Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-07-12

late in the afternoon. All soda water and 9th.
er harmless proparationsb eing exhausted, lag |
er aud other drinks were resorted u, aud may
have been the cause OF the FIRE. works ending
in perfect hzzle. But the day passed of
pleasantly. There was large attendance,
much enjoy ment, and large nambers are wish
ing the 4th would come twice a year.
The following is
JUDGE HAAG'S ADDRESS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Other days and
other occasions may be given TO the discussion
Of grave questions Of national policy, to partisan
warfare and to political dissertations, but not
this one. To-day is the nations Sabbath, and
we NEE, not in that controversial spirit which
woald rake the dust from our neghbor's cbarac-
ter aud Law bare the deformity OF the system
which he maintains but with thankful hearts
and willing minds. we meet to learn something
uf the patriotism, the heroic fortitude. the self
sacrifice and the sublime greatness of our faith
ers, and in the prophetic dreams read something
Of the bright and glorious destiny Of our young
Republic. We meet in obedience to the voice Of
anterior generations to give evidence anew o. our
confidence in the fabric of government establish
ed by revolutionary ancestors and cnutended for
By those who sleep within few rods from where
we now tread. Here thea are subjects throng-
mon history over which we all rejoice, com
mou interest to regard, common hopes to cher
ish.
The glorious anniversary OF Iudepenisncs is
ike a messenger from out the dust of gathering
years, with solemn admonitinns 20 man. IL cnmes
not down to us like the recollection Of corona
tion to a deluled people who have bartersd their
| liberties for transient gold; it comes not down
like the birthday of a tyrant upon the guilty err
rand Of immoFtaliKing human infamy il comes
not down 10 tell Of the nlagnhcence OF thrones
! and mouarchies =; but with all the cheer OF q
beacon light, and all the gravity OF monument
| as often as the rushing year grows warm in the
| ardor Of his fight, It comes TO testify OF "ths
| times that tried mems souls" and proclaimed to
| the world that man was free
Centuries have rolled away since the Rubicou
gained its sad Immortality. The sacred retreats
| where Liberty had dwelt, the glorious goddess
| Of noble hearts were filed with the foul breath
| OF usurpstinns, and Freedom went forth an exile
| from the classic fields 1T Of Greece and Rome.
! She found but one aveuger in Brutus who, 10
| disappoiut the ho2ea oi wicked vengeance, gave
his life's blood to the edge Of his own sword.
She had but one friend in Winkelried, who
| could "uske way for liberty and eie." True
here and there in history We 6sd . struggle to be
free but the; appear only like scattered stars iE
| a clouded sky. LiDsrty was indeed an sAi'e
| from every land and inund refuge a'ane on tl,,e
mountain peaks of Switzerland, until unil NE nS.ins
~ReFs 'hatGre bloomsd in virgin pride" Thi.h-
er, then, she took her fight and set her wearied
| foot upon the shore Of the nav world,
When her few woi shippers who bad fed from
| the persecution 3 If the old world bad planted
the standard of Freedom at Plymouth and at
jamestown, aud when that standard had attrac-
ted thither the free in heart from all quarters OF
the globe; when those who mnstercd so we'll
At her shrine were rearing in the wilds Of Amer
lea temple to ths Goddess of the Free, then did
opp esaion follow her here an9 attempt to fsslen
to that ter.ple the chains and felters Of rvisou
and N force upon her disciple the mi zhty wrongs
OF tyranny. But. thank God, the united voice OF
tho Colonies then caught those words OF irs
which shook the stormy soul Of Henry, and cried
| give me liberty, or give me death y II was
then thar noble little band Of patriots could step
forth and sag to rovaliy."All men are created
equal !" that the King Of England is "uutt to be
tbs ruler Of free penple." and that ''thess Uni
ted Colonies are. and Of right ought to be free
and independent States T.
| Nnety-s years ago this yerv day, Liberty
was resurrected, again born in the world then
was America dedicated to her II tyranny
thought that Liberty had fingered with Bru,us
| or that she had gone to sleep with Tell, when
PhBnix.like she arose from the blood Of Lsxing-
tnn and Bunker Hill. when proud England bow
ed her lofty head at Yorktown. she wrote in her
own crimson blood the story Of her sad mistake.
