Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-04-22
Address OF Ralph waldo Emerson ~
Concord

Ebenezor Hubbard, farmer, who inherited
the land in the village OH which the British
troops committed depreciation, and who had
deep interest in the history Of the raid, erected
many years ago Flagstaff on his land, and nev-
or neglected to hoist the Stars and Stripes OIL
the 18th OF April and the 4th Of July. 1t grleved
him deeply that yOnder monument, erected by
the town in 1896, should be built Oh the ground
I which the enemy stood instead OF on that
which the Americans occupied in Concerd's
fight, aud lie bequesthed 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-lnen and militia
on that day, and another sum Of money oil the
conditions that the town should build foot
bridge across the river where tho old bridge
stood in ITS.
The town accepted the legacy, built the
bridge, and employed Daniel French to prepare
q statue to be erected Oh the specified spot.
Meanwhile Congress 1t Washington gave to the
town several brouze cannons to furnish the ar
| list with material to complete his work. His
statue il before you. 1t was approved Of by the
town, and to-day it speaks for itself.
The sculptor conveyed the proper emblems Of
the patriot farmer, who vt 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 il the
frst 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 Ill. The time had arrived for the pol.
itical severance Of America, that it might play
it's part in tie history Of the globe. aud the way
Divine Providence was to give an insane king to
England. In the resistance Of the colonies lie
alone was immovabe Oh the question Of force
England was so dear to US that the colone.
could only be absolutely united by violence from
England, and only one man could compel the re
sort to violence.
So the KING hecame ipsana psrl.u,aut Wa
yered, all the ministers wRvered, Lord Nortl
wavered, but the Xii had the insanity of on,
idea He WAS ,mmovable; lie insisted on til,
impossible. 50 the army was sent, America wa
instantly united, and the nation born. On thu
18th OF April, $40 soldiers, with hostile intent
were sent hither from Boston. Nature itsel
put on . new face that day.
You see the rude fields Of this morning, bu
on the same day of the year l775 rare forward
ness Of the Spring is recorded. 1t appears tina
the patriotism Of the people was SO hot that j
melted the snow and the rye waved on the 1871
Of April. We see gladly around us to-day rep
resentstives Of Acton, Bedford, Lincoln, Nj,
Carlisle, once included in our town limits, an,
who were mindful Of their mother and riske,
their lives for her on the memorable day w
celebrate.
Isaac Davis Of Acton WAS the first martyr in al
noble action. We say "'Tis only the first stel
that COSTS He who would carry ont the rule o
eight must often tale his life in his hand. W.
have worked to magnify the facts. Only thre
Of our men were killed ut this bridge and fe,
others wounded but here the British army wa
, first fronted and driven back, and il only thre
men or only one 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 til
: country to the Csrslinss with speed unknown
: before, and ,ipened the colonies to inevtabl
decision.
This sharp beginning Of real war was follow
cd sixty days later by the battle Of Bunker Hill
then by Gen. Westinghouse arrival in Cambridge
, and his redoubts on Dorchester Heights. II
one year and twelve days from the death Of Isaa
, Davis and Abner Hosmer 100 vessels loaded viii
Gen. Howe and his army, 5000 men, and a
, their effects, sailed out OF Boston Harbor neve
to return. 1t ia proud and tender story.
challenge any lover OF Massachusetts, to read tn
sixtieth chapter OF Bancrofts history withou
| tears NJ