Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-04-21
Address of Ralph Waldo Emerson at
Concord.

Ebenezer Hubbard farmer who inherited
the land in the village on which the British
troops committed depreciation, and who had q
deep interest in the history of the raid, erected
many years ago flagstaff on his land and ney-
or neglected to hoist the Stars and Stripes on
the 10Th of April and the 4th OF July. II greved
him deeply that yonder monument, erected by
the town in 1885, should be built on the ground
which the enemy stood instead of Oh that
which the Americans occupied in Concord 8
fight, and he bequeathed in his will sum of
money to the town of Concord on condition that
monument should be erected on the identical
ground occupied by our minute-men and militia
on that day, and another sum of money on the
conditions that the town should build foot
bridge across the river where the old bridge
stood in 1775.
The town accepted the legacy built the
bridge, and employed Daniel French to prepare
4 statue to be erected on the specified spot.
Meanwhile Congress at Washington gave to the
town several bronze cannous to furnish the ar :
tist with material to complete his work. His
statue is before you. 1t was approved of by the
town, and to-day it speaks for itself
The sculptor conveyed the proper emblems Of
tho patriot farmer, who at the morning alarm
left his pillow to grasp his gun. He has built no
dome over his work, believing that blue sky
makes the best background The statue is the
first SERIOUS work OF our young townsman who
is now in Italy pursuing his profession.
We had many enemies and many friends in
England, but our one benefactor was King
George I'LL The time had ARRIVED for the pol
itical severance of America, that it might play
ts part In the history of the globe, and the way
Divine Providence was to give an insane king to
England. In the resistance of the colonies he
alone was immovable on the question Of force.
England was SO dear to us that the colonies
conld only be absolutely united by violence from
England, and only one man could compel the re-
sort to violence.
So the King became insane. Parliament wa
Fered all the ministers wavered, Lord North
wavered, but the King had the insanity of one
idea He was immovable; he insisted on the
impossible. 50 the army was sent, America was
instantly united, and the nation born. On the
10Th of April, 300 soldiers, with hostile intent,
we're sent hither from Boston. Nature itself
put on new face that day.
lou see the rude fields Of this morning, but
on the same day Of the ye ar 1915 rare forward
ness OF the Spring is recorded. 1t appears that
the patriotism OF the people SO hot that it
melted the snow and the rye waved on the Ugh
of April. We see gladly around us to-day rep
reaentatives of Acton, Bedford, Lincoln, and
Carlisle, once included in our town limits and
who were mindful Of their mother and risked
their lives for her on the memorable day we
celebrate
noble action. We say :" lis only the first steI
that costs" He who would carry out the rule Of
eight must often tax 9 his life in his hand. We
have worked to magnify the facts. Only three
Oh our men were killed al tlilb Drluge and q lev
others wounded, but here the Britieh army wal
first fronted and driven back, and il only tire,
men or only ono man had been slain It was tn,
first victory.
The thunderbolt falls on an inch of ground
but the light Of it fill the horizon. The British
Instantly retreated. We had no electric tele
graph, but the news OF this triumph of the farm
ers over the Kings troops sped through thu
country to the Carolinas with speed unknown
before, and ripened the colonies to inevitable
decision.
This sharp beginning OF real war was follow
ed sixty days later by the battle of Bunker Hill
then by Gen. Washingons arrival in Cambridge
and his redoubts on Dorchester Heights. Ii
one year and twelve days from the death of Isaa
Davis and Abner Hosmer 1920 vessels loaded witt
Gen. Howe and his army, 5000 men, and al
their effects, sailed out OF Boston Harbor neve
to return. 1t is proud and tender story.
challenge any lover Of Massachusetts to read tn
sixtieth chapter Of Bsncroft's history withou
taar ef Ian