The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-07-10
seechin-lr to the Ruler of the Universe for en-

We're many and grievous and were read To you Us
set forth i'll the Declaration of Independence.
have no desire, on this OccasiOn, to weary
| YOUR patience or consume your Time by narra-
ting the CAUSES, or dwelling mt length upon the
circumstances connected with the struggieof 40.
The historian has chrOnicled Inc events oil tllat
revolution; he has written of the heroes, who
sacrificed their lives in the camp anu Held, that
their ~posterity might enjoy the blessings OF free
dom and liberty; he has told you OF the deep
wrong perpetrated by the British ministry and
parliament; he has written of u Washington,
whom God raised up to espOuse the caure OF JUS
tice and humanity; he has spoken OF the poverty
of our armies, their scanty supplies, anu how,
ut times, their strength almost lailed them, and
their hearts, wild with grief, dcspairetl OF sue
Cess. The historian has recorded all this, anu
even more, and the child, scarce able 10 lisp the
name of Washington, is made familiar not only
with the history OF the dawn of Rrpubiicanisni,
but the perpetuity of Il government ushered into
existence by the success OF our revolutionary
armies. Why, ehen, need | revert TO the heroes
who fe. at Bunker Hill, at Saratoga, ut York
town, at Trenton, and at Princeton.
Cold, icy cold, must he the American heart
that does not pulsate faster, that does not glow
warmer on this our Nations birthday. And
when our eyes are turned toward that flag, the
national banner Of our Republic, all. covered
over with glory, remembering that II was
adopted in \. d.. liz, consisting of thirteen
stripes, and to-day, instead Of thirteen States,
We have gradually increased that number to thir-
ty-seyen, and in lieu of !, 0O0, Oo0, We can boast
of a., 900 900 of people, an increase hitherto
unknown, and altogether unparllelledin ancient
or modern times, who, from among us, cannot
say | am proud to be an American citizen? The
grand and glorious achievements of the past, the
bright and promising prospects oil the fiitlire,
shall be transmitted to postcriiy, without Il star
obscured or II single stripe erased. That flag;
it tells OF triumphant victories III The cause of
freedom and humanity; II cheers and %enl.vens
our patriotism; 1t quickens our pulse, ana
whenever We behold its cOlOrs floating TO the
brcezes of Heaven, our patriotism Is renewed,
our pride in American institutions, and in every
thing that pertains 20 America, Is made holier,
purer and more enduring.
That flag, when the american citizen stands
upon foreign shore, or in q foreign port, think
ing of America anil home, though he may he
surrounded by kind and sympathlZing friends,
when he stretches his eye far TO the westward,
ana bchOlds its colors ut tOp-nlast, approaching
from DER the billOwy deep, he clasps his hands
TO his bosom, the tears trickle adOwn his cheeks,
and he eNclaims this is my ilagi under lis ample
folds there is security to the American citizen,
wherever he may be found. Ii affords protection
to my property and life, when all other measures
shall have proven iruitless. Ii symboliZes pa
triotism, justice and humanity, development and
progress.
''The star spangled banner, long may it wave,
O'er the land OF the free, anu the home oil The
brave
And the American eagle-the adopted emblem
of our countryside you ever realize its magni-
tude? and | am making no spread eagle speech
to-day. Why, ladies and gentlemen, he stands
W III Ia kEiA t''N el''
tains, his left upon the Rocky mountains, his
right wing drops in the waters OF the Atlantic,
his left in the waters of the Pacific, he darts his
tail into the Gulf Of Mexico, and at the same
time, he qucnches his i~nsatiate thirst from the
fresh waters that flow from the northern lakes
such is the emblem of our glorious Republic; n
true representation of its strength, majesty and
stability. Long may he live, with his plumaSe
unsuliici, his strength mimpaired, his majesty
unspDttci.