The hours Of the Revolution have passed away
j how great the change Then we were q vast
wilderness, a continent OF unlimited forest-ths
hcme Of the fierce savage and bowling panther
! Now We ars broad and beautiful land Of eulti-
vated fields, producing everything that makes q
great aad mighty nation, Then modest flag
adorned with thirteen stars aih xsd TO q flagstaff
between the Atlantic aud the mountains waved
over three millions Of freemen. Now a broad
enslER, bearing upon its ample folds not thirteen
but thirty seven stars nailed to flagstaff planted
not upon the narrow ornhnes between the ocean
and the mountains, but on the mountains. in the
valleys not only Of the Atlantic, but OF the Pacif-
ic and the Great Gulf Of the South, af1rdinE
protection. not to three, but to thirtyeight mil
lions Of citizens Of an ocean-baund Republic
But physical greatness 10 not all that kind
Providence has bestowed upon US. Our insitu-
ti0ns have been prosperous, our csmm rec ubi-
quitous, our Intelligence preooei1ns, our wealth
immense. What was lacking in former Repub-
lies in natural aids aud high toned morality, was
not so far distant that we coul mt grasp il and
hold 1t As the pillar Of0ur peculiar strength. All
that former times showed in energy aud master
spirits we had. in addition IN their instructive
examples. Nor have our fruits been Inconsider-
able in the fields Of science aud literature. Eng
land may boast her Newton, but America can
| never forget her Franklin. The Emerald lsle
brought forth Phillips and Ourrsn, but the world
will feel Ia the end OF time the electrifying pas
sion Of Clay and the strsng and pOliShed logic Ol
Webster. Though Byron "tnuchsd his harp and
| nations heard sntrAnced." vet with ss chaste
Imagination though less sublimity at times, our
own poets have aspred TO be subjects OF crili
cism.
While we have thus with giant strides been
marching on the highway prosperity We some-
times. 10 the pride Of our strength and manhood
seem TO forget the days Of our Obscurity aud in
fancy. and 1t is well for us on occasions like
this tn pause and reflect upon the moral gran
deur and the sublime courage Of the hny-sil
Colonial delegates who drew up the eiUQ uenl
and immortal Declaration OF Independence, and
to the maiutainance Of which they pledged theiI
elves. fortunes and ther sacred honors." TheV
knew how herce'y the mother country would
coustrue such an act into dislOyalty they knew
that the white cliffs Of Albion would rsdden with
the Kings anger; they knew that II his arm
VA strong enough he would crush every mar
In thei. little hand they knew, thank God, theJ
we're reaay for it.Ihat only In a terrible baptism
OF Ace and blobi so9ld this new doctrine be hu
man liberty be proved I'D made,
"Liks the covenants OF God, to hold
From thence through all lhs world -
How heroically great was.it, then, IL those hfty
six men 10 throw their Declaration nf R sbts Int
the face ofths haughtest King Of Euraps,N and
tell him thaths was ''unAt to be the ruler % 9
free people !" that hsncafuTth the thirtsan Co, o
mics would never bud in feGlty to the English
throne
II appears to nue. that we have not yet learned
to appreciate as highly as we ought the eAceed,
ing greatness of our fathers, nor to contemplate
the expansive and generous nature Of the work
they accomplished. Our revolution was the em-
bodiment Of heroism which stands unsurpassed
in the history Of the world. From the beKinBing
to the end were exhibited some Of the master-
pieces Of human action.
But we can oulv form correct idea of the
greatness Of our fathers when We understand
| what was the commanding, the central idea 0i
| the revolution. II was not simply resistance N
British cruelty. Throwing few boxes of tea
0Verbt ard and refusing u be taxed. without
representation, were causes, il is true but theirs
was something greater than all this that brought
! Il about and CENTRALIZED its mighty impulses.
Even II Edniund Bnrks's proposition had been
c,nesdsd. separation between the CelJuies aud