Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1850-11-21
Launching of the Schooner "@'s''0''

M R. c. Blrxcr Oh tie OCCASION ~
Waterloo, Grant county, Wiso"r...ln
On ths morning Of the 18th ,Iay Of Oc-
tober, 1892, FOR the first time tie eyss Of
an European beheld the rich es and pran-
t,ear of the New World. This discovery
by Columbus was TO tie world like the
day spring to the iraveler--the precur-
sor OF full dawn. Tie chill NAT had
rested on the moral, scientific and polit-
zeal world, through the dark ages was
then passing away, new life and enter
prise were being developed, mind was
assuming once more its elasticity, and
the world was destined thenceforth to
be shifting of scenes; the changes Of a
drama.
As navigators discovered more and
more of the new Continent, and delinea-
ted its features on the map, the leading
powers Of Europe began to calculate the
result Of the grand discovery, and they
manifested disposition to appropriate
as much Of the domain as they could to
their own use. Hence they began TO
colonize. Spain colonized the southern
part of North America, England the CEN
trail part, and France the northern part,
and along the Mississippi river. In pro-
cess of time England wrests from France
her possessions in the north, and then
England and Spain are the principal pos
SCISSORS of North America.
But, the recording genius of history
was about TO trace page that should
forever stand out in bold relief, unparal-
leled in the annals Of all time for its
greatness and the magnitude Of its re.
suits. The living generation of that
time was prepared to read that history
so soon as it should be written, and future
generations would rise up ready to re-
ceive from ii lessons of wisdom.
That history was the history of the
American Revolution, and its result was
the planting of an independent nation
on the soil Of the New World; nation
that was destined-not TO pass through
. childhood of a thousand years TO arrive
at an imbecle maturity--but to be hurled
into its mighty orbit, full Of life and Wig
or, like Minerva, bursting fully panoplie(
from the brain Of Jupiter. No sooner
was this new planet discovered than al
the stars did homage TO it. Never hav.
ing yet sunk for moment below Tho
horizon, nor suffered diminution Of il.
brightness, it is regarded as the polar
star Of the political world. Its beam,
have shot forth into every land, and i
has nursed up a race of heroes who's,
renown is as wide as the extension o
the human family.
But one great result of the American
Revolution was, to elevate every Ameri
can citizen to higher platform than tina
which. is spread out for any other peo
pie. Those political, civil and religion,
restraints which cramp the energies o
every other people are here powerless
and while others make a slow and wear,
progress, we shoot onward like the swift
rolling waters of our native rivers.
is doubtful from the very nature Of th,
case, whether, let circumstances be eve
80 unfortuitous, we could be less than
great and free people. Look at GU
wide spread prairies, our extensive FOR
ests, our magnificent chains of mountains
our almost endless rivers, and answer m,
if this land could be aught less than tn,
home of free aud intelligent people,
BE this, however, as il may, it is enough
for lis TO know that we received thi
Republic and all its institutions from III,
hands of our fathers as a hirthright, i
has been adorned and autiiied-Gov
eminent has been perfected, art has beer
encouraged, science has been advanced
and the happiness of the people secured
IT'S true we have here neither Coils.
cum nor Parthenon. Such stupenduou.
works Of art, are not always tests of 4
country's prosperity, nor of the refined
taste Of its inhabitants. Such works are
generally nothing more than monuments
of "the sweat of the poor, and the blood
of the brave" II we look for eviden-
ccs of the prosperity and progress Of a
people, we must take q comprehensive
view of the rapidity with which nature
is subdued--the natural resources Of the
country developed, and the ingenuity dis
played in binding the elements 10 the
servitude Of man. To this we must add
such works Of internal improvement, lie.
hem be magnificent or minute, as are
calculated TO benefit the whole country
the whole people. That the American
people possess the ability aud manifest
an inclination TO bring TO their aid, in
pursuing their gigantic schemes Of home
improvement, domestic trade and foreign
commerce, steam power and water pow
err, air and electricity. lhave but to point
you TO the thousands Of steamers on our
river. our ships on the ocean, our rail-
ways that are fast checkering the whole
land with their iron tracks, our mills ard
factories, our canals and our telegraph
lines. All these evidences of our pros