Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-05-20
THE NSCRIPT.
The County has no Official Paper.
= va ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
Concluding Sentences OF Geo. VIM. Cur.
tlss' Grafton At Concord, .-
1865. April 10. s+ 49,.

. Remember, fellow citizens, that the
impulse Of republican government, given
a hundred years ago at the Old North
Bridge, has shaken every government in
the world, but has been itself wholly un-
shaken by them. 1t has made monarchy
impossible in France. It has freed the
Russian serfs. 1t has united Germany
against ecclesiastical dcspotism. 1t has
cmancipated Italy, and discrowncd the
pope as king. In England, repeating the
disabilities Of Catholic and Hebrew, it
forecasts the separation Of church and
state, and step by step transforms mon
nrchy into another form Of Republic.
And here at home, how glorions its story.
In tremendous war between men of the
same blood-mcn who recognize and re-
spcct each others valor-wc hare proved
what was always doubted, the prodigous
power, resources, and endurance OF a re-
public, and emancipating an eighth of
the population We have at last gained the
full opportunity Of the republican princi
pies. Sir, it is the single felicity OF this
occasion that on the one hundredth ami.
vcrsary of the first battle Of the war Of
American indedendance,I may salute you
who lead to victory the citizen soldiers
Of American liberty, as the first elected
President of the free republic of the Unit
ed States. Fortunate man! 10 whom God
has given the priceless boon Of associat.
Ing your name with that triumph Of free
dom which will persistently 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 ofliberty than these States
have ever known.
Fellow citizens, that union is the lofty
task which this hallowed day and this sa-
cred spot impose upon US. And what
cloud of doubt so dark hangs over Us as
that which lowered over the colonies
when the troops Of the king marched in
to this town, and the men Of the Middle
sex resolved to pass the bridge? With
their will, we shall win their victory No
royal governor, indeed sits in your stately
capitol ostile fleet for many year has not
vexcd the water Of our coasts, nor is any
army but our own ever likely to tread Or
SOIL Not such arc 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 free
dom. or bigotry and ignorance shall lay
their fatal hands upon the education, ar
rogance Of caste shall strike at equal
rights or corruption shall poison the very
spring of national life, there, minute men
Of liberty. are your Lexington green and
Concord bridge; and is you love your
country and your kind, and would have
your children rise up ann call you bless
I'd, spare not the enemy! Over the hills,
out Of the earth, down from the clouds.
pour in rcsistless might. Fire from cv-
cry rock and tree. from door and window,
from hearthstone and chamber; hang up
on his flank and rear from noon to sunset,
and so through a land blazing with holy
Indignation huri the horles Of ignorance
and corruption and injustice back. in Ut
ter defeat and ru;p.''