Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-07-26
The Grafton.

FELLOW CITIzEEs:- II congratulate you
give you joy on the return of this anniversa
ry, and feicitate you on the more particular
purposes of which this ever memorable day
has been chosen to witness the fulfillment.-
Hail!-all hall see before and around me
mass Of faces all glowing with cheerfulness
and patriotic pride.
l see thousands of eyes turned towards 9TH
er eyes, all sparkling with qualification and
delight. This is the New World, this is Amer
ca, this is Washington, the capital of the
United States. And where else, among the
nations, can the seat of Government be sur
rounded, on any day, or any year by those
ings which they enjoy? This is the anniver-
sary of American Independence.
This bright and brilliant morning witnesses
another return of the birthday of nation,
and that nation, of however recent origin, now
among the most considerable and powerful,
spreading over the continent from sea to sea.
Among the first colonist from Europe to
this part of America there were some, doubt
less, who saw great futurity, but, in general
their hopes were limited to a safe asylum
from tyranny, religious and civil, and to re-
spectacle subsistence by industry and toll
A thick veil hid our times from their vision
But the progress of America, however slow
could not but awaken genius, and attract the
attention of mankind In the early part O.
the next century Bishop Berkley wrote hi:
well known verses on the prospect of planting
art and learningg in America The last stan
"a seems highly poetical inspiration:
Westward the course of empire takes its way
i The four first acts already DaSt
A fifth shall close the drama with the day:
Times noblest offspring is the last.''
This extraordinary prophecy may be con
sidered only as the result of long foresigh
and uncommon sagacity; of a foresight ant
: sagacity stimulated by excited feeling ant
high enthusiasm. This clear vision of wha
: America would become was not founded Oh
square miles, or upon existing numbers, o
: any vulg gar laws of statistics:
1t was an intuitive glance into futurity;
was grand conception embracing all tim
since the creation of the world, and all region
> of which that world is composed; and b
Judging of the future by just analogy with tn
; past; and the inimitable imagery and beaut
with which the thought is expressed, joine
to the conception ITSELF render it one of tn
most striking passages in our language.
On the day OF the Declaration OF ldepenc
ence, our illustriOus fathers performed the tir'
act of this drama: an act, in real importanc
infinitely exceeding that for which the grei
English poet invoked
e IA muse of fire,
s A kingdom for stage. princes to act,
IS And monarchs to behold the swelling scene
+ The muse inspiring our fathers was tine g
,. MUS of liberty, all on fire with the sense of o.
preston and resolution to throw. it off; Il
whole world was the stage, and higher cha
~ acters than princes trod it and instead
d monarchs, countries and nations, and the al
beheld the swelling scene.
How well the characters were cast; and he
10 well each performer acted his part and VIII
If emotions the whole performance excited,
history now and hereafter tell. Att subs