Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-05

President and other important ofieers of the
he sen to
more distinguished person than himself would
be present to receive the memorial block, and
acknowledge it in fitting terms. He should,
however, unprepared as he was, esteem it q
special privilege to come to the rescue. Zap
plause.l It was a most propitious occasion; one
where body Of their most aged and highly re-
spected citizens were engaged in the pair o.ic
and commendable work of presenting q memo
rial block for the shaft Of the monument under
the shade Of which they were celebrating the
glorious Fourth. He hoped 1t would be q good
shaft ceased, and he hoped the presentation of
this stone would give new impulse to the work.
In the meantime they would preserve the block
ofstone IN the Lapidarium, that 1t may be placed
in proper niche OF the shaft when werk shall
be resumed.
Mr. Brent then referred to Mr.. Samuel Wells
as being the Oldest member OF their association !,
he being nearly 20 years of age, who carried the
chain for Washington when he laid out this
city. He also referred to the presence of VIM.
Tsyloe Snyder, grandson Of WIN. II. Taylee,
and said they could look back from the 18th
year Of this youth to the 80 years of Mr.. Wells.
He hoped this youth would not only live to con-
tribute to the monument. but would be one OF
thought no better place could be chosen for cell
ebrating the day than under the shaft of the
monument to the Father OF his country and by
presenting block of marble from society 80
venerable and highly respected, and the pres
ence Of beautiful ladies and gallant gentlemen
as well as children, who are to take our places
in after life. lApplause.l
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
James Goddard, Esq, read the Declaration OF
Independence, with distinetness Spd in loud
tone OF voice, and after tune by the band
Maj. b. Ii. French, the orator OF the day. arose
and addressed the assemblage follows:
ADDRESS OF MAJOR B. b. FRENCH.
Mr.. PTeSider.t and Feiiotc-citizens. There are
anniversaries in the calendars of nations which
Wi fh.a SaIh hot hs of ,a
worids weekly life-days on which the people
rest from their labors, raise their voices in
thankfulness and praise to God, and rejoice
blessing
These anniversaries. as they reeede from the
event which they commemorate, seem to grow
dearer and dearer to the hearts of the people,
lnasmuch as each year adds something new to
be remembered. How many are there in this
audience who have not thought, it they have not
sad, this very day, son the 18th OF July year
ago, or two years ago. or ten wears ago." such
and such things happened? Very few, ii a sip-
gle one. How much more thrilling to our hearts
IL. probably, khe present anniversary OF Amer.
can Independence than was that OF 1113 to the
hearts OF our Revolutionary fathers! ZAP
plause.
have thought that it would be an interesting
research to go back, and, il possible, ascertain
how this day was celebrated, how it was rever-
enced, how much it was thought OF within the
hrst decade from the immortal declaration, and
il has been to me matter of establishment m n
SO meager record has been left behind BY our
illustriOus fathers.
The first grafton, doubtless delivered on Ame-
rican Independence was not an anniversary ora
ton. 1t was delivered in the city OF Phiiadel-
phia by Samuel Adams on the 1st day of Au-
gust, lac, twenty-seven days only after the
Declaration was signed and promulgated.
On the 4th OF July, IFS, John Adams, then In
France, made the following entry in his journal:
July 18th, Saturday. The anniversary OF the
Declaration Of American Independence. We
had the honor OF the company of all the Ameri-
inS in a nd nh Sri.
dine with Doctor Franklin and me, at assy, to-
gethef with few French gentlemen of the
1.-THE day was passed joyously enough, and no
i'll humor appeared from any quarter."-Life
and Writings Of John adams, rol. 5, p. II5.
ON the same day, (July 4, l77s,5 the day was
was delivered by DIR. David Ramsay, Of that
city, who, In the spirit of prOphesy, used the
following language:
I'VE are now celebrating the anniversary OF
our emancipation from British Tyranny; an
event that will constitute an ilustrious era in
the history Of the world, and which promises an
extension OF those blessings to our country for
which we would choose to live or dare to die!''
There can be little doubt that the day WAS
celebrated more or less at places on the early
anniversaries of it, but after diigent scar CHI,
with the library OF Congress at my command, [
have not been able to find any other evidences
OF such celebration until about 1903, and from
that time onward celebrations seem to have
The Orations delivered, number of which
have read, abound in patriotism, and are gener-
ally based upon the history OF the Revolutionary
war, with occasional touches of eloquent rha;,,,-
dy, and often severe political structures UPON
the times at which they were delivered.
From the clOse of the Revolutionary war up
to The war OF 1872 think it may be conceded a,
a historical fact, that the anniversary of Ameri-
can indie pendence was not generally celebrated.
Even /, young as am, can remember when
independence Day" As we always called it,
was scarcely noticed, though, 4 hope, it was
always remembered. IL has a somewhat street
to me, because my good old grand.
mother, woman Of the Revolution, whose pa
triOtism never tired and ended only with her
life, invariably made, what she called "Inde-
+ endence cake" IN bountiful quantities, for
that day. fCries of .'Gsod."j And, while I am
upon my own "reminiscences, 1 will give you a
brief extract from my private journal, touching
An incident appropriate to the drift Of my pres
ent remarks, which happened On the 5th day of
July, 1s4l, Sunday having been the 4th y while
v as Reading Clerk of the house of Represen
tatiyes Of the United states. A few days after
The 9Th, wrote as follows:
"July 5th--PeOple celebrated the 4th. Mill
tary turned out; Sunday schools marched in
procession to Capitol grounds, and scholars par
took of collation.; sundry speeches made. Tenn
perance people met in grove in Georgetown,
and celebrated the progress OF the temperance
reform. And while all this celebration was i'm
progress the House OF Representatives. to show
heir great economy of time, sat and listened t.
speeches, and there was in the midst Of them!
i consOled myself by writing the following
rhymes in the minute book, land doubtless they
may be found there tO-day:)
The bells are ringing merriy,
The people novibNcheeri,y;
The soldit ry are al en- route,
The ladies, bless them all, are out;
Fen Nature doth her charms display,
For this is Freedoms holiday!
The cannon sends its peal to heaven,
While, by its voice, the week.-mrs. riyen;
Millions of swelling shouts arise, q.
And Freedoms incense fills the skies.
But We-ah, me I've working boys,
Must sit and listen to the noise
This House, this cruel House, won't play,
Although tbs Freedoms holiday"
Applause.
This quotation is not given fer any intrinsic
merit either in the prose Or poetry, for 1 Am as
much aware as any one can be that there can
rot be much depth OF thought or felicity of ex-
preston in rhymes written on the spur OF the
ron ent, in presence Of the House of Repre-
,eptatives In tie full performance OF its regular
business, never famed for an Over-abundance
Of QG.etness. 1t is given merely AZ an example,
which happened tD be at my command, OF the
NAM er in which that particular day was cele-
in our District, and that, eyen,
Our potent, grave and reverend ~ iors,
Our very noble and approved good masters
are sometimes so beset with desire to labor for
the public good that the patriotism which in
duces rejoicing when the anniversary OF one of
the greatest political events Of our country oc-