Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-07-06
THE OLD AND THE NEW.

There Is marked difference be.
tween the new and the old Fourth OF
July, and the difference has been pre-.
sented in q reasonably vivid manner
by come OF the Illustrations which
have occurred In the newspapers OF
the day. These show the old plan In
homelIke crowd OF people gathered
about a stand which is proiusely
decorated with the national colors;
teams are hitched at various points In
the neighborhood, showing that some
OF the people have come from dis
tnnce, and all are attentive as
can be while the immortal
Declaration is being read,
presumably by the village school
teacher. In the rear OF the platform,
along with Others and "waiting for his
turp." is the orator OF the day with his
manifold mauuicrlpt ready to be
launched upon the patient multitude,
all of whom are in readipeai-thst lie
10 say, :brsced"-for 1t. During the
bo few Bopgs, come patriotic strains
by the brass band, or, In its absence,
fife and drum corps, volunteer
speech or 80. the whole cor
Guiding with tossts, sentiments,
etc. Then came the amuseme nts,
consisting OF little OF everything
which appeals to the sensaous ana
external phases OF mankind, plentiful.
ly interviewer with barbecue or
picnicking, lemonade,snvll firing and
other demonstrations indicative Of zeal
In doing honor to the day.
Now 1t Is different. You could
scarcely get an audience OF considers.
BILE proportions to hold together for
such a program to be concluded.
Horse racing, ball playing, cycling,
excursions and pastimes which afford
pleasure without intoxicating patriotic
or any other kind OF sentiment, hold
the day to the exclusion Of all else but
noiae In indefinite variety. The old
fashioned orstion is a bore and the bill
OF rights chestnut. The strain on
ones patriotism which il requires to
undergo the ordeal is not only evaded
but something strictly enjoy able
takes Its place. Cannot any one who
studies for a moment see in all this a
numbness In national feeling which,
encouraged as 1t is ana carried far
enough, means weakening of the
national fabric "A condition Of
thinIs which exactly represents that
prevailing in Rome when the enemies
OF the republic quietly set it aside.
L, Is not to DO argued from this that
there la any danger, o. tn imme d late
character nj least, OF this Republic 60.
ing 10 waste or any OF its vital iuuc-
tions being impaired; but II Is to be
argued that the human animal can be
30 completely Invested with sense Of
national security AMI personal liber.
ty that species OF indifferen ce
born of the familiarity is the re.
suit. The corner stone OF American
uotpehuShCo anu lub dthbb1ly Oi It's
Institutions is the education OF the
masses upon the princlp es and prac.
tices which distinguish our system
from Journalism, and such instruction
must come from those who are quail.
He'd by superior experience to teach
and give examples. As previously
motel, the examples grow painfully
less with each recurring year, which
prompts the as ertion, made upon due
consideration and without mental or
other reoervation, that an old-fash.
Toned celebration OF the birthday Of
freedom upon this continent, with all
the plstitudes, hackneyed phrase,
weli-worn sentences, time-honoret
phIases, bad music and worse humor
is one OF the national necessities, and
children ought to be taught as mat
tor OF discipline to appear to enjoy ths
performance whether they do or not
Observing 1t even passively 5sgeti
respect for the day, aud respect for the
day means eventually a willingness tC
bear arms and bleed for 1t IL sterr
necessity ever demands such action.