Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-14

of the discovery of America
made legal holiday in the District of
Columbia. and that of Representative
Sulzer of New York to have q like law
enacted in the memory of Lincoln,
comes the realization that in the United
states there is really only one national
holiday. That Is. the only general
statute enacted by congress making
making any one day a legal holiday is
that passed in the second session of
the Fifty-third congress making Labor
day public holiday in that particular
territory over which congress has juris-
diction-the District of Columbia. Not
even the Fourth of July is a national
holiday, nor is Thanksgiving day, for
though the proclamation naming the
day is issued by the nations chief ex-
ecutive. that only makes 1t a legal hol-
iday in the District of Columbia and
the territories.
The making of legal holidays lies
within the province of each common
wealth. and the list runs q wide range
from the state of Mississippi, which
mas no statutory holidays, TO those
states that observe with patriotic pune
tuality every great national and state
anniversary and throw in an arbor day,
IN memorial day, flag day, and some
religious feast day 'for good measure
Whether legalized by state statute or
not. New Years day, Washingtons s
birthday, Fourth of July, Thanksgiv-
ing DAY and Christmas are generally
observed throughout the Union. Dec
Grafton day in the north and memorial
days in tire south have made these
ceremonial days, though of varying
dates and of local application, rather
widely observed.
THANKSGIVING day and Christmas are
the two Oldest in the long list of holi-
days, the north making most of Thanks
giving in oldcn times, the south most
of Christmas Then came Independ-
enee day, first observed in the Conti-
METAL army, and since followed by
general observance north. south, east
and west The earlier celebrations. had
more dignity than now. Then the great
masterpiece of colonial politics and lit
erature was read by some local orator,
other speeches followed and seeds of
patriotism were sown, to be fostered
by the later years. Now the small boy,
the fire cracker, the picnic basket ana
the trolley car have the day in their
keeping and much OF its significance Is
lost.
few years after the independence of
the nation had been won, Massachu-
setts folk began an observance OF the
18th of April. the anniversary of the
battle of Lexington. They set aside the
first Thursday in April for fasting cnd
prayer, but soon the religious signifi-
canoe of the day began to fade out.
Then the date of the Lexington VIC
tory was chosen by law for annual cele-
bra tion and was called Patriots day.
This Is also a holiday in Maine. In
Louisiana the 9Th OF January the ami
versary of the historic battle of New
Orleans is legal holiday, grateful
state holding in honor the memory OF
Jackson and his squirrel hunters
from Tennessee and Kentucky, VINO
won SO signal a victory over the troops
that the Iron Duke himself had trained
for England's defense. Vermont, with
pardonable pride, has set aside BEN
nington Battle day" August 16, the
anniversary of that day when General
Stark with small body of militia de-
| feated in turn two detachments OF Bur-
goyne's army and saved the American
supplies that had been left In his
keeping.
Texas is the only state that car
celebrate a personal Independence day
in addition to that commenorating ma
tional independence. On March 2, 1886
a convention of Texas representatives
was held at Washington on the Brazos
river. and q formal declaration was
| dro N declaring Texas republic, free
anG independent from the rule ol
Mexico. bitter contest followed ano
some tragic pages were written in the
! history of the southwest before Mex
! leo learned her lesson. But the new
| republic was recognized and retained
her own autonomy until her admis'
sion as a state OF the Union in 1S45
This is not the only red-letter day or
Texas calendar of legal holidays, foi
| while independence day is red witf
the hope of newer things. April Fl
| known as San Jacinto Gay. owes 1t:
! red lines, not to the joy of gladness
! but the hue of hero blood. 1t per
petuates the memoir of that day wher
the redoubtable Sam Houston led IS'
men in the field and, routing santa
Ana's army of 1900 Mexicans, avenged
the massacre of the Alamo.
North Carolina, claiming declara'
ton of independence older than tina
framed by Thomas Jefferson for the
PHILADELPHIA convention, observes th'
twentieth day of May in honor OF th'
courage of her colonial people, ant
there near the Hornets Nest an ap
nreoiative commonwealth has erected {
statue to their memory. California
with pardonable pride In the achieve
ments of her pioneers In building VI
n state in a year, celebrates the an
njversary of her admission. Septem
her Q. and Nevada has set aside Octo
her 31 for the same patriotic purpose
Montana's "Pioneer day is set on tn
last Friday in May for convenience
to the schools.
Because during the War of 1872 tn
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