Frllow-citizens, we meet to-day, not as parti-
.,,. "a al ..,.s,-
on the political questions of the day, not to re-
viye parry feeling and party prejudice, not to
advance our opinions IN reference TO any dogma
that might please the fancy ofone set OF men To the
disgust Of others, but for the purpose of laying
aside all isms and crccds, uniting in one COM
mon cause.-The celebration of our Nations
birthday. Let the welkin ring with the jubilant
voices OF all here present to-day, and may each
| one. rs he or she retires from the grove, feel that
| this has been n day of joy for all; and, though
he may entertain different views and opinions
rs 10 the manner Of conducting the affairs of the
Church or State, that We have an equal interest
| in thu perpetuity of the best AMI only strictly
Republican form of government under the shin
ing orb of heaven.
consecrate anew our devotion TO those princi-
| pies which were so dearly purchased IN a str1Ig-
gle of nearly eight Years duration, which cost
the United States Slj1, 900, O1', anta still greater
| cnst-thr lives Of thousands of nocle patriots,
| increased by the suffering Of sclf-denying pa
triuts, but who, thank God, were rewarded ut
last with that priceless freedom for which they
had sighed, struggled AMI blsd. The sur
render of Lord CORVALLIS was the final stroke
that drove terror into the hearts Of the British
ministry, which fell upon Lord North like IL peal
of thunder from a cl"ullc-s sky. In that me
| morubl. surrender, the British lion fOresaw that
he could no longer rule a people who inhaled the
breath of freedom with The very air they
brci,!Icl. Ii Is true, with independence came
freedom, but IL was accompanied with extreme
poverty; hui Il people Injured To hari>hils ~
were the people who composed the American
colonies, whose homes iIal oilen been rendered
,lcsulatc 10y Indian depre'tatIOn>, whose skies
wprcuiien Illuminated by midnight fire, of burn
Ing cabins, The virgin soil Redeemed with the
| blood OF their victims, with the hope Of liberty
and freedom, poverty, cold and hunger, served
TO only fIsIen closer the ciOr',s OF sympathy AMI
| affection, and seal their hearts in bonds oil love
| ami pitv. slowly, but surely, We haSr emerged
from The scenes Of >uiicrlng and want, when
followed the dawn OF our independence, yet hot
without some rcvcrsr>. There are blois upon
| history'- record, blnu'i-Staincd, and unworthy
the intelligence of an enlightened people.
Would to God | could forget that my people were
ever engaged in Il iratricidal war. Woul'l that
| that immortal record could have been transmit
ted TO future generations unstaineti, unsillit'l
and unimpaircl. Would thai that evil hour hail
not oyertakcn Us, at least i'll my day; that III
wears To come, when the passions AMI preju'iice>
Of those days OF conflict shall have sunk 10 rest
with uS, ~ | hope and trust in the bright future,
we should have N" mlsSiyIhS,, II" regrets, no
punctur,4t cDnscicnrcS. But alas thr world VIII
not. il, mankind will read with bcamlne eve
and ihrobbing heart. And yet, with all our re-
verses, We have still reason to be proud OF
America, proud oi our institutions, believing
TINT We are moving on Il higher plane, amt
working out a noblrr destiny Tor humanity than
uny of t!ic foremost nation, Of the globe.
1hr lessons Oi The past, though dearly bought,
may prove, however,, beneficial IN III. end.
There must ever needs he II conflict between
right aud wrong, truth and error. Bountifully
pour out your ~yIupathies with the scattered lew
who have silently sworn 10 ,lethronc Iniamou
wrong AMI injustice, erecting in their stead, Ina-
jrs,ic truth ami right.
Truth, tho crushed To earth, Will rise again
The eternal wears of tod ar, hers
This irreprr,sihle conflict must continue. Tn,
nations al wrong may triumph Tor awhile, TN,
auNilliaries ofdespOtism may rally round count
less binnl-stainv,i banners, upon which snOu!'
he written the WORT spOlinti m; the assassIu, -
liberty may, for II brief period, pursue their ne
furious vocation; hut high above the groNrllin.
base foes of freedom, like the sword of Damo-
Giles of old, Is suspended the pent up wrath q