National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-12-25

THE CENTENNIAL CHRISTMAS YEAR.
The bounty of Heaven TO men is all
worthy of the sincerest thanks; its bounty
to nations demands a national song of praise
and the profoundest worship Of the one
and infinite Source of all good. The de-
vout historian of thrones, empires and ma
tionalities is lifted up to the most sublime
conceptions of the power, wisdom and
mercy of God when contemplating the won
derful record of the progress Of the United
States since it was babe among the Gov
ernments of the earth. One hundred years
ago this morning the divine and glorious
gift of the Spirit of Liberty filled every
true American heart, and nerved every
patriot arm to prepare and sustain that
mighty declaration which broke q CALLING
yoke, emancipated a nation and set up
guide, which shall 'fout.last the Pyramids,
to all people seeking freedom and unity.
In that one gift of the Spirit of Liberty all
our splendid history is concluded-the
matches feats of valor Of American war
riors the proud and neVer-iading laurels of
ourpoets, painters and sculptors; the peerless
fame of our statesmen and scholars, and all
the illustrious achievements Of our invent
OTIS and men of science, whose arms reach
out and grasp the last secrets of Nature
ITSELF In that bright, eternal fire of hearts
on the altar of country, liberty was purified
and sanctifed, and from that hour to
this its most beneficent blessings have
rested, like a pavement of stars,
over every foot of our progress. With the
gift of liberty came heroes and demigods 10
protect it, a race of men of capacious
breasts, powerful brains, and undaunted
nerve, the apostles and evangelists of the
most precious ideas concerning Govern
ment, ideas 80 FURNISHED on the wheel of
experience that they illuminated the world.
All nations have seen the star of American
liberty in the West, and are coming to wor-
ship it, but on this Centennial Christmas
morning it is becoming to reflect that the
glory of this star is but borrowed splendor
from that Totally of Light and Liberty
which bathed by its presence the plains of
Judea in a sea of beauty nearly two thou
sand years ago. God is the Lord of this
nation" said our forefathers, and in rever-
ent obedience to His divine precepts they
won independence, and established Gov
eminent in which the governed are the
arbi.ers and masters of their own destiny.
Their legacy has been faithfully preserved.
Like prudent husbandmen, their children
have increased its value, have added to the
estate, until now every oppressed person
in existence may share in its abundance,
and is invited to the distribution of its bless
ings. Without a Saviour born and Sa-
viour crucifed; without his example
of freedom and martyrdom; without
his religion of love and his forever
beautiful golden rule, the history
of the first one hundred years of
the United States. would be a. blank in
the records of nations, and the first of the
great Powers Of earth would be like the
dead moon, without an atmosphere and
without life. Then, as nation, we ought
to rejoice and be thankful. 1t is our coun-
try's proudest, happiest Christmas morn
ing. We have in our lap the unequaled
presents of glory, power. and dominion, of
the profound regard and admiration of all
foreign countries, of peace and prosper
ity within our walls" of righteousness
within our palaces" of civil and religious
liberty, of freedom from sectarian control
and interference, of the great system of
common schools, of the natural but match
less power of an unfettered press, of true
and tried guardianship of the Constitution
and the laws, and to all these is added the
muniicent promise of progress in the fu-
ture. Truly these are Christmas gifts
which only the generous hand of Infinite
Love has the power to bestow, and to-day,
in the keen enjoyment of them all, it is the
duty of every true American to unite for
the increase of righteousness, for we are
taught it is that which "exaltetha nation"
The better and wiser men are the better
they serve the State the more noble they
are the more noble their country becomes,
and the deeper their study the deeper will
be the realization and comprehension of
the resources and possibilities Of our Gov
eminent. This is certainly enough to
create a new ambition, to sustain q new
effort for the advancement and exaltation
of the United States. We have invited all
nations to come TO our shores, and to bring
with them records and trophies of their
civilization, and to place them beside our
own in honorable competition. Our nation
will be the host, and nations will be the
guests at its table. Let them be enter
tanned with all the warmth and gladness,
with all the genial friendship, in the beau
tiful spirit of brotherly love which sur
rounds and pervades this Centennial
Christmas day, and let us never forget to
honor and worship the Source ofliberty.