Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-07-14
THE NfNETY-FOURTH ANN
VEESARY AT ARGOS, IND

VEESARY AT ARGOS, IND
OS the fourth day of July, 1870, ac-
cording to previous arrangement, the
citizens of the quiet town of Argos
assembled to celebrate the ninety-fourih
birth day of the United States. The
regulai orator of the day, and the band
OF music engaged not being present.
The assembly was called to order, and
the programme announced by Col. Thos.
Sumner. The proceedings were as follows.
Invocation by Rev MIR. Wood.
Reading of the Declaration by DR..
Gould.
After which DR.. Gould delivered the
with strict attention.
FELLOW AMERICAN CITIZENS When
our pilgrim fathers. guided by an Al
mighty hand, landed on Plymouth rock
they scattered the seeds OF great and
mighty republic, the cornerstone of
which was Liberty" Oppressed where
they were-oppressed in every particular
they bravcd the winds OF heaven and
the storms Of the angry deep. and in mid
winter Ian He'd on rugged Plymouth rock
They were brave and true. Independence
aud fearlessuess were their peculiar char
acteristics. aud il appears that God select
Ell item 10 Law the broad foundation of
nation destined to I've unexampled ami
glorious. They were peculiarly wise. and
when the tocs,n of the revolutionary
war was sounded. we find that the seeds
sown by our pu-itanic fathers gave to our
heroic ancestry wisdom aud strength.
while the counsels of Great Britain were
strangely pcrplcxed. Wisdom f"rsook
the councils of Britain, and her people
covered to a palpably Ignorant policy
And we find nv fellow-cit,zens, that when
the happiness and destiny OF unborn
millions were at stake, the immortal
Washington appeared on the arena OF
batile-and who was first In war, first
In peace. anti first IN the hearts of his
countrymen." lie met the veterans Of
many hard fought fields, aud they were
defeated. And the framing of the COZ
stiiu'ion of this great nation was charac
terised by peculiar wisdom. aud stands as
pillar IF our countrvis glory. But who
can read the page of the ety-fourth
anniversary OF our independence, and
not be struck with establishment and
amaze mcnt? Our progress and develop
ment have been unprecedented in the
history Of the world. Since the establish
ment of our independence, prosperity has
crow ned us in our every effort. Even In
war have We been prosperous, and So
mighty hsve we become. that even war
scarcely disturbs our quiet, or checks our
development. And America is destined
TO still more proud. elevated. and inn
pOrtant position among the nations of the
earth. Her voice will swell 10 louder
note in othor nations. and wherever the
star-gemmed banner waves in the free air
of heaven, her influence will be felt, and
q spirit aroused which oceans cannot
quench or armed mul'itudes subdue.
The light of freedom will, ere long, blaze
o. every island. sea. and mountain on the
globe. until MILLIONS and millions will be
guided by the beacon light. We have
proclaimed universal emancipation from
chains and slavery, and man--made after
the image OF his Cre1tor-assumes his
legitimate place in the scale of being.
But now. nv fellow-citIzens, while we
are at this time so great and mighty, let
us again revert To- ninety-fOur years ago.
Then they were thirteen colonies, under
government of The mother cOuniry--colo
nies sparsely settled. but the Inhabitants
of which were animated bv the inspiring
spirit of freedom and independence.
Finding themselves irammsliel and
oppressed, and living in a great territory.
which, by its geographical position
should be a separate and independent
government lhey rcbclled against the
mother country, ard 81 years ago today,
at Independence Hail, 80 a. brave men
rs ever brea,hed the air Of heaven de-
clared the independence of the Colonies
and dissolved all allegiance To the gov
ernment OF Great Britain. Then followed
war of seven years-sang'iinary war
he destitute, bare footed handful of col :
Onial soldiers conientliny agains, the
numerous and well disciplined forces of
Britain, aud ~ the end being victorious;
giving To us the inalienabie right of self
Cover nment Poor and destitute did our
progcDitors secure for us The freedom OF
speech and liberty Of The Press, making
every man an independent sovereign
giving him voice at all times IN the Sc
lection Of his rulers Poor though We
were at that tiine Providence smiled
auspiciousIv upon US, and soon We were
great nation, commanding aud receiving
The regard and respect of the whole
world. 1t requires great tax upon tue
mind 10 conceive of the terrible conflict
of The revolution which secured To- Us SO
MANY blessings, one of which is the priv
lie re OF meeting in This grove today as
independent American citizens. God
bless our revolutionary fathers. After
we had enjoyed the blessings Of free
government for more than a quarter OF u
century. and had becume one at the
greatest natl CHS on The globe. Great
Britain imposed upon Us by the notorious
stamp act, and war oi two years ensued,
in which we came off nlore tlan con
auerors Then, for nearly half a century,
we went forward with gigantic strides,
in the road of prosperity and greatness,
with scarcely ripple on the great sea OF
our nations develop menl-at least no
rjpple that disturbed the sail of The ship
Of stale But, finally, a few years ago, a
terrible internecine war cDnvusei the
country from centre To circumference,
and for time the destruction of our ma
tiopa.ity was imminent. Finally however,
the foe was conquered the integrity
of the repub ic maintained, and the star
pemmed ensign of our land again trium-
phantly waved over every inch of Amer
lean soil. Tens OF thousands of graves
billow the South, yet our population is
so great thar the loss is scarcely noticed
in the busy scenes oflife. What glo-
rious country. Ii is the migh,iest among
the mighty nations OF the earth, and
war that would destroy any of our neigh
boring governments scarcely checks the
tide OF American progress and velop-
ment. While we today celebrate the 9th
anniversary Of that boid and fearless &C
ton of our foretsthers in declaring to a
great ration, with stubborn ruler, that
they were free, and that to secure free
dom to US, Their children, they pledged
their lives, their fortunesaand their sacred
honor, other people are bowed down by
tyranny aud oppression. having but little
more liberty than the brute which grszes
on American soil. Then my fellow
citizens. should we love the principles
of the founders OF our Republic and en-
deavor to act In such manner as 10 Sc