Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1870-07-13
OR ALTON,
DELIVERED By
JOHN MAYO, BSGS-,
Ar THE
GRAND CELIE EBRATlGN,
HELD AT
DAVIS GROVE, NearssMcARTHUR,
MONDAY, JULY A, 1870.

est fruit, the Declaration OF lnde
pendence to which you have JUS
| listened. Every succeeding ami
versary of tho day, thus made mem
orablo, has been with us a nationa
holiday. From the 4th of July, 1776
when the old bell of independence
Hall rang out tho welcome ncws, tC
this 4th of July, 1870, it has been 6
day set apart from its fellows in
honor of the great event, and of the
men who then declared and alter
wards achieved American lndcpen-
dence. 1t is custom which shoulc
ever be held sacred. 1t gives play
TO the best and loftiest feelings O
our nature, and gives tone and vigol
to that sentiment of nationality
which, dying out, would bo toe
sure sign of national decay. We
are not prone, as a people, to stcr
aside from tho beaten track Of cv'
ery-day life and business TO indulge
in holidays, The jingle of gold, OF
the rustling of greenbacks, is the
sweetest music to our ears, and move
us more than the inspiring strains
of "Yankce Doodle" Not that we
love our country less, but that we
love our money more! Stern ne
cessity alone can break the spell,
and call out the grand features OF
American character. For this, il
for no other reason, we should at
least atone for the fewness of the
days given to national sentiment
and feeling by an increased spirit
and interest in those we have.
The day we celebrate is the
brightest in our history. The grand
work, whose glory it reflects, was
the result of no hasty action, or the
work of feeble hands. Almost a
century has elapsed, and the rever-
ence for the sentiments it embodies,
and the admiration for the wisdom
it contains, do but gather increase
with the year.
Moro than ten years boforo the
colonies declared the independence
of the Mother Country, there were
mutterings of the revolutionary
storm. AS early as 1865, when the
Stamp Act was passed, it could be
heard. Meetings we held, and n
determined though courteous spirit
of opposition was manifested. Res
olutions, protesting against it, were
passed in New York, Massachusetts
and other colonies. In the Virginia
Assembly, which was then in sos-
sion, Patrick Henry presented res
olutions declaring the exclusive
right of the colonies to tax them
selves, and defended them in a
speech famous for its wondrous elo-
quence and for its threatening warn
ing to George the Third. His res
olutions were passed, and the alarm
spread throughout America
'dThis," says Bancroft, "is the way
the fire began in Virginia. OF the
American colonies Virginia rang
the alarm bell, Virginia gave the
signal for the Continent"
The Revolution was Of slow
growth. There was moro than ten
years of interrupted aggressions
before the 4th of July, 1776. The
Stamp Act was repealed, and Amor
lea breathed freely again. But the
system of tyranny had been inaug-
urated, and it continued until Amer.
lea rebclled. Troops were stationed
among them, at their expense, and
without their consent. Parliament
taxed tea, and other commodities.
The colonies pctitioncd the King
again and again, couching their as
sertion Of their rights in the most
respectful language, backed by ire
futable arguments and reason, and
asking redress of their grievances.
But the King and English nation
were deaf to all appeals, blind to
the signs Of revolt, and at ease in
their fancied security. England
little thought her fair possessions
this side of the water could be
wrested away; that her tyranny
could drive us from her. We were
of one blood, and one language
We wero proud other history, and Of
her greatness. She had in us one of
the brightest jewels in her crown.
We asked for nothing butour rights.
Our appeals were treated with con-
tempt. We asserted our rights as
freeman, and the long, slow night Of
oppression was "swept away by tho
first sharp volley on Lexington
Green"
We're they right to thus appeal
to the God of Battles2 The foun-
ders Of these colonies had long years
before been driven forth by Eng
lands oppression, and had conquer
ed the Wilderness Of the new world
in their search for civil and reli-
gious liberty. A handful of heroic
men they planted here tho germ Of
q mighty nation. Forsaking homo,
and friends, and kindred, and i'm
PEELED by no greed of gain or pow
er, they fought step by step the
savage wilds and still more savage
men of the New World. 1t was the
beautiful vision Of liberty that lured
them on. 1t was that they might
worship God according TO the die
tatos Of their own conscience. Eng
glands cruelty drove them from
her, and England's power afforded
them no protection. They held and
the land which they had
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