Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-07-08
one HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

One hundred years ago Tuesday,the
people Of the Colonies declared them
selves free and independent of the
Mother country. One hundred years
agoTuesday the immortal declaration
of Independence was promulgated.
And in honor of that event, bells
pealed, cannons roared, muskets rat
tied. drums beat, rockets assembled,
bonfires blazed, millions sang danced,
shouted, feasted, and toasted thous-
and Of patriotic orations were de-
llye,ed to thousands Of mass meet
ings, recounting the bloody baptism
of the infant republic, the times
that tried men s souls; the struggles,
hardships and yicissitudes, the victo-
ry, the growth, the expansion, and
the glory If the tree Of Liberty,
whose thirty-eight branches spread
from ocean to ocean, offering ample
room, protection, freedom and hap
piness to the oppressed OF other ma
tions. The Fourth-the birth day of
a free and happy nation, where man
can dwell in peace without fear of
naughty lord or petty sovereign. The
Fourth See that band of aged pa
triots assembled in solemn council
in Independence Hall. Something Of
mighty moment to posterity is under
consideration. Long and quietly
do they deliberate. They finally rise
and approach the door-the green
sward in front is covered with eager
thousands, anxious to know the re-
suit of their labors. Their appear
ance is hailed with loud huzzas |.
The most profound silence reigned
during the reading ofthat document,
which was the death-knell of tyran-
ny in the New World, before which
despots trembled, crowns crumbled
and thrones tottered. The Coloni es
were free-their Independence estab-
lished, and the brightest gem plucked
from the English crown.
The Fourth One hundred years
have rolled around. The Colonies
are now the mightest nation of the
earth. Our flag floats on every
breeze +; our sails whiten every sea
Our Empire numbersthirty-eight in
dependent sovereignties-the pride
and glory of the world. The
Fourth-the immortal Declaration
of Independence-the most grand
some and inspiring words that ever
emanated from man to mortals, will
to-day be read and worshipped by
millions. The memory of the Father
of his country will receive an en-
pire's blessing, and the names of the
c%onscript fathers and the illustrious
dead will be invoked, their deeds eu-
logized and their virtues more deeply
engraven on the hearts ofthe myriad
millions.
Never has there been a year when
the American Eagle had a better OPP
portunity to spread itself and impress
it's greatness upon the minds of the
whole world. People from all ma
tions and climes are in our midst,
ready to write up and convey home
their impressions and feelings regard
ing it's great strength and pluck.
But why is this great ado for a day
which has already been celebrated 80
| times? Other countries have existed
years and years and still no demon
stration like this has " been OBJ
served by them! The fall and decline
of nations we read of in history, but
we have yet to learn where a republic
| has existed one hundred years and
preserved its rights and carried out
the great and glorious principle "that
all men are created equal; that they
are endowed with certain and ena-
lienable rights that among these
are life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness" 1t is meet and proper
that such a celebration should be in
dulged in by a nation that has been
so bountifully blessed. Therefore
the American people rejoice and sing
hallelujahs to Him on high who rules
the universe with a just hand.
All hailthe grand Centennial-the
one hundredth anniversary--the