This is what was reported to have been written by John Adams regarding the celebrations of July Fourth-Independence Day.
“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America,” Adams wrote. “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival…It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
https://www.history.com/news/july-4-fireworks-independence-day-john-adams
The following photos are of an article which appeared in “Harper’s Weekly” on July 8th, 1871.
It includes mentioning of the increased use of explosives by the young to celebrate the Fourth.
It could be seen as an early example of media propaganda. It could have been meant to plant seeds, on the acceptance of very dangerous and disrupting habits, in the average American’s mind.
Like the the time more modern media introduced rock and roll to the masses. Or when it glamorized the popularity and encouraged the use of cocaine in the 70s through 80s.
Or it could simply be regarded as an unintimidating opinion piece.
It could have helped shed a light on the rowdiness of youth and report on the loss in the battle to keep the observance in safer and more respectable fashions.
Either way, it’s an interesting read from a couple of angles.
Like today, it had already evolved into being less of a time for respectful remembrance over lives lost and families torn apart due to the the war forced upon them.
It became more of an excuse to raise legal “hell”, make noise and party.
At that time, the attitude being expressed is that The System was “unable to do anything but surrender” over to acceptance of these developments-despite the disfiguring injuries associated with the increased use of explosives by children at that time.
Yet, for issues such as spitting in public, The System had no troubles moving heaven and earth until getting and doing exactly what it wanted, when it wanted.
Over the potential threat of disease.
It’s an interesting angle to compare against The System of today- where suicides, increased mania , media violence and forced sterilizations aren’t urgent enough issues for The System to put an end to, although it would and could (did) have no problems in bringing an entire world to a stop over the same- a potential threat of disease.
Photo by Ramsy..and titled “The Final Fourth”
Ramsy's Joint 