The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-30
THE FOURTH OF JULY IN THE SOUTH

The Governor of Georgia has issued a
proclamation calling on the people of that
State to join in a general and appropriate
observance of the Fourth of July. He
recommends that all business houses close
for at least part of the day, setting the
example by stating that all the state offices
will close in order to give their employees
opportunity to observe the day, and asks
county and city authorities to decorate pub
lie buildings and private citizens "at their
gateway or over the portals of their houses
to suspend the stars and stripes-mute tes-
timonial OF their love of country" The pre-
amble to the proclamation refers to the
war in which the country is now engaged
for the liberation of an oppressed people and
the extension of free government which is
in our own country drawing closer the bonds
of union and arousing the patriotic ardor
of all our citizens Under the circum-
stances the issuing of this proclamation is
an event of more than local interest AS
far as remembered it is the first instance
in which the Governor of a State has issued
such a proclamation, the Fourth of July be-
ing generally observed without that formal
ity. Before the war this was as much the
case in the South as in the North, both
sections uniting in concentrating the day.
as they did in making the Declaration of
Independence and fighting the battles that
followed. In the Northern States the OBJ
servance of the day has never fallen into
neglect, but after the war it ceased to be
generally observed in the South. The At
1anta Constitution says this was mot
through any lack of patriotism, but solely
for the Reason that during the late Sec
tional unpleasantness she departed from the
custom and on account of the bitterness of
reconstruction times she felt herself too
grievously maltreated by the federal au-
thoritieS to return to it again with much
enthusiasm" But the Constitution says the
causes which induced the South to abandon
the observance of the Fourth have all
ceased to operate" and that the time has
come when the Southern people should re-
vive their old allegiance to the day and vie
with those of other sections in honoring it.
Continuing, it says:
What season more opportune for reviving
the observance of the Fourth of July in the
South could possibly be selected than the
one which now presents itself, when the
lines of difference between the two sections
have been completely wiped out by the COM
munity of interests which the present war
has brought, and when the spirit of brother
hood glows ardently in every bosom? With
the proof of her devotion to the stars and
stripes so richly manifested in the contri-
buttons which she has made to the heroism
of the existing crisis, the South could most
gracefully return at this time TO the obser-
vance of the Fourth of July, bringing with
her to ornament that occasion not only the
homage of fervid eloquence. but the tribute
OF gallant deeds. Surely this is the time
OF all others for the South TO divest herself
of the outward indifference which has char
acterized her attitude toward the Fourth
Of July since the late war, and to exhibit
the inward pride with which she contcm-
plates the birthday of the Nation.
This sentiment seems TO be abroad in the
South. for the Constitution says there are
indications that the coming Fourth viii be
observed in the spirit of patriotism that
prevailed before the war This spirit is dis
cerniblc in Governor Atkinsons proclama-
ton, which Is really an appeal to the peo-
pie to rally round the nag boys. rally once