Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-11
Mayor Gourley Issues His Call for
Assistance From Pittsburg's
Patriotic Citizens.
ANOTHER 0LD-TIME CELEBRATION
To Draw Great Crowds to Sehsntey Park
and Make the Old Hills Re-
sound With Pleasure.
FIREWORKS, BASEBALL AND SPEECHES


July. suggested last year by The DIsPATCH
and so successfully carried out by city off
cials, bids fair to become a permanent in.
stitution. Last year the celebration wa.
somewhat interfered with on account o
hasty arrangements. This time the official.
are getting an early start, and there will b
ample time for the most complete prepsra.
tions. PIttsburg's populace will be turned
loose in Schenley Park, with everything
provided for their amusement. Patriotism,
parades, powder, pyrotechnics, pleasure and
plenty of it all will be the order of ths
day. Old and young, rich and poor and
all manner of men will join in a
monster observance of Americas greatest
holiday. The Fourth coming on Saturday
this year gives promise of still greater at
tendance than last year. But the great hills
and hollows of Schenley Park are spacious
enough to accommodate county, and there
are no fears of crowding 1t.
Mayor Gourley to the People.
Mayor Gourley and Chief Bigelow have
put their heads together and determined 10
get things started. It was first decided to
introduce the subject to the people by a
proclamation from the Mayor. His Honor
accepted the idea, and prepared the follow
ing address to the citizens of Pittsburg:
The 4th Of July, I776, marked memorable
| epoch In American history. 1t will be cele.
brated, said Adams, BY succeedingsE generations
be commcmorated as the day of deiiverance by
| solemn acts of devotion TO God Almighty II
ought TO be solemnized with pomp ana parade,
with shows, games. sports, guns, BELLS oonfres
illunlinatiOna nj "A a0n nj n m n
to the other. from this time forward forever.
more.
The Declaration OF Independence proclaimed
IN practical form Co the world the transcendant
truth OF the inalienable sovereignty Of the peo-
pie. From the hour of this declaration the
people OF this country were no longer part OF
distant empire. imploring justice and mercy
from cruel ana unyieiding master in land
across the sea- They were \ nation, asserting as
Of right and maintaining by war It's own exist
ence. A nation was born In a day. How many
ages hence shall this, their lofty scene. be acted
DER in States unknown and accents ret un-
known?
Every great crisis of human history is q pass
OF 1hermopylae and there is always Leonidas
and his 800 10 die in II, IL they cannot conquer
In l776 we had not only the men who had the
courage 10 proclaim Independence but we had
Washington and his patriotic army to establish
that independence upon an enduring basis by
the arbItrament of war.
We very properly celebrate the anniversary
of the birth of Washington and hope the time
will soon come when we shall celebrate in q
fitting manner the anniversaries of the birth of
Lincoln and Grant. These men were heroic
actors during great epochs in our nations his
tory, and recital of their iIlustrIous achiev-
ments not only by the page of history. but by
their anniversary occasions, by the living voice
would keep alive the fires of patriotism which
should forever burn In the hearts of the peo-
pie.
Virtue an Undying Quantity.
There are miserable doubters and skeptics
VIII uoo la heIi thorr ri 60
dying out In this nineteenth century. But the
virtue that gave to paganism its dazzling
luster, to barbarism its redeeming trait to
Christianity its heroic form is not dead. 1t
still lives TO preserve, to console, to sanctify
humanity. 1t has its altar in every cline. its
hills of Scotland, the sword of Wallace is yet a
bright tradition. The genius of France, in the
brilliant literature of the day, pays
its high homage to the patriotism and
heroism of the young Maid Of Or
leans. In her senate hall England bid her
sculptor place among the efigies of her greatest
sons the images of Hampden and Russell. By
the soft blue waters of Lake Lucerne stands
the chapel of William Tell. At Innsbruck, In
the black aisle of the old cathedral the peas
ant of the Tyrol kneels before the statue of
Andreas Hofer. In this great American Re-
public in the capital city which bears his name,
rises toward Heaven the monument of the
father Of his country.
Patriotism is not delusion. a mild passion,
an idle dream; IL is a living reality which has
been attested by millions who have fought and
died for freedom and country not only IN our
land but the world over.
If an American citizen ever exults in the
contemplation of all that is sublime in hum an
enterprise it is when he brings to mind the
men who first conceived the idea of this ma
tion's Independence. Ale sees them deciding IN
their collected might, that this nation should
be free, and through the long years of trial that
snsued, never hinching from their purpose.
but freely redeeming the pledge they had given, |
to consecrate to 1t their lives their fortunes |
and their sacred honor"
Let us. therefore, celebrate the anniversary |
Of our nations birth. Let us teach the So 600 |
children in this city and Allegheny to hon or |
the day which marked the beginning of the |
greatest nation the world has ever seen. Upon |
the 20 600 900 children IN this country depends |
the future glory or shame of the American |
Republic. Let us, by tradition, as we'll as by |
history, make these young people familiar |
the end that they may become The fathers and |
mothers of generation that will perpetuate |
unimpaired the institutions enjoyed by us.
Let us by these celebrations contribute to the |
assimilation and Americaniza of that |
mighty tide of immigration that is pouring |
into this country from all the nations of the |
Old World.
The Mayors Tribute to the Press.
Most of the success of the celebration in |
Schenley Park last Fourth Of July was the re- |
suit OF the assistance given, interest taken and
influence exerted by the press OF this city, and |
while extend my sincere thanks to the edi- |
tors, propristors and reporters for the good |
work Of the past. earnestly solicit similar CO.
operation the present year. beg leave, also, |
10 thank the people who SO kindly and gener. |
ously contributed the money necessary TO meet |
the expenses attending the celebration of last |
year, with the earnest hope that they will again |
respond with equal lberality. All money sent |
to the writer will be duly acknowledged in the |
newspapers OF the city and tmmediately placed /
In the hands Of Mr.. Denniston, City Treasurer,
who will act as treasurer OF the fund 1t Ii
hoped that the people will kindly send me their
promptly as we are anxious to
coming celebration In Schenlsy Park o grand
success. take this occasion 10 extend to our
sister city OF Allegheny cordial invitation to
unite with us In the patriotic celebration OF our
nations independence. Respectfully.
n. i. GoURLEY. Mayor.
Mayor Gourley and Chief Bigelow are
over the affair, and all their
energies will be put forward to make it the
most successful celebration Of its kind ever
given in Pittsburg. In speaking about it
the Mayor said:
Liberal Contributions Anticipated.
"Our celebration last year was not as COM
plete as we desired, Tor the reason that we
Allowed ourselves too little time to make the
necessary preparations, but we expect this
year. by beginning now, to have things in
excellent shape. The most important point
n this matter is the raising of the necessary
'unds. We don't propose to spend q cent
until we have 1t in hand and the sooner our
citizens can send in their
the better we will be enabled
/