The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-21
Apples of Gold.

The ringing sentences with VIII ich George
William Curtis closed bis Grafton at Concord
on the nineteenth of April deserve to be read
OF all Americans. The story of the fight
was told in that finished language of which
Mr.. Curtis is master, and the strides which
tue country has made during the hundred
years that are gone were described in exult-
Ing tones. The orator realized that we en-
ter upon the second century of the republic
with responsibilities which our fathers could
by no possibility foresee: and after mention
ing some of the more obvious changes in the
conditions under which the republic is to be
maintained, he proceeded in these noble
words, to close his address and to. rebuke that
weak and wicked scepticism, which doubts
the maintenance of free Institutions:
When was there ever an auspicious day for
humanity that was not one of doubt and of
conflict? The robust moral manhood of
America confronts the future with steadfast
faith and indomitable will, raising the old
battle-cry OF the race for larger liberty and
surer law. 1t sees clouds, indeed, as Sam
Adams saw them when this day dawned. But
Win nlm IT. sees through and through them,
and with bIm thanks God for the glorious
morning, There is, indeed, fashion Of scep-
ticism OF American principles even among
some Americans, but it is one of the oldest aud
wJrst fashions in our history. There is a cyni-
clsm which fondy fancies that in its beginning
the American Republic moved proudly toward
the future with all the splendid assurance of
the Persian Xerxes descending on the shores of
Greece, but that it sits to day among shattered
hopes. like Xerxes above his ships at Salamis
And when was this golden age? Was it when
John Adams appealed from the baseness of
his own time the orpatpr pAndOr and natriO-
tlsm OF this? Was it when Fisher Ames
mourned over lost America, like Rachel for her
children, and would not be comforted? Was
1t when William Writ said that he sought in
vain for a man fit for the presidency or for
great esponsibility? Was it when Chancellor
Living Ston saw only threatening future, be-
cause Congress was so feeble? Was it when
we ourselves saw the industry, the commerce,
the society, the church, the courts, the states
manship the conscience, of America SEEM
ingly PROSTATE under the foot of slavery?
Was this the golden age of these sentimental
sighs this the region behind the north wind of
these repvoachful regrets? And is it the
young nation which with prayer and faith,
will, has lifted it's bruised and broken body
from beneath that crushing heel, whose future
is distrusted?
Nay this very cynlcism is one of the foes that
We must meet and conquer Remember, fellow
citizens, that the impulse of republican govern
Bridge, has shaken every government in the
world, but has been itself wholly unshaken by
them. 1t has made monarchy impossible in
France. 1t has freed the Russian serfs. 1t has
united Germany against ecclesiastical despot-
ism. 1t has flashed into the night Of Spain. 1t
has emanclpated Italy, and dlscrowned the
pope as king. In England, repeating the disa-
bilities of Catholic and Hebrew, it forecasts the
separation of church and state, and step by
step transforms monarchy into another form of
~ l. Eo rlOpsA ,fd
story! In a tremendous war between men of
the same blood-men who recognize and re-
spect each others valor-we have proved what
was always doubted, the prodgous power, en-
durance and resources of republic, and in
emancipating an eighth of the population we
have at last gained the full opportunity of the
Republican principle. Sir, it is the signal fe-
lici,y of this occasion that on the one hum
dredth anniversary of the first battle in the
War of American Independence, may s2lute
you, who led to victory the citizen soldiers OF
American liberty, as the first elected President
of the free republic of the United States. For
tunate. man! to whom God has given the price
less boon of associating your name with that
triumph of freedom which will presently bind
the East and the West, the North and the
South, in closer and more perfect union for
the establishment of justice and the security of
the blessings of liberty than these states have
ever know.
Fellow citizens, that union is the lofty task
impose upon US. And what cloud of doubt so
dark hangs over US as that which lowered
above the colonies when the troops of the king
marched into this town. and the men of Mid
dlesex resolved to pass the bridge? With their
faith and their will we shall win their victory.
No royal governor, indeed, sits in yon stately
capital, no hostile fleet for many year has
vexed the waters of our coasts, nor is any army
but our own ever likely to tread our soil. Not
such are our enemies to-day. They do not
come proudly stepping to the drum beat with
bayonets flashing in the morning sun. But
wherever party spirit shall strain the ancient
guarantees of freedom, or bisotry and igno-
rance shall lay their fatal hands upon educa-
ton. or the arrogance of caste shall strike at
equal rights, or corruption shall poison the
very springs Of national life, there, minutemen
of liberty, are your Lexington Green and Con-
cord Bridge, and as you love your country and
your kind, and you'd have your children rise
up and call you blessed, spare not the enemy!
Over the bills, out of the earth, down from the
clouds, pour ia resistless might. Fire from ev-
cry rock and tree, from door and window, from
hearthstone and chamber; hang upon his flank
and rear from noon to sunset and so through a
land blazing with holy ind dgnation hurl the
hordes of ignorance and corruption and In JUS
tice back, back, in utter defeat and ruin.