The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-07-15
For the Register.
From the Quaker City.
PHILADELPHIA, july 5. 1873.

Mr.. Editor The Fourth of July I.
What associations fill the mind ; what
reflections aud remembrances crowd the
memory, and what sentiments OF patiiot.
ism inspires the breast Of every true A
merican, at every recurring anniversary
uf.this halowed day, as the bechiDg can-
non throughout the land salute the morn.
ing twilight, reminding us Of the privi.
lege the propriety, aud the duty Of COM
memora'iny this, the natal day Of Amcri-
can Independence. Ninety-scven years
Yesterday have rolled backward into the
past, since the brightest gem in the COR
ouet of Briton's colonial possessions was
virtually wrested from her. Although
for the succeeding seven years apprehen-
sion and anticipation attended. as well in
the British mind as in that Of the colo
MES, yet, AT the end Of that period, our
now high soaring eagle became fledgcd,
and her now extended wings stretch them
selves from the Aroostook forests to the
Rio Grande, and from Plymouth s Rock
to the golden sands of the Pacific. Hap.
py, proud United States She has al.
ready demonstrated to the world that nei
thcr foes from without nor foes from with.
in can destroy her unity or delay her pro-
gress in her onward march neither
thwart or check her to that extent, but
she can beat back all foes, and bridge all
.chasms that have, or may, be dug to en-.
gulf her, and continue her majestic tread
at will. Eastern monarchs and oriental
despots may jeer at our republican form
Of government, secretly wish US dissevcr
ed, predict our downfall, and still essay
to doabt our inherent power to govern
ourselves. But to-day, less than cen
tury since our " Magma Charta" was Ut
tered and signed in that memorable hal
in Chestnut street, and even before tn,
dew Of youth is fully brushed from hel
yet unwriukled brow, she stands promi
neutly in the foreground, and far advap
ced in most respects, Of all other natiou
Oh the foot.stool OF the Most High, old
proud and bomba,tic England not except
ed. She is already the va.guard of con
,titutopa! republicanism, and beacon
light becRoning to France, Spain, and al
other nations that may have been alread
lnoculated with the germ o. delnoc,ati
republican principles, to come and d.
likewise. Aud she is already bazin!
head light to all uatious of the earth bot
/ civilized aud barbarous. Aud even no,
no Jealousy can delract, no opposition "a
check, ~ power eau outrival her, aud n
assault can impair the glory aud prestig
OF her arms aud the time is near whe
she will be the leading aud plotting pow
er on earth, in all that constitutes tru
exaltaliou and transceDdent nations
greatness aud glory.
Philadelphiu exceeded herself in oil
serving aud houorlng the Fourth, as We
she ought, us we all near the centeunii
anniversary, ut which time this city wi
be the Mecca toward which all eyes wi
be turned. The public prluts have alread
narrated The Interesting proceedings ,
the dry, the rnaiu feature of which W,
the formal transfer by the Fairmoul
Park Commissioners, to the Centennii
Commission, oi 465 acres, to be occupie
Tor Centennial purposes. 1t was som
thug Of a disappointment to many thI
the President was unable to be presen
as he had hoped to De himself; but
cabinet was here IN force. The Cover
ofs from u number OF States were lik
wise preseut, besides great number
uOtables from differen; sections of A
country. Another interesting feature
the day was, to me, the annual, or rath
semi-anuual gathering Of the veterans
the war OF 1912, as they assemble twi,
a year-the 4th OF July aud the 22d
February. They met in one of the di
trlct court rooms in the lndependen
: Hall building. Forty-two responded
the roll call The venerable Secreta
reported eight to have died since the
last meeting, in February, They ha
retired from the battle field Of life, a.
it is hoped they have obtained perp,
ual furlough in the upper skies. Sol
J of them were bowed beneath the weig
OF years, others walked erect, and appea
ed as if there might be still many yea
allotted them. The Oldest one of the
sociation present was ninety-one years
age, the youngest seventy.ive. yenel
7 bic patriots /! God grant that some
you may live to help round up the gr.
centennial year OF our national politi,
existence. The public festivities of /