Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-01-03

miliar facts which followed the desiruc-
ton of the East Iudia Company tea GA
thatmemorabie night, the. first result.
as you know, being the passage by Tar
lament of the boston port bill. Bat
the closing OF her port opened wide The
food gates of sympathy in all the sister
colonies-in none more widely than in
Virginia, and i'll no part OF the Old Do
minion more promptly than in my own
loved ~ alley ofthe Shenandoah" which
was the first in all the South TO send her
gallant sons to the defense of Boston
! when Boston was beleaguered And
NAV the memories of those days be the
means of binding all ourpeople together
and forever in the bonds OF reciprocal
friendship and harmonious union.
/ But, ladies and gentlemen, it is nay
duty ia be brief toni ght, and | fear |
have already trcspassed too long upon
/ your patience. Yet, cannot close these
rambling remarks without an expression
of my most grateful thanks, rs mcm-
ber of the Centennial Commission, ia
which | know that all my fellow men-
bers of the board will cordially unite
nv most grateful thanks 10 the ladies OF
the Centennial Committee for having
with so much tact and taste lnaugurated
and managed the movement 10 interest
the women of our country IN the canSt
of the Centennial. For, need no, say
to YOU, ladies and gentlemen, that IN the
Herculean task which the commission ~
required to perform, il will need the &C.
operation of the who'c country. Ii 1t
can obtain .hat o.! the women, II Will be
a most encouraging assurance OF oar
complete success. MS few undertakings
fail which women condeSccnd to favor,
and none deserve 10 succeed which can-
not command her approval. And tho
Centennial surely has claim to the
confidence and support OF every woman
as well as of every man, in the Union.
For never was a country more complete
Is committed to m enterprise than ours
is to this. II is committed to il by the
act of Congress, by the proclamation ot
the President, 10y the pronounced sane
,ion of his Cabinet, 10y all the Govern.
ors of all the States and Territories, and
bv nearly all the Legislatures 10y the
pulpit, the press, ard 10 the people; and
it is TO be hoped that the Senators an!
Representatives now in Congress as
Semblcd will heed the unmistakablc
wishes of their constituents. aud by
liberal appropriation make assurance
doubly sure that the Centennial shall bc
worthy of the country and ot the great
event il is intended To commemorate.
One word more When the great
and good founder Of your city made biz
famous treaty with the Indians under
the old elm tree that stood within can
non-rauge of the place where we are
now assembled, it is recorded that he
addressed them in these words: "We
meet upon the broad path of justice and
good will / will not call you brothers,
for brothers sometimes differ; | will
not call You children, for sometimes par
euts chide their children, neither will l
compare your friendship TO n chain,
which the rains will rust and fling
tree may break but will regard you
as part of the same body with myself
of the same flesh and the same blood.
Whercupon the Indians made their
memorable reply I'VE will live in loyc
with William Penn and his children as
long as the sun and moon shall cndnre.
Now, my friends of Philadelphia, let
me say to you, in conclusion, when the
people whom ] have the honor. in part,
to represent upon the National Com
mission, shall come, as come they will,
by thousands, to the Centennial, ,on their
joyful pilgrimage of patriotism 10 this
American Mecca, TO lay their voiiye Of.
feiines upon the altar Of our common
country, aud to "barc their brows' be-
fore the shrine where orr common lndc-
pendence had its birth--met as know
they will be here in this City OF Bro
therly Loye-inct "on the broad path
of Justice and good will, they will car
ry hence with a higher appreciation
than ever before of the grandeur Of our
country, the greatness of onr Govern
ment, and the value Of our Union) the
firm determination in their hearts that,
though rivers roll and mountains risc
between their Southern homes aud
yours, they will live in love with the
children of William Penn as long as the
sun and moon shall endure.