Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-07-11
A N OR A TION
DELIVERED AT
New Holland, July 4th, 1867,
BY
Hon. u. HI. L. SCOTT,
or Fayette County, OHIO.
Respected Fellow Citizens.


ing, "Truly it is good for us to b
here" And 1 congratulate yor
that you have had the disposition
to prepare for us all this grand op
portunity to come into the tempt
of our common country to otIe
our sacrifices upon her alter, anC
partake of the rich abundance of
noble patriotic feast. And we fee
to thank the Giver of all good, tina
we once more enjoy the privilege O
worshiping at the shrine of Liberty
and of pouring out our libations a
the feet Of our Heaven bestowed
Goddess.
We this day have greater cause
of rejoicing than ever before. Oul
nation was received upon probation
through a baptism of blood, and
now she is taken into full commu.
ion thro' another baptism of fra
ternal bloOd-set apart, consecra-
ted forever to Freedom !-and the
covenant sealed by the best blood
of her glorious sons! And her star
gemmed Flag floats in resplendence,
not only over whole Union, but
over land of Freedom, in deed
and in truth Have we not, then,
great cause for rejoicing, and may
we not be exceeding glad ?"
Another year is marked upon the
great dial of Eternity, and our 92d
National Anniversary calls us forth
"to revel in its light" and til ugh
our souls may well be sad, when we
contemplate the fearful cost of this
privilege-when we think of the
long, long list of heroes-fathers,
sons, husbands, brothers and lovers
who went forth "at their country's
call, =" in the pride of their strength,
and in the glow of patriotic fervor,
but who returned to us no more !;
yet, when we estimate the worth of
the boon their sacrifice secured to
us, to pOsterity, to the world; when
we contemplate the brilliant halo
which encircles them; the radiant
crown upon their noble brows in
the Patriots Heaven; when, in our
imagination, we see the benignant
cOuntenance and radiant smile of
the INN Ortal Washington, as he
looks approvingly upon them this
suspicious morning, we may well
rejoice; and our joy will be all the
deeper and purer in the reflection
that eOe were deemed worthy to suf-
fer and to sacrifice for such a coun-
try! Our joy is not the wild burst
of giddy revelry and thoughtIess
exultation, but the deep, chastened
joy of conscious patriotism. Oh,
ye bereaved ones! we weep with
you in your deep sorrow, for we
have a beloved uncle and six noble
cousins sleeping the long, last sleep
away in the sunny, but blood-sta
ed, South. We rejoice with you in
your star-crowned glory!
The world does not hold nobler
race Of men, or a more patriotic,
self-sacrifcing set of women, more |
lovely, true, angel-hearted daugh-
5ers of Eve! But here language fails
ne, and desist.
In casting about for a theme suit
able to this occasion, so many pre-.
sent themselves that it is very diff
cult to select, and several of them
will, doubtless, be presented by the
able speakers who are yet to address
you. After long deliberation, l
nave chosen one, not only suited to
IN intelligent, patriotic, christian
audience, but also worthy of your
careful consideration.
Let me invite your careful atten-
ion while l attempt to present it.
It is
rHE HAND OF GOD MANIFEST IN OUR
HISTORY.
If we take a glance over the civ
lized world, noting each distinct
nation, we shall find none appa-
emily more prosperous, more virtu- 6
ous, enlightened and free-more
avored by High Heaven than ours. l
n every region on the globe, our t
glorious Republic is known and {
cared, respected and honored. The 9
Denign equity of our laws, the geni- I
is of our Institutions, and the hu-
nanitarian and equalizing spirit and c
endency of the principles of our C
government, cause tyrants to quake a
pom their thrones, and eXiles to t
cap for very joy! S
The rapid rush of events during L
he last five or six years, has al t
lost bewildered us, and thrown the v
'ast-not simply the hoary Past, t
ut the recent Past of our young p
the shade; and such n
the mighty whirl of events, and p
le near and rapid looming up of a
le portentous Future, strongly at h
acting our forward gaze, that tire S
uires an effort on our part to COM g
Ell a backward glance. n
Yet the day and the occasion de- A
and a brief retrospection. 1t is ii
ith patriots now as it was with the 81
atriots Of the Revolution-we tt
ust be guided by the lamp of ex- e.
erience. The Past furnishes the g
ey to unlock the Future. But as al
Q are in the midst of living, pres n
It issues, which crowd upon us Il
ID almost overwhelm us with their te