Twisting the Lion’s Tail

Written By: William McReynolds | Issue: July 2024

Artifacts of these celebrations past have been gathered by our own Library of Congress. Above is an image of the broadside that was sent to the 13 Colonies and posted for all to see. There was much jubilation on this day in 1776 although the hard work of independence—drafting the Articles of Confederation and 5 years of armed insistence – were yet to come.

A year later, on July 4, 1777, in Philadelphia, early in the war with England, a spontaneous celebration occurred that was described by John Adams in a letter to his daughter Abigail:

My dear Daughter:

Yesterday, being the anniversary of American Independence, was celebrated here with a festivity and ceremony becoming the occasion.

In the morning the Delaware frigate, several large gallies, and other continental armed vessels, the Pennsylvania ship and row gallies and guard boats, were all hawled off in the river, and several of them beautifully dressed in the colours of all nations, displayed about upon the masts, yards, and rigging. At one o’clock the ships were all manned, that is, the men were all ordered aloft, and arranged upon the tops, yards, and shrowds, making a striking appearance-of companies of men drawn up in order, in the air.

The wharves and shores, were lined with a vast concourse of people, all shouting and huzzaing, in a manner which gave great joy to every friend to this country, and the utmost terror and dismay to every lurking tory.

In the evening, I was walking about the streets for a little fresh air and exercise, and was surprised to find the whole city lighting up their candles at the windows. I think it was the most splendid illumination I ever saw. I had forgot the ringing of bells all day and evening, and the bonfires in the streets, and the fireworks played off.

I am your affectionate father,

John Adams

The Flag that has Waved One Hundred Years by Dominique Fabronius.

In the 1870s, the Fourth of July was the most important secular holiday. Independence Day was declared a federal holiday on June 28, 1870. Even far-flung communities on the western frontier managed some sort of celebration.

Above: The Flag that has Waved One Hundred Years by Dominique Fabronius.

In a retrospective of rural life in the 1870s, Miss Nettie Spencer remembered the Fourth as the “big event of the year. Everyone in the countryside got together on that day for the only time in the year.

“There would be floats in the morning and the one that got the eye was the Goddess of Liberty. She was supposed to be the most wholesome and prettiest girl in the countryside — if she wasn’t she had friends who thought she was. But the rest of us weren’t always in agreement on that…Following the float would be the Oregon Agricultural College cadets, and some kind of a band. Sometimes there would be political effigies.

Just before lunch – and we’d always hold lunch up for an hour – some Senator or lawyer would speak. These speeches always had one pattern. First the speaker would challenge England to a fight and berate the King and say that he was a skunk. This was known as twisting the lion’s tail.

Then the next theme was that any one could find freedom and liberty on our shores. The speaker would invite those who were heavy laden in other lands to come to us and find peace. The speeches were pretty fiery and by that time the men who drank got into fights and called each other Englishmen. In the afternoon we had what we called the ‘plug uglies’ — funny floats and clowns who took off on the political subjects of the day…The Fourth was the day of the year that really counted then. Christmas wasn’t much; a Church tree or something, but no one twisted the lion’s tail.

In 1938, ninety-six-year-old Dr. Samuel B. Lathan recalled the Independence Day celebrations of his South Carolina childhood:

The Fourth of July was observed at Caldwell Cross Roads. The military companies of infantry would assembly here from the surrounding counties making up a brigade. A drill and inspection were had, and a dress parade followed. There was an old cannon mounted on the field. The honor of firing it was assigned to Hugh Reed, who had been in the artillery of Napoleon’s army at Waterloo and afterward emigrated to South Carolina. A great barbecue and picnic dinner would be served; candidates for military, state, and national offices would speak; hard liquor would flow; and each section would present its ‘bully of the woods’ in a contest for champion in a fist and skull fight. Butting, biting, eye gouging, kicking, and blows below the belt were barred. It was primitive prize fighting.

We still celebrate with barbeques and picnics, parades and fireworks, and the joyful flaunting of the colors.

Today we must call forth that same heroism in righting the wrongs against community and justice, predicated on the conviction that “All men are created equal.”

Happy Independence Day!