National Republican., 1875-07-07
THE OLDEST INHABITANTS.

How they Celebrated by Joseph II.
Bradley-A Business Meeting-Election of
0facers.
While the young folks were celebrating the
Fourth Of July or rather the 5th Of July In their
noisy way, the Oldest Inhabitants gathered TO-
gether quietly In tae Criminal courtroom, at the
City Hall, and proceeded with an old-fashioned
celebration Of the nations birthday. There were
few present besides the old gentlemen, and there
were Just enough Of them to comfortably fill the
room. There were faces that have been familiar
sights on cur streets and In our houses ara
churches ever since the city was In Its inant robes
-old soldiers, whose palsied hands once smote
our foes; physicians who healed our fathers and
are still exefting their kindly Offices among US;
clergymen who have built up the citys churches;
lawyers who plead our fathers causes and han.
died our fathers money! merchants, poets, sages,
all were there, with their flowing white hair and
dience that has assembled In the old courtroom
since the last snnual meeting Of the Oldest In
The old gentlemen cracked their old.time jokes
among themselves, before the association was
called to order, and gathered In knots about an
address, which WAS lying on the table, and which
called forth many reminiscence Of those days
when Old Hickory was at the helm.
A little after noon the associatton was
CALLED TO ORDER
by its president, Dr.. J. B. Blake, and the mem-
bers subsided, some clanbering Into the jury box
and others settling into the chairs on the inside Of
the bar.
ure Of announcing to those present Mr.. Joseph j.
Simms, who lived in the neighboring city Of
Georgetown, and who would read to them the Dee
Mr.. Simns advanced and said that the commit
tee had given to him the honor Of reading the
Declaration Of Independence as part Of the cels-
STson Of s yy 70 to
Divine one, "Lef there be light Mr. Simms
then read the oft-repeated words with clear and
nsp io ca.cR sTery word % AZ q the coneiEsOn Il.
Ofty Hall trembled with applause.
Dr.. Blake than introduced the speaker Of the
day, Bon. Joseph h. Bradley.
Grafton Of nr. Joseph q. Bradley.
Mr.. Bradley, in introducing bis remarks, said
ss he had for several days been suffering from In.
disposition, but having accepted the invitation 70
away. When first he had accepted he had de.
signed to address the Oldest Inhabitants OF the
District and as he believed that he wasthe Oldest
e Sns ss c
niscences, but when be had remembered the day
on which the address was TO be delivered he had
such an address a. they would be willing to hear,
but he had thrown together few rough notss,
and, as II was warm day, he would not claim
It was curious, he said, to look back and see the
slow and gradual Development Of the human
race, morally and tntelleetually certainly. and
taineers Of the West as vigorous a. the men Of .
thousand years ago. That tpeople In the cities did
eg-nerate in this respect was certain. The pre-
sent century had given man greater impulses
than any other, and had elevated him and i'm.
proved the condition Of society. There had been
les lS in sWitserisnd, HcIisnd, and Belgium, but
even In those places the power Of hereditary right
had always been recognized and that Of the peo-
pie denied. ?.
THE MISSION OF LUTHER.
It had been generally but most mistakenly sup.
posed that the mission Of Luther was altogether
Of religious character, but II was not 80. His
mission hsd been The freedom OF the human race,
and to enlarge the conditions OF society. He
taught that every man should be responsi6is 70,
himself and possess the right OF selfgoyernment.
This was the essential principle lying at thefoun-
nee to think. The Alpine heights had caught up
the sounds Of his mighty blows, and the sparks
being scattered IN the valleys below, switzerland
Scotland had caught the sparks, which broke up
hereditary power. But the mighty. contest be
@ ma a3a 2: asd .ss s
tabllshed, aud hereditary power had again swept
over the land. In the meanwhile unseen agents
had been exertlnR their induence all over Europe.
The advance In learning and physical science, the
Increased facilities for the interchange OF thought
had brought people nearer together year alter
heard. Their minds, sharpeisd By thls inter.
chsnge Of thought had led them 70 rebel, and
taught them thai all powers rested with the peo-
Pile and that they thit welded power were but
the agents Of the people.
But to come more closely TO the theme Of the
day, handful OF Colonists had promulgated
niDety.nlne years ago . declaration thai all men
were born fres and equal--a declaration that had
shaken dynastiss IN Europe, that had revolu-
q oniEed America, and Of which
no NAN COULD rcREsEr ITs RESULTS.
Afser the reestablishment Of the stusrts IN
Europe foreign prince had been placed upon
the throne Of England. This had been great
step forward, as tho Enxiishmen had asserted
their right on choosing their own rulers II usa
strange 70 look back and see how wonderfully
the American Eettlsments had been adspted tor
the growth Of liberty. The Puritan had had nc
laW-giver, no ruler, but God. The French
Hupnerofs the bold and hardy Scots. had oeer