New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-16
Fx.GOy. BILLOCK'S ADDRESS.


Our theme should be fitting to the year OF
centennial OF which we are passing the
threshold It Is apparent that the present aud few suo-
ceedng years. recalling the days OF our first declared na-
oDality and the series of measures IN the cou"i ana
the field which gave success to the declaratIo VIII no
come henceforh memorable for fcstal days We are TO
have time OF competitive celebrations marked by lib
era pageant token Of martial events ana the scnsuous
parts OF our nature likely to be worked to their ca
pacity or all that which Is to be commcmoratcd tho
share striking to the average everyday senses I'M
doubtedly comes from the narrative OF arms. and u
meets responsive magnet in people under whose sober
side touches OF military spirit have always found quick
reception They have inherited taste OF the soldiers
life Descended from ancestors who for noo than ono
hundred years after csatantc colonization were en-
gagged in war every moment exposed to it, sum-
moned now by these thick anniversaries to recoe
the annals Of the field and to realize In ther own qurR'
cned pulse the rapture OF victory sc need not woDdef
that they seize upon methods OF commenioraton the
most demonstraye the most cognizabe by the outward
senses that they subordnat the Grafton to tho specta
Gle that they
"Lct the kettle TO the trumpet speak.
The trumpet to the cannoneer without. 49,
to the heavens. the heavens 70 earth'
This Is according TO nature this is ADgoSaxon this
American. But it belongs to an assembly OF educa'od
men discharge the duty in another mode OF pro-
ceure They penetrate beneath the surface VI HISTORICAL
narrative behind the scenery OF battles amoag the moro
subtitle forces national development when nave
been chief agencies conducting 10 the high situA
ton from which the celebrans may now deliver tier
pyrotechnics We cannot pass IN review from our own
position the stirring Revolutionary STAGE
over the broad and picturesque colonial PERIOD DacK 70
the more serious era the advent and settlement and
not pay tribute the which went before them ali,
ont OF which they sprung part Of which they were-o
the masters who directed mind Of England two CEN
turtles and half who came here IN person ana Ia
representatives whose association with onr subsequent
history is immortal Our epic from the first enbarkation
down to the last admission OF State ia especially inter-
esting to the intelligent inquirer for the sprastic'
the intellectual element which preceded and gave IL
BIRTH animated 1t in all its parts supple lis actors with
motive power which has made it the story OF people
sprung from best of at the time OF its ma
tured strength and advancing TO higher plane OF civF
cation than that upon which began THE heroic cour-
age tho sorrow and suffering. the adv cnro and enter
prise which mark the century from 1860 whom the colo
MES had acquired fixed and homogeneous condition.
down declared independence which give to II In the
reading the chan shades OF serious annals and ro-
nance were the natural Towering Of the English mind
under the training of an equal period preceding
EUROPEAN INFLUENCE
The beginning Of the Am, rcan people was but tho
transfer the transatlantic continent OF an eclectic
and adventurous portion OF the English nation These
passing anniversaries s back indeed to stages OF
infancy numbers as to material appointments ana
but in the higher forces OF civilization, man
hood and culture there was mere rom the start the same
maturity which crowned the English communities in the
golden age OF Elizabeth and her Whenever
YOU contemplate what that maturity was, how broad In
studied letters and craftsmanship In progressive science
and art and especially how 1t bore on its advancing
crest the promise OF deycrance from spiritual bondage.
you are contemplating the actual state Of the mind OF the
planters OF this nation when they stepped from an old
country new only changing the Of their life ia
the conflicts of their age. Tho spirit OF Northern
Europe was then for the first time In full actiy'
ity under immense influences proceeding from the
Reformation and the introduction Of the art OF
printing At Frankfort Main the traveller walks
from the public square, where the memorial group OF
bronze statues the Introduction OF print
ing to the house in which Luther once lodged while IN
the flesh feeling that he generating IN aU;benc SYM
bols the authors Of revolution OF which tho bcnehts
have reached every rcside III ChristendoUL Slowly
overcoming the sleep OF the Northern communities and
moving with the Divine assurance which always
panies every true reform. these rcsisless
agencies at length impaired stimulation
to the mental habits Of Great Britain
which the Of tho Virgin Queen might check
indeed but could suppress The lido rising TO
its flood the opening of the seventeenth century Tho
publication Of the results OF maritime voyage and dis
covery on this continent spread glamour the spirit
OF curious and darns men, which scarcely the stcrncst
disappointment ard disaster could dspel Ahigher poetry
and philosophy, strange religious Rhapsody and religious
exploration the lessons of ancient and heroic freedom.
brought out aluring light by the changed tastes and
opportunities for tho old languages, wider education.
another dspcnsation the domain OF practical science
and ,nyeaton destiny for the aim OF boncyolencs
and phian wisdom OF every degree conceits OF
every kind but in all and through all paramount and
aggressive progress lighted the modern WOrd Oh It's path
way For the % years the air was exhilaant with
intellectual vitality The genius OF change penetrated
the palace closet and the shop and throughout tho
capital city OF the vigil OF night kept faith
fui IN ia
Milton said, to begin some new and great period ana
then with quaint expression OF the national scifcon-
seriousness which has gone out Of his counrymeu
from that day to this, he adds:
What does God then but reveal himself as His manner
is first TO his Engisbmcn Behold now this vast city;
a city OF refuge the mans ouhouse of liberty cnconi-
passed and surrounded by AIS protection tho shop war
hath not then moro anYlis adj hammers waAing 70
fashion ou' the plates aud ms uments vf armed Ju'oS
in defense OF becaercd TRUTH thru there lie pens ana
hands there sitting by their stndious LAMPS mas,s,
searching revolving notions and ideas wiefewith 70
preaching reformation othcrs as fast reading trying all
things. asserting to the force OF reason aud convince
menI
SETTLEMENT OF rilE COLONIES
Such that age and such was the strengt Of the
American beginning. Out OF that age and under thss
lead came Ours not TRANSMISSION "a blood from
one SIT Of men into another ofshoot en-
gramcnt; IL WAS the removal Of rpcning English minds
in English bodies into Another country. During tho 80
years of active emigration, good here ~ were
left behind The early peopling Of Virginia was by tue
average Cavaliers Of the day. under the direction Of
higher grades OF intellect at their lead ana there ws
soon present large array Of men OF education property
and condition. Maryland from the outset upon the
shoulders Of persons Of high BIRTH moved their des
nation by the best Thought ct homo; the ships Ut
Massachusetts brought hore many OF tho choice Of
education scholars In tho languages Of culture the same
that prevailed In England not oosmc indeed -
modern learning for the old scholastic studies Of ths