Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-07-05

feeble Colonies, impoverished by a
long, unrelenting tyranny, met and
whispered the first accents Of Liber-
ty in this new world, and gave the
first impulse to free thought,-an
act at which Kings scotfed and
Monarchs frowned, are gathered
to-day the most extensive, grand
and wonderful exposition of human
ingenuity, skill and inventive
genius, that the world has ever
witnessed. And to this exposition
have come from beyond the
sea, forty Of the proudest and
most opulent nations of the old
world. They have come after an
experiment of one hundred years
has proved the truth of our system
OF government, to pay just trib-
ute to tho birthplace of Liberty,
to See sights they never saw before,
to learn wisdom they never could
have learned within the narrow
confines of their own kingdom and
empires, to behold with awe and
admiration the effect of free thought
and free speech upon mankind of
their own race and kindred. What
stronger proof could we ask, to-day
of the recognition of the soundness
Of ou Government or the esteem
in which our nation is held by
foI eign powers?
True it is, fellow citizens, that
our glorious achievements and the
bright record of our past success
have not at all times been chron-
icled upon the pure white page
that we might wish for the history
of free people. Our onward pro-
gress and the blessings we this day
possess have been purchased with
the price Of human gore, the sor-
row and mourning of thousands
upon thousands of hearts, the dread
full results of the most obstinate and
wicked civil war that ever endanger-
ell any nation, have but just passed
from before us, and but yesterday
were heard in our Legislative halls
angry words and pickering taunts,
passed between representatives of
our common country. But we, the
common people, who, when the
murderous hand of war shook our
country and threatened its life,
stepped forward, and through four
years of carnage and blood, proved
its saviour, must, now that the
voice of war is hushed and peace
resumed it's throne, be TO our coun-
try also saviour. We must no
longer brood over the misfortunes
Of the past. The grandest destiny
ever allotted to any nation that has
been known to the history of the
world awaits us in the future. The
noblest ends and purposes ever ac-
complished since the dawn Of civ
ilization, invites us to forget that
we, as the heirs of one common
freedom, have ever been other than
friends, and to move onward in the
pathway of greatness with renewed
faith and confidence in our reunited
government.
We have now reached a grand
and memorable era in the life of
our great republic, in the history
of enlightened government and
free institutions-one that patriots
and lovers of freedom in every
land for the past century of the
worlds history, have looked for
ward to with fond anticipations and
anxious hope, and 10 which future
generations of our countrymen and
kindred spirits in other lands, will
look back with pride and exulta-
ton as it rccedes in the past, as
long as love of Liberty and the in
spiration of patriotism shall stir
the human heart. When our in
FAINT republic emerged from the
smoke of battles and clouds of war,
with its bleeding wounds still I'M
healed, the loters of Liberty and
free institutions looked upon its
opening glory with rapturous ad-
miration and love, but the minions
of tyranny and despotism scowled
upon it with distrust and angry
hostility. The retainers of mon
archs and advocates of kingly gov
ernments were startled by the
strange and novel doctrines it
taught, and, unable to foresee and
comprehend the grand destiny God
had ordained forit, they deplored its
existence, doubted its success, and
predicted its death. But the Young
and adventurous intruder in the
community of nations grew in
strength and vigor, and pressed
along the pathway of national pro-
gress with bold and fearless step,
soon outstripping every competitor
and left every rival far in the back
ground, obscured by the shadow of
its increasing greatness. One hun
dred years have passed away, aud
but few, all, very few, OF the three
millions of people who heard the
shouts of joy, the ringing of bells,
and the roaring of cannon that an
nounced the advent of this new
born nation, are still living; but
forty millions of their posterity
spread over a vast empire in geo
graphical extent, remain behind
them to enjoy the blessings their