Evening star., 1896-06-16
PatriOtism and Noise.

Public opinion will of course, be divided
as to the wisdom expediency of the
Fourth of July fireworks order promul-
gated by the District Commissioners. To
this question there are at least two sides.
I hat the Commissioners are right In any
endeayors they may nationally make to
diminish the volume of unneanirg noise is
a conclusion with which there will be
agreement by d majority of intelligent peo-
pie, and the majority will be increased
when it becomes evident that the authori-
ties are intent pursuing those persons
who amuse themselves and terrify others
by the free and indiscriminate use OF guns,
pistols and cannon-crackers. Unfortunate
ly for the possessors of sensitive nervous
organizations there seems to be close re-
lationship between patriotism and noise.
ard this kinship appears to be more near
Jy inseparanle in this country than in any
other. This condition can only be remedied
by education. and. for the present, the edu-
cation must. perhaps, be of the compul-
sorry sort By-and-by, a century or so
Fence. it may be that our descendants will
lealize that there is much patriotic ex-
preston in the display of the Stars and
Strlpes as there can possibly be in all the
eai-straininS explosions of gunpowder
that the ingenuity of man could devise.
Just now, though. the tendency of the
American man and the American hoy is
toward an explosive celebration of our
national birthday. and that tendency will
Eave 10 be respected. as it is also going
10 be restrained. The District Commits
sicners have evolved a plan which they
doubtless imagine will improve the condi-
tons of which there has been not unrea-
sonable complaint in times past; they
would haN-A hn
city hold Fourth of July celebrations in
various designated reservations and there
only; this for the purpose of concentrating
The hu5bub- The plan Will be opposed
by many; possibly by the boys; surely
by vast majority of those parents who
OBJECT to having their offspring toy with
fireworks away from immediate super
vision and home influences; as certainly
by those parents who can easily figure
out now much greater will be the Hke,-
hood of catastrophe because of such ag-
gregation of boys and gunpowder Other
obJectors Will be those persons who reside
in the immediate vicinity of the reserva-
tons in question-as yet unannounced by
the CommiSSionerS-and who are to be
called upon to suffer in order that others
may have comparatively peaceful day
of it.
II the reservation plan is to be strictly
e;1orced. then the fire department may as
well prepare itself for a lively day. The
boys who are Lot permitted to join the null
ttudes on the reservations will in many
cases make use of back yards and wood
sheds and the results likely to prove
disastrous.
1t is quite probable that the police will
be liberal in their construction of the law
The small boys who in moderation put off
small firecrackers and other explosives Of
the minor sort Will probably not be inter-
fered with. The parent who treats his
little ones to a frework display at night
Will probably lot be troubled. But the In
dividual man or boy, who fires off gun or
pistol or the huge cracker will be, as he
ought to be. promptly arrested.