The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-07-29

ship of the nation safe into port. On
this day torty-two years ago John
Adams and Thomas Jefferson appeared
before their God. The hand that
traced the Charter of Independence is
indeed motionless, the eloquent lips
that sustained it are hushed; but the
lofty spirits that conceived, resolved,
and maintained it, and which alone to
such men make it "lite to live"
these cannot expire. I
"These shall resls; the empire Of decay,
When time is DER and worlds have passed away;
| Cold in the dust the persisted heart may lie,
But that which warmed 1t once can never die''
1t was on this day thirty-seven years
ago that James Monroe, fifth Presi-
dent of the United States paid the
debt of nature. What a strange CO.
incidence-that on the birth day of
American liberty has happened the
noblest achievments and the sadtlest
calamities of American history. The
same bell that rung to bear the glad
tidings of the declaration of indepen-
dence on the 4th of July, 1776, tolled
OH the 4th of July for the second, third
and fifth Presidents of the United
States. The hand that penned the
document, the eloquent lips that sus-
tained it, and the last services of the
men who framed our institutions. all
resigned their souls to God on the day
that the American people severed the
cord that bound them to British ty-
ranny. The same journals that hoist
ed the eagle, the emblem of America,
in rejoicing over her victories, on the
same day draped their columns in
mourning at the ruling of Providence,
Yet, Notwithstanding the rulings of an
all-wise Providence has caused at times
sorrow in our land on this national
birth day, the victories of our armies,
the reformation ofour citizens, together
with the continued Increase of our ter
ritory and rank among the nations of
earth, compels us to rejoice instead Of
mourn. All along the line of our
progress are connected with this day
of rejoicing, events Of great national
Importance. The cause which we
come to commemorate points to the
fourth day of July, 1S43, as a day of
noble achievements, and in our last
great struggle for liberty, this day
was made memorable by deeds of
heroic daring. On this day 5 years
ago the rebel forces at Nicksburg sur
rendered to the unconditional Grant.
The same day on the sacred soil of our
own Pennsylvania, was acquired Il
national victory that surpassed in blood
and carnage the field Of Waterloo.
But why narrate the events of the day,
when every day since the formation of
our Government has been worthy sub
jects for consideration. Previous to
this day 90 years ago, the Ameri-
cans claimed to be colonies under the
rule of Great Brittian. Then the
United States were thirteen in number
and stretched along the shores of the
Atlantic!' Now we look across the
Atlantic face to face with Great Brit
tain and Europe. Equal in science,
equal in art, equal in knowledge and
almost equal in territory toGreat Brit
tain and the whole continentof Europe.
Time however will not permit of a des-
cription of our extent. But we wei
come you to the blessing of good
government, and religious liberty, we
welcome you to the treasures of science
and the delights of learning, we well
come you to the transcendant sweets
of domestic life to the happiness of
kindred, of parent and Of children,
welcome you to the immensurate
blessings of rational existence, the
immortal hope of Christianity and the
light of everlasting truth.
rive omit the rest the gentleman's
remarks on the, subject of Temperance
for want ofspace.-ED.
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