The Ocala evening star., 1905-07-01
the journalistic writing commonly
seen In the early newspapers:

lofty report of both fun and frolic
by sixteen well-timed and successive
discharges. Joy beamed on every
brow; the green valleys and distant
hills participated in the gladness of
the day by reverberating the magnifi.
cent and far-sent sounds of liberty
and independence"
Mention is then made of the dinner
with its attendant speeches, and, in
concluding. the writer adds:
"The retired sun had just by this
time let in the gloomy shade of night,
upon which the company betOok them
selves 10 the tavern of James Kink-
cad, where they enjoyed themselves
with the sprightly dance and feasted
to late hour upon song, sentiment,
and rosy wine"
One of the notable features of the
celebration one hundred years ago
was the prominence given TO the
Louisiana Purchase. This was but na-
tural. as the sale had but lately been
consummated, and the opposition
among those opposed TO jefferson and
MS pOllcE was very great.
Partisan feeling ran high at all of
the dinners, and while George Wash
ington and the principles Of the Revo-
luton were always toasted with equal
honor by the opposing political fac
tions. the other speeches invariably
depicted the friendship or hostility Of
the diners to the existing Administra-
! ton.
1t is amusing, in view of the growth
OF our country and the manifold bene-
fits that ha"o accrued from the Louisi-
ana PurcAaSo. 70 read the harsh criti-
cisms directed against Jefferson and
the purchase of the territory by those
who celebrated the Fourth a century
ago. In what will all this ostentation
end?" was the query attached TO the
toast Oh the Louisiana Purchase at a
dinner in Trenton.
The supporters of Jefferson natur.
ally did not allow the opportunity to
pass without giving him unstinted
praise. The Philadelphia Blues, at
their dinner in Philadelphia, proposed
the following toast:
The acquisition of Louisiana, pro-
cured without staining the annals of
Ame-isan history with the blood of
her citizens; may the head and heart
that dictated the measure receive the
universal plaudits of the wise and
good"
In Morristown this toast was given:
May il be cultivated without slaves"
The view taken by many politicians
at the time, that the acquisition of
Louisiana would eventually lead to a
separation of the Union, is still further
shown by the following statement in
the New York paper shortly after the
cession of the territory:
1T appears that Louisiana has at
length been quietly surrendered to
our Government. So that we have
now only to pay the $4,000. 900, incor-
porate the territory in the face of the
Constitution, and prepare to lose one
half of the United States; and moth
ing is more certain than that we pay
our millions for the eventual loss Of
territory instead of any valuable ac-
quisition."
In honoring the Fourth of July, the
famous letter written by John Adams
from Philadelphia on the day follow
ing the signing of the Declaration of
independence should be remembered,
as il practically shows his approval
OF what many have called the more
boisterous methods of celebrating the
day. The most notable portion of this
letter. written July 3. 1916, is:
Yesterday the greatest question
was decided which was ever debated
in America, and a greater. perhaps,
never was or will he decided among
men A resolution was passed. with
out one dissenting Colony. That these
Colonies are and of right ought 10 be
free and independent States
THE day is past. The Fourth OF
July. 171G, will be a memorable epoch
in the history of America. am led
to believe il will be celebrated by
succeeding generations as the great
anniversary festival.
1T ought to be commemorated as
the day of deliverance by solemn acts
of devotion to Almighty God. 1t
ought 10 be solemniZed with pomp,
shows, games, sports. ringing of bells,
bonfires. and illuminations from one
end of the continent 70 the other from
this time forward and forever.
You will think me translated with
enthusiasm. but | am not. | am well
aware of the toll and blood and treas
ure that il will cost us to maintain this
declaration and support and defend
these States. Yet through all the
gloom | can see the ray of light AMI
glory. | can see that the end is worth
more than all the means and that pos
terity will triumph"