The San Francisco call., 1897-06-29
An Interesting Communication
From Their 0rgani-
zation.
SAY &RVITUDE is THEIR STATUS.
A Procession of Bondmen in Honor of
Freedom Mockery, They
Say.

The Sailors Union of the Pacific will
not take part IN the great parade this year.
In answer to an invitation and in explain
alton of refusal of it, the union sent the
following to the grand marshal:
HEADQUARTERS SAILORS UNION OF THE PACIFIC
II p Sui iran Jr Grand Marshal Fourth of
July Pdrdde-DEAR SIR: Your invitation TO
participate in the parade on the 4th came
duly 10 hand and was submitted in the regu-
lar course OF business 10 the meeting of our or
gsnizatlOn for action.
Afler discussing the matter the union in
structed me 10 notify you that we feel il proper
IN men situated as we are to decline the kind
invitation. The union took this action with
deep regret, and Tor fear of being misunder-
stood has instructed me TO give you the follow
ing explanation;
The Fourth of July is the day on which was
signed the first political document disln city
and unequivOcaIly Y setting forth that all men
are born equal and are by their Creator en-
dowed with certain lnslIenable rights, among
which are lie, liberty and the pursuit of hap
plness. We ind 1t natural and decidedly
proper that free men made free through the
declaration noulO deem II pleasure and an
honor 10 celebrate such day each recurring
year to recall the time when 1t was signed and
70 pledge anew their loyalty TO the principles
therein laid down.
Looking back over recorded time we how
ever find no National celebration IN which
the free and bond we're marching together;
tEe bond always telt 1t hardship to be ex-
cluded from such celebrations, and at times
complained bitterly It having their condition
brought home to them on such occasions but
they were answered that the free would per-
nit no such mockery OF the gods as a process.
sion in their honor by bOndmen or even freed
men. We find that there have been occasions
on which the difference between the free and
bond was temporarily lost sight OF on cRrni-
walls, etc, but those were occasions for merry
making and had nothing whatever to compare
them 70 or put them on the same level wi tn
solemn national celebrations.
We therefore, strs, being mindful OF our
status-that OF involuntary servitude-which
in no way modified by that declaration of
individual freedom, feel that ii would be an
imposition on our part to take advantage of
your kindness and infiiCt our presence-the
presence OF bondmen-upon the free men who
viii on the Fourth OF july celebrate their free
dom and renew their allegiance to those prin-
ciples which have made nations and men
great.
Hoping that we also some day may honor
ab-y and as equals march in such parade,
We are Faithfully yours,
The SAILORS UNION OF THE PACIFIC.
A. FURUsETH, Secretary.
Music at the fireworks exhibition will
be furnished by Cassasa's band through
the courtesy of the Chutes management
The Tivoi orchestra will furnish music
for the literary exercises.
Colonel Sullivan, chairman of the pa
rade committee, prophesies a grand pa
geant. which will move promptly at 10
o'clock, If he himself is the only man
ready to start, aud Grafton Phillips claims
TO have ses The whole water front at work
preparing for the regatta.
The chief and staff of aids for the pa
rade have been selected. Colonel Thomas
NJ. Cluff of Major General James staff
will be the chieI of staff. The chief aids
will be ajOr 81. B. Hosmer of the Secon d
Brigade staff and Lieutenant T. A Kuhls
OF the retired list of :he National Guard
Decorating the streets for the celebra-
tiOn will commence this morning Word
has been received from the Japanese
cruiser promising a detachment OF men
for the parade, and also their band
The local Japanese society will also fur
nlsh band.
In addition to these two bands the fol-
lowing have been secured for the cele bra
tion:
Cassasa's First Regiment band, 25 pieces
French band, Is pieces; Golden GAZE band IA
pieces; iroquois band, IA pieces; two sections
Messrs. Coggins and Alberiti respectively
Austrian band, ID pieces; First United States
Infantry band, % p ieces; United states Artfl-
Iery band, % pieces; League of the Cross
band, 40 pieces.
Some difficulty was experienced in the
selection OF music, the mem bers of the
Musicians Union asking 81 per day.
which some OF the committee claimed
was 100 much. f We dollars per day was
considered a sufficient remuneration for
the work. f. Raabe, chairman of the
music com mittee, brought the matter be-
fore the Musicians Union, with the re-
quest that they accept the $5 per man
proposition. This the union refused to
do, as they could easily go out of the CITY
and get the 81 rate. The committee finally
acceded to the terms of the musicians.