Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-07-07
EBENsBURG, july Z, 1868.

little opportunity of foreign aid or support |
Some few whom the same causes had forced |
to brave the same dangers occasionally joined !,
the first emigrants. |
In process of time, from the unremitted !
industry of our hardy ancestors, the wilder !
ness became checkered with cultivated fields;
and cities and towns arose upon the margins
of our bays and rivers, 1.-The busy hum of
Commerce" commenced; and happiness and
prosperity began to dawn IN our land This
state of prosperity aroused the jealousy of the
mother country. The British ministry, eth
er willing to fill those Golfers, which had been
drained by the long wars in which the nations
bad been engaged, or dreadiug the increase
of power, and resolving to humble aa.d de-
press in infamy that strength which after
wards made their Lion to crouch and tremble
in his den, imposed upon the colonists the
taxations and burden, and inflicted the indig
mites, which are SO feelingly complained of,
and so well described in the Declaration of
our Independence, which Las been read to
you.
The cupidity of the British ministry was
frustrated By the hrmness of the American
people-by the self-denial of those luxuries
to which they had been for awhile accustom-
Gu, anu WHICH Edu W COiiSiuSi do
necessary for their comfort. 4 cue sense Of
the injuries they were suffering, and of the
illegalty of the impositions to which they had
been subjected, aroused their apprehension,
ana awakened their pride y fixed resolution
to resist the march of tyranny, dictated the
non-intercourse and importation acts
4 firm and general resolve not to use or to
buy the merchandise of England pervaded
almost every breast. Even ladies who had
! been used to al the finery Of luxurious ex-
travagance, cheerfully submitted to the scanty
and rude supply, which the then infant state
Of our manufactures afforded.
After having endured suferings and indig
mites beyond measure-after the cup of hu-
| initiation had been drained to the very dregs
| after every appeal to the feelings and the
! justice Of the mother country, had been IN
| vain made the resor; TO arms was had The
! God of Hosts was invoked and the energies
! of the country were brought into action, in
! defence. of invaded rights. ''Our fathers
| rose with gunt strength and burst the shacklcs
! of bondage" The struggle was long and
srduous, but patriotism inspired the breasts
| love of Liberty nerved the arms-and W ASH
! ington, under the auspices of benign Deity,
! directed the destiuies Of our country.
When We consider the comparative strhngth
( of Great Britain and America at the COM
! meucement Of The Revolution. we are flied
| with astonishmept at the boldness of that bra
| very which dared to resist in what appeared
almost hopeless struggle, almost the effect
of unthinking desperation. Great Britain
was then Of the most powerful nations on
earth. Her navies were riding triumphant
on every ocean. Her armies were marching
to sure victory wherever the safety of the
he of hn or I
rected them. Proud Of the talents and bra
very OF her naval and military officers, strone
in the number and discipline of her armies
and, although immensely in debt, yet power
ful in resources. she considered our opposi
ton as mere Pygmean resistance, one tina
she looked upon with contempt, as easily t
| be put down by the mere frowns of her gi
gautic power The Americans were desti
tute of navy and an army. They were al
, most destitute Of officers experienced in th'
arts of war, and they were destitute of tn
necessary funds for carrying it on. An un
disciplined militia had to oppose the proves
, of veteran troops unused to defeat. But th
! I recollection Of their wrongs, and their certai
a misery if defeated. inspired the American
| with the irresistible bravery and herculea1
J strength. Although the times were fearful
I and gloomy, yet few deserted the cause {
t their country, We had but one A,noEd :
4 Heaven averted the consequences of b
. treachery; and the contempt OF the world ha
Il followed him.
y At first but few dared to hope for Indt
= pendeuce The opposition was considere
# by many as only the means of procuring II
dress Of the grievances under which they Il
~ bored Such men as Patrick Henry on
- looked forward with prophets eye to th
fntr,ra 6oCtipioc Of thair b--t RI
= irresistible power Of their eloquenoe prepare
,. the minds of the people for the pang of P
:, litical separation from the mother country
: When Independence was proclaimed,
,- almost universal burst of appreciation follo'
f. cd The spirit of resistance spread over Il
- whole country. The People knew that Il
9 ReJicon had been passed, that there was
= safe retreat, that they must support the De
laration, or sink into an abject state of su
! lection. If our Revolution had failed, nj
80 cradle would have been the fate of at lea
"a the leaders of that time. They would ha
20 suffered all the punishment annexed to t
!, crime of treason in the sanguinary penal co
- of England Like the illustrious Emmt
! the youthful Hero of4reland, our helov
49, Washington would have been dragged to
7 ignominious death, for having dared to defe
,b the rights of his country. But Heaven
~ rected otherwise ashington lived to :
~ his country free-to enjoy the blessings
. his countrymon, and the highest honors th
10 could confer. aud died in a good old age,
mented by their tears. leaving character
soldier, statesman and q man, unequal
- = by any in any age
u But my fellow citizens, although our
on roes were clothed with honor in the war
nc the Revolution, yet it is from their cond
d in the day of peace, and from the result
ng their glorious struggle that they are entit
ns to the greatest praise.