The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-04
TIE DAY WE CELEBRATE.

The day We celebrate has suffered some
thing Of decay ~ the East from the old
time enthusiasm and ar3eacy o. interest
shown before the war. In ce-ts.n sense
ST the East Memorial day has become
national holiday. for there the var made s
new date for freedoms battle; il destroyed
something Of our former vainglo-ious adu-
lation Of the American eagle, and our
periodical disposition 20 defy the British
lion and twist his tail Al the Eas. Inde-
pendence day has become largely holi-
day that tickles the children swiftly IS a
day OF unchecked explosiveness AMI Him.
liable desonstjoas. Memorial day, South
as well as North. has come 20 be . nationl
holiday for al grave and serious ouspour-
ing Of patriotic memories, while ''the Clio
rious Fourth" IL as much day OF t-olie IS
= New England fast dsy.
Memorial day Is 10 many. Of course,
dsy OF frolic. but involves a serious tribute
of respect 20 the soldier dead from taei-
surviving friends, If not from the general
public. This is true, however, Of the East.
but not of the Pacific coast. The Pacific
coast saw 10, the war. felt not rs sac-i-
fees; il was stricken By none Of lis be-
resrements; !. sent forth no regiments 70
the great battle fields OF the civil war; IL
did not witness the inspiring departure OF
IS sons for the front; i had no part IN the
general thrilling jubilee which welcomed
home the returning brave. For this reason
Memorial day does not count for much on
the Pacific coast. The Grand Army posts
celebrate the day. but the complete
aosence Of such public interest II the day
as should Re manifested IS eviien. 20
any man who ever saw Memorial
day celebrated east Of the Rocky
mountains and com pared IL with the utter
Indifference ana paolic spashy with which
il is greeted on the Pacific coast. What
man has Hired he feels, and speaks Of feel
incly, but The Pacific coast never Ggli the
civi! war. never saw il, and consequently
the Pacific coast politely and compassion
atelv tole7ates rather than syInpa;hiEss
with Memorial day.
For this reason the Fourth Of July has
not grown obsolete On this Coast: Il still
otto holiday, and when il comes round the
stores blossom with isgs ani other deco
rstioas. and season Of patriotic rejoicing
Is celebrated quite As enthusiastically IS !;
wss 81 the Ess. before the civil war. And
We; ;he~e are some historical facts con-
oern3ng the Declaration of Independents
which are worth revivinc. Vale Jeffe--
NOUS document, Franklin. who had, Is
ea-,y Sc I-S3. en3eavo-si 70 bring together
the thirteen colonies il federal union.
wzs TIE original bold mind that 6-st In
spired and put into coherent shspe the
idea e independence. Of the fano2s
Albany plan o. 1854. the FIST ca,l,ae q
federal constitution for Ame-ios tha; eve.
was made, franklin wss the principal i
10; the sole a-;ho-. TAst Vas tventy-;vo
wears before the great declaration WAS
ssnea. o.. as John Flske pats t. before
the ro1t of B-addock. while Washington,
= Young man q -. VAS Surveying lands n
the wilderness, while Madison wsS ylzv-
ms in the nursery and Hamilton was not
vet born" Franklin. then. really 5-op-e3
the fvss see3-;housht q independence
sai PIT q paper the t-st olt.5ne II =
fedora. constitution for Ame-ics- The
great EagiIshsaen, like M2caGisy. WAC
rate Franklin. rather than Jefferson, IS
the great i7spi-e- ana wise organizer a.
the i3es a Independence 30 rot e-r i
Judgment. for :heig conclusion : bo,lo-.ei
o. historic fsct
History re. ates tha: after the reading -
the great declaration ia prompt accept
ance ~ the 3s3egS'es when al he>ita,ed.
Was due 20 the solemn aPpeal O; 81 aseI
man, = distinguished representative q
New Jersey, sna president u Princeton
| collexe. Rev, ~ WItaer>poon. whose .es1-
+ lutte, determined colntenAace % tAIs o.
csssoa vas not more marked tAaa tie
1 Geso. solemn tones q ms vo}ce, trembling
J Nth tee intensity O. his emotions. Z -
/ rc-,ans tank Il not impossible tazE the
patriotic 6rmness II this grand Cd IAa
( 81 Iris Identical moment really seca-si
/ the Independence q the thirteen states cv
/ securing s.; once ~ his sPpsA tie s1ep-
/ tioa % toe declaration
Among sAe ssZ0ers q The Geclars;:co
were tso great merchants Il New Yerk
clty. Frances Lewis snd phi.zp Iivtnssoae
/ Lewis house oa Long island LATER the
same yeAe wzs p.Gn1srei by British sol-
| dssrs, his valuable library destroyed, his
vie Put II PRISON and treated - er2s.ly