The sun., 1891-06-24
To Celebrate tho Fourth.

The municipal authorities OF concord,
New Hampshire, have invited the Hon.
GROVER CLEVELAND to deliver o Fourth
Of July grafton In that city.
Mr.. CnEvEIAND's intentions have not
been made known, but the circumstance
that he has been asked to 90 to New Hamp-
shire to instruct the people OF that State
in the principles OF our American institu-
tions. and the political duties Of good citizen
ship, while he mover has been invited to
expound his views In public Grafton for the
benefit Of tho people OF New York, suggests
some interesting reflections.
For years 1t has been the reproach OF New
York city that the glorious anniversary Of
tho nations birth is permitted annually to
pass without proper recognition on the part
OF the Mayor and Common Council. It Is
true there is always an impressive celebra-
ton at that noble cradle OF Liberty and
Democracy, Tammany Hall; but the City
itself remains silent. This is not due to any
lack Of patriotic impulse on the part OF our
citizens, but rather to the size OF the town.
1t is easier to organize a general celebrn-
ton in q community like Concord, let US say.
or Woodstock, Connecticut, than In the me-
tropolis OF the western hemisphere.
But Is it not high time for New York to
prove that its inaction in this respect is not
the result OF apathv2 Cannot we have for
once, an independence Day in 1891, with
Mayor GRANT In the chair a celebra-
tion Of the old-fashioned intellectual sort
conducted by the City, with the reading
OF tho Declaration by some sonorous voice.
and plenty Of patriotic music by the band.
and oratory fit to renew the traditions and
revive the spirit OF the Revolution
We should favor the idea OF inviting Mr..
CLEVELAND to pronounce right here in New
York, in some such place as the Madison
Square Garden or the Metropolitan Opera
House, the Fourth Of July Grafton which he
may be preparing or meditating for delivery
In the provinces.
The selection Of Mr.. CLEVELAND as orator
seems appropriate for several reasons:
He is the only living ex-President Of the
United States honestly elected to that office.
He has devoted more time than any other
person now alive to the formulation in
impressive phraseology OF those broad
ideas about government and citizenship
which more timid thinkers hesitate to enun-
ciate, because they seem 10 be mere tru-
isms. He would not shrink, through any
false intellectual pride. from the utterancs
OF the thoughts suggested to his mind by
the occasion.
His appearance as orator upon the stage
of an auditorium Of the capacity Of the Madi-
son Square Garden or the Metropolitan Opera
House. would afford to thousands OF citizens
a chance to crafty their innocent curiosity
to behold the man about whom they have
heard so much. but whom they have never
seen in person. 1t is fact that although the
Hon. GROVER CLEVELAND has resided in
New York since his retirement from public
life. and travels almost daily from his'home
to his place Of business, he is unknown by
sight to a vast majority Of those whom
he may have jostled dozen times in
The cars Of the elevated railroad, or who
may have stepped on the curb moro than
once to allow him to pass in Pine street,
in Cedar, or in lower Nassau. This Is be-
cause the pictures. and even the carlcatures
Of Mr.. CLEVELAND give very imperfect
dea of his actual personal appearance
Finally, he is about to remove from New
York to New Jersey, as is reported; and per-
haps this will be the last opportunity OF the
authorities to pay to him, as a
temporary resident OF our city, the compli- |
ment so long neglected and yet so proper.
The invitation should proceed from the |
Mayor and Common Council, and it should |
oe seconded cordially by the press and peo-
pie. without regard to party.