions,
has followed our example by making
the 18th of July, the anniversary of the
destruction of the Bastille by the people,
public holiday.
The American people, extending the
same idea, have now three national
holidays: Thanksgiving Day, which
commentaries deliverance of the
early colonists from famine and their
preservation from various perils, Wash
ington's Birthday and Memorial Day.
In Boston and its neighbrohood the
18th of June, the anniversary of the
battle of Bunker Hill, is regularly and
enthusiastically observed by cessation
from labor and by public rejoicings. OF
recent years the celebration of the day
has been slowly extending through the
environs of the city, and it is hoped
by some that the observance may finally
become national.
Mexico celebrates, on the 5th of May,
the anniversary of great victory over
the invading French army, and most of
the other American Republics observe
the anniversaries of important events in
their own history.
The Italians make a holiday of the
21st of September, the anniversary of
the entrance of the Italian army into
Rome.
In Canada the first day of July, which
is the anniversary of the PRONUNCIATION
of the federation of the provinces, is
celebrated and called Dominion Day.
But it was reserved for the new Re-
public of Brazil to institute tho most
extensive and remarkable series of ma
tional holidays ever known.
The provisional government of that
country has issued decree which de-
clares that, ''inasmuch as the republican
system is founded upon a profound SEN
timent of universal brotherhood" and
as "this sentiment can not be properly
developed without a system of public
festivals destined to commemorate tho
continuity and solidarity of all the gen
erations of man," it has seen fit to in
stitute series of holidays which will
commemorate the points of union be-
tween the history of Brazil and that of
all peoples
The government, consequently, es-
tablishes nine national holidays. The
LIST of January is to be devoted to the
commemoration of universal brother
hood, the 21st of April to the events
which were the precursors of Brazilian
independence, and the Sd of May to the
discovery of Brazil.
The 18th of May also becomes holt
day, and is to commemorate tho
brotherhood of all Brazilians." The 14th
of June commentaries the republic,
and the liberty and independence of the
American peoples" The nth of Septem-
Der is to honor the independence of
Brazil, the 18th of October the discovery
of America, the I'd of November the
memory of the dead and the 18th of
November the glory of the country of
Brazil in general.-Youths Companion
Ihe Oldest Bank Note.