Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-04-19
TELEGRAMS TO THE STAR.
l775.lS75.
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS.
BEECHER TO-DAY.
CROSS EXAMINATION CONTINUED.
THE COLD WEATHER
DAMAGE TO EEGETATION
NORTHERN PACIFIC.
A RECEIVER APPOINTED.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS.
BEECHER TO-DAY.
CROSS EXAMINATION CONTINUED.
THE COLD WE ATHER
DAMAGE TO VEGETATTON.
NORTHERN PACIFIC.
A RECEIVER APPOINTED.
CONCORD AND LEYIyG TON.
The Centennial Celebration.


The Centennial Celebration.
BOSTON. April l9.-The official ceremonies
al Concord and Lexington have commenced,
and Messrs. Curtis and Dana are now speak
ing.
Proceedings at Concord.
CONCORD, MASS, April I9--The day opened
cool, but pleasant. a full platoon of artillery
hred q salute at dawn near the old North
bridge. The reveilie gun was responded TO
by the ringing of bells and the beating of
drums, and an hour after sunrise the inau-
gural feature OF the observance was con-
Guided. The morning salute was fired by
battery Of the First Light artillery, in
command OF Capt. T.. c. Langley, OF Boston.
The town is overwhelmed by people, and the
trains cannot accommodate the extraorSli-
nary rush. The railroads temporarily ceased
20 sell tickets, and they Were at a premium
Inc exercises according to the programme
are progressing smoothly, amidst the great
est enthusiasm.
CURTIS GRAFTON
Mr.. Curtis ia his Grafton. after a brilliant
review of the incidents of l735 closed as fol-
lows -" When was there ever an auspicious
day for humanity that was not one of doubt
and of conflict? The robust, moral man
hood of America confronts the future with
steadfast faith and indomitable viii, raising
the old battlc-cry of the race for surer hand
ard larger liberty. 1t sees clouds, indeed. "a
sam. Adams saw them when This day
dawned. But with him il sees through and
through them, and with him thanks God for
the glorious morning. There is, indeed, a
fashion OF skepticism of American principles
even among some Americans; but IL is one
| of the oldest and worst fashions i'm our his
tory: There is cynicism which fondly
fancies that in its beginning the
American republic moved proudly toward
! the future with all the splendid assurance of
| The Persian NerXes descending on the shores
| OF Greece. hut that ii sits to-day among
| shattered hopes, like XcrNeS above his ships
az SalamiS. And when was this golden age?
was 1t when John Adams appealed from the
oaSeness OF his own time tn the greater can
dor and patriotism of this? Was il when
FISHER Ames mourned over lost America,
| like Rachel for her children. aud would not
De comfOrted? Was IL when VIM. Writ said
that he sought i'm vain for man fit for the
Presidency or for great responsibility! Was
! IL when Chancellor Livingston saw only a
| threatening future, because Congress was so
| Feeble? was il when we ourselves saw the
industry, tn" commerce, the society, the
church, the courts, the statesmanship,
| PROSTATE under the foot of slavery?
| Was this the golden age of these sentimental
rights, this the region behind the north wind
| oil these reprOachful regrets? And is il the
| young nation which with prayer and faith
with untiring devotion and unconquerable
VIII, has lifted its bruised and broken body
nom beneath that crushing heel, whose flu
lure Is dlstrusted? Nay, This very cynicism
| is one OF the foes that we must meet and
| conquer. Remember, fellow citizens, that
| century ago at the old North Bridge. has
shaken every government in the world but
mas been Itself wholly shaken by them. IL
has made monarchy impossible in France
III has freed the Russian serfs. IL has united
Germany against ecclesiastical de>pOtism
IL has flashed into the night Of Spain. 1t has
cmancipafed Italy and discrOwned the Pope
as King. In England. repeating the dis
abilities of Catholic and Hebrew IL fore
casts uhe separation of church and
| archy into another FORM of republic
And here at home how glorious its story! In
tremendous war between men OF the same
ol0Od-men who recG gniZei and respect each
other yalor we have proved what was al
ways doubted, the prodigious power, endur
ance, and resources OF a republic. and in
emanclpating an eighth OF the population we
have at last gained the full opportunity of
me republican principle. Sir, il is the signal
felicity on this occasion that on the one hun
dreth anniversary OF the first battle i'm the
war OF American Independence, II may salute
you, who led to victory the citizen soldiers
OF American liberty, as the first elected
President OF the free republic of the United
states. Fortunate man, TO whom Col has
given the priceless boon of associating of our
name with that triumph of freedom which
VIII presently bind the east and the west the
north and south, in closer aud more perfect
union for the establishment of Justice and fle
security OF the blessings than these states
have ever known.
Fellow citizens, that union i the lofty
TASK which this hallowed day aud this sacred
spot imposes upon us. And what cloud OF
uouOt 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 MiddleseX resolved to pas the bridge?
With their faith and their will, we shall win
their victory. No royal Governor, indeei
sits in your stately capital. no hostile fleet
for many year has yexed the waters of our
coast, nor is any army but our own ever
our enemies to-day. They do not come
proudly stepping TO the drum-bsat
I WI, 6ayonets flashing hi Tie morning syn.
s Su. Wherever party-spirit shall strain the
and ignorance shall lay their fatal hands
upon education, or the arrogance of caste
shall strike at equal rights, or corruption
-nFx- l.r,.s -
life, there, minute men of liberty, are your
Lexington Green ana Concord bridge, aud as
YOU love your country and your kind, and
wouid have your children rise up and call
You blessed, spare not the enemy. Over the
hills, ont of the earth down from the Clouds
pour In resistless might. Fire from every
hearthstone and chamber; tramp upon his
flank and rear from noon to sunset, and so
through q land blazing with holy indigna-
ton, hurl the hOrdes OF ignorance and corrup-
ton and injustice back, back, in utter defeat
and ruin.
The Crowd ~ LexinStou.
LEXINGTON, Mass, April 1.-THE popu-
latiOn Of Lexington Is 2 100 souls, and it is
estimated there are already 10000 people
here. The train leaving Boston at $40 a. m.
took seventeen ears loaded full and ; 200 peo-
plh were waiting transportation Al the depot
while hundreds at the stations all along tile
route were unable 10 get on board.
DANA'S ADDRESS.
Richard H. Dana. jr.. alluded To the fact
that Lexington was eonseerated TO the
worlds use by the blood of her own sons
Those who fell there were those who were
horn there and reared there Theirs was a
voluntary sacrifice, and were martyrs who
should never be forgotten. Mr.. Dana re-
viewed the incidents attending the battle of
Lexington, the causes thereof, and the his
torical facts in that connection. He said we
were not the revOlutl0nists. The king and
his parliament were the revoiutionists. They
were seeking to overthrow and reconstruct
ON theory of parliamentary omnipotence.
We broke no chain. We prepared to strike
down any hand that might attempt 10 lay
one upon as. Mr.. Dana sketched the events
subsequent to the battle Of Lexington, al
luding to the attempt of the British 10 prove
that the colonists fired first He said not
only was this absurd In itself, but IL was
contradicted by all our testimony lie de-
monstrated that not we, but the British
king and parliament were the revolu-
tionists, the innovat0rs, the radical
subverters Of institutions that we were the
conservators of-time-h onored, dearly-loved