Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-07-08
AN ANTE-BELLUM FOURTH
RALEIGH's CELEBRATE RE.
0EMBL.ED 1T.


Politics Become More sensible
A Great Crowd and No Acct
dents-The OratiOn-The Race,
Fine Display of FireworIks.
RALEIGH, N, c., July 6.-The nationa
anniversary, as it was celebrated her,
on Saturday. resumed some of it's ole
ante-bellum characteristics, and enkin
died again, if less brightly than before
some Of the old fame Of patriotism. Fol
long time the southern people hav,
been willing to let the occasion fall into
''innocuous desuetude." 1t was mock
cry to celebrate the achievement of lib
critics apparently lost, or insultingl,
transferred to the former servile race, who
celebrated their change of condition witt
jubilant insolcnce. Not yet quite tonec
down to well balanced moderation.
But of late affairs have changed for tn,
better. Politics have become more sensi
BILE, sentiment more just, national feeling
more evenly diffused, common interest
more generally recognized, mutual conf
dence more strongly re-establshed. ant
the prevalent sentiment is a proud ant
secure one that the American people hav,
one country and a common flag.
cannot say that there was much ex
ultation manifested here in the recogni
tion of those latter facts. The blows re
ceived by the south were too heavy ant
too recent to be forgotten at once. New
ertheless they are healing; and the pa
triot might have looked on with pleas
ure at the striking manifestations Of re
vivcd love of country in the proiuse dis
play of the national flag, in the crowds
of the new generation to whom the pas
is only history, whose experience is un
allowed with bitter memories and who's,
present and whose future is all bright
ness.
Everybody Out.
The procession was not as splendid n
was expected. because the military anc
the farmers drum corps were absent
The Durham band, fairly good one
headed the line. The carriages with th'
clergy, orator, readers. judges of the su
preme court, the press, and certain hon
ored guests among whom ! was mum
bered, came next, and the whole wa
closed with the fine fire companies witt
their equipments. OF this department
Raleigh is very Justly proud. The da,
was a very beautiful one, cool and cloud
less. and everybody who could get ou
crowded the streets and swelled tn
crowd.
A place was prepared for the orator a
the west front OF the capitol temporar,
platform being extended from the por
tico. The large audience were scatterc'
under the shade Of the trees. and KEEP
cool, il not comfortable; for every on
had stand except the few invited to tn
platform. Here. at the time fixed, tn
exercises commenced, after prayer b.
DR.. Carter, with the reading by Mr.
Charles ]. Merrimon, son of Hon. A.
Merrimon, of the Mccklenburg decara
ton, prefaced by well conceived intro
duction. Then Capt. benson, with a,
eloquent introduction read the immor
tai Declaration OF Independence in
voice so full and mahner so impressive a
to give that hackneyed document nev
claims to reverence and admiration
The orator of the day was Capt. Thoma
W. Mason, now one of the railroad CON
missioners. He spoke without notes
with fluent utterance, animated gestur
and with impressive force. His speec
was woven round the central sentimcn
of patriotism, eloquently handled an
finely illustrated. 1t is too fine as we
as too long speech to be treated of in
brief letter. 1t is well reported in tn
Raleigh papers, and extracts from it ma
be republished with profit to the count,
The Races.
All day long trains were running on
to the Fair grounds to witness the race
advertised. went out at 2 p. m. an
found gay gathering Of three or fou
thousand people, watching the occasiont
trials of speed in harness and under til
saddle, but which were too far betwee
to engage my interest. Some thirty @
forty entries were made. cannot sa
that the affair was failure; it certainl
was not in the ewes OF those most inte
ested; but confess to indifference troi
the absence of continuity and also {
enthusiasm.
The Greatest Attraction.
The switch back railroad with doub
track, and swift flying cars, seemed to /
more attractive than anything on II
groun,.s. Their starting point is elev!
ted about fifteen feet above the grount
and after abrupt descent, they rise in Il
centre to about the same heighth, the
again descend, and again rise to the
. goal. The whole run is about $50 yarC
and is made with swiftness, and must |
very exciting to those who make it.
!, The dav was closed with display ,
FIRE works on the front of the capitt
square looking down Fayetteville stree
These things are always we'll done her
and the whole population was out q
spectators. Not only were balconies an
sidewalks filled, but the streets then
. selves were packed. No vehicles wei
. allowed on the streets, and from side t
side the open spaces were piled wit
chairs or benches or dry goods boxes.
was a promiscuous jam OF all ages, sexe
conditions and colors; and probabl
there were six or eight thousand specti
tors in the immediate vicinity of the cal
itol.
, A surpass'ng Display.
The display Of fireworks was splendi'
surprising anything l ever saw. One
the most beautiful was the nation
!. roman candle, throwing up a gre'
shower Of silver stars which, as the
ascend, throw out stars of every color
: the rainbow. The national candl,
J., throw out stars red, white and blue
rapidly and brilliantly that the air SCENE
, filled with the national colors. ct
'' Devil among the tailors" and the "Dr
!, gon's tests" are similar in their effect
Il thro owing up fountains Of exploding elt
trio stars, which high up in the air, ta
the form of forty dragons spiritual a
tacking and chasing each other, crossii
I and re-crossing in showers OF ang
: sparks. One of the most beautiful objec
c Of all was the willow tree rockets, whi
}. ascended the height Of several hundr
:. feet and then burst, and uniolded in
curving, slowly descending streams
= golden cords which gracefully intertwin