Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-07-20
FOITRTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
At Grand Rapids.

Ar 10 o'clock on the morning OF the foui'il,
the Marshal and his Aids arranged the process
sion in the following order:
1st. President, Vice Presidents, Orators,
Readers. Chaplains and Committee OF Arrange
ments.
end Martial Band and the Grand Rapids
Union Guards.
3rd. Thirty-four ladies representing the sew
cral States.
4t!,. The Schools in attendance-comprisins
the Schools of Misses Lang and keyes, OF TINS
village and of Mr. II. Tyler, of Centralia'
9Th Citizens generally
The military company the thivty-four Ia
dies. and the scheol children, were dressed IN
appropriate uniforms. and made fine display.
The procession marched to the grove, "here
the President of the Day, Hon. D. Howell, an
nounced the order of exercises, which opened
by PRAYER by Rev. Mr.. Slater 1t was one OF
the most eloquent, patriotic, appropriate ap-
neals to Heaven that we have ever listened u
After music by the Centralia Brass Band, the
declaration of Independence was well read by
Mr.. Henry w Jackson. The children of Miss
Lanp's school then sung "Yankec Doodle" with
n spirit and accuracy we'll becoming older
heads. This was followed by the 'Star Span
gled Banner by choir Of ladies and gentle
men. which was admirably executed.
The President then introduced Mr.. Joseph
N. Wilcox, who delivered the following ad-
dress:
It has been beautifully remarked
"that it is a noble faculty of our nature
which enables us to connect our
thoughts, our svmpathies and our hap
piness, with what IS distant III place or
time. That we live IN the past by a
knowledge of its history, and in the fiji
ture by hope and anticipation, by as
cending to All association with our an
cestors, by contemplating their exam
ples. by studying their character, by
partaking their sentiments and imblb-
ing their spirit, by accompanying them
in their tolls, by sympathizin5 in their
suffer ings, rejoicing in their successes
and triumphs, fnaI!y to mingIe our ex-
istence with theirs' 1t is with accom-
panying reflections like these that we
arc here assembled, in accordance with
an established custom, with national
pride newly kindled, to make manifest
our devotion to the land III which we
live, and to express (although 1eeOly)
our sincerity and our sentiments OF re-
spect and admiration for the govern
ment under which we have so long
been protected. And while the angel
spirits of departed patriots and states
men are to day in humble suppllcatlon
in behalf Of our Government, Amerl-
cans will herald throughout the land,
and the echo shall reach them as JOY
full news, that we will enter with re-
newed vigor and determination upon
the imposing duties now before us, hay
ing been entrusted by our Fathers with
the responsibility of preserving and
defending our country. The respect
and admiration with which every true
American looks upon our Government,
and the Constitution upon which 1t IS
based, is in itself sufficient evidence
that the endearing principles laid down
by it's trainers will be strictly adhered
to; and although this is a period when
national gloom is overhauging our
states, in view of an inevitable crisis,
it is at the same time period OF glad
ness and rejoicing, rendered doubly so
perhaps from the fact that discord and
strife makes a just appreciation of the
blessings of our government more ap-
parent.
A passing allusion to the advance
ment of the American States, from OBJ
security as it were, is sufficient TO inspire
our imagination with pride and senti-
ments of devotion and respect for the
Fathers of our Country. Liberty and
freedom have burst the chains which
bound them, the yoke of oppression
which once reached the wilderness O
vAmerica, and the unnatural alliance O
ecclesiastical and civil power mas been
discovered. All men may now claim
their natural and inalienable rights.
freedom of speech and liberty of con
science by the pen of a Thomas Jetfer
son has given us Declaration OF In
dependence, and when we refer te
these national benefits, We'll raise ou1
voices in common supplication to {
Higher Power, that the banner that ha:
SO proudly inscribed the principle:
therein advocated, will still be support
ed by American hearts-stall still b.
.unfurIed to freedom, prosperity ant
equality. Uhe dark and gloomy peri
cd in the history Of our country, whel
human character was corrupt and de
based in obeyance to the mandates o
despotic power when noble sentiment
and patriotic motives were crushed o.