The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-07-11
sABBATn,scHooL ADDRESS,
D.lirsr.d at Weldon,
s THE 'rorAru or JULY, 1870, BY
N, H. DENT, A, B. ,

Plo'ub uuus ha"y o'o"' FN' @'J y
fertile oasis, where be can rest his tired
limbs, and with soul refreshed and heart
iuv:goratcd, resume his journey, better
prepared to resist the Temptations that
beset his pathway. Of all these, none.
perhaps, can ever be source Of greater
profit, pleasure and EMULATION to the lover
Of liberty, than the day which we are
about to celebrate. 1t istruly spring
BY the way-side, where VIC can quench
aour thirst, renew our energies, and re-
view many ballored scenes that cluster
around, tho remembrance Of which still
makes the pulse Of Americas sons beat
high, apd causes them to raise their souls
in silent tbankfulness to that gggs
'.Divihty that shapes our ends,
Rough.hew them as we msy."
< Ninety-6ye years ago, when, our coun,
sry-friendlcss, burdencd with taxation,
: and with ruined commerce, was begin.
ring to feel the CALLING chains Of seryi-
sude, as she tossed wildly amid sea Of
troubles. there were, collected together,
in room devoid Of the pomp and splen.
dor ofroyalty, band of men who, accor-
I ding to the petty lords Of Britain, were
better fitted to split rails, ill the sol! and
pay taxes, than to NEEDLE with tbs af-
fairs Of state. Yet pponJtLe decision Of
these men hung the destiny, the prosper
ity Of unnumbcred millions. Some spoke
Objections, some Of permitting things to
take their course, and io.hers, more
hardy. Of resistance, while not even the
most fearless dare mention the thought Of
liberty. British spies are watching them
with jealous eyes. british guards patrol
sbeDstreets, and British prisons threaten
them with death and starvation. A
dreary and unwelcomo fate seems settling
over them, as spell-bound they .imidly
Hook each ether in the face aud fear to
move hand or foot. A man slowly md
deliberately arises in their midst, and
gazes around calmly, coldly and indiifcr-
emily, with god.liko determination writ.
ten upon bis brow. The assembly feel
that storm is.brewing-thatsthe dread
cd long-put.off. crisis has at length ar
rived, and an arc flushed into silent, SOL
emn. awful expectation. With breast
.heavi,g with passion, be opens bis lips,
pouring forth bis thoughts at first like The
smooth water Of some gently gliding
strcam-then changing in resemblance
to the maddening roar Of swollen tor.
rent-then to the laundering accents Of
the mighty deep itself, rolling. swelling,
tearing, breaking, dashing everything to
pieces within its reach. The spell was
broken-the last link was severed that
had for years bound the form of Freedom
to the iron car Of Tyranny, and Liberty
took up her abode in new land, never
again to leave it until her children fail to
yield to the voice Of Truth, Wis
dom and Justice. How much We owe to
the great orator Of Virginia and bis illus
trious associates And what might have
been our fate, il they had been found
wanting in those hours Of darkness that
.tried mems souls" ~,
Far out upon the bosom of the broad
Atlantic lies a beautiful island-the gem
Of the ocean, the pride of the sea-far-
famed in story and in song as tho lowell
est habitation of man-upon which
courteous Creator seemed to have lavish.
cd His choicest gifts-from whose tom
pies and groves have issued living streams
of wit, eloquencc and poetry, to elevate
and cnlighten mankind-wLose sons have
fought successfully The battles Of every
one except their own, and
1.-THE harp that once through Tara's hall
The soul Of Music shed,
Now hangs as mute on Tains wall
AS though that soul was dead ~
Her and our common oprressor came.
She resisted, but failed and to-day she
lies bleeding beneath the despot's heel
painful and lasting reminder Of what We
might have been, had not Fortune smiled
upon the nntiring efforts Of those daunt.
less spirits who placed eur iniaut country
at once III the front rank of earth's ma.
lions, never to giveup the station she
had won SO nobly and adorns SO well.
until, broken asunder by the internal
strifes and dissensions Of those who owe
her most and should love her best, she
stands forth on object Of pity--a mere
wreck Of her former greatness. Then,
md not till then, will men learn what
they have lost by their blindness, into-
lama ,pd enlEstu... ty....ll.,,, II