Ellsworth American., 1876-07-13
To the Young Folks.
\ letter from Gen. T. X. Hawlcy

Ny young friends, have the honor to be
invited 10 say u lew word, to YOU concern
iug the Centennial anniversary OF the birth
day oi the Republic. OF which you have al
ready certainly heard graf deal. Much
has been done To make the year memura-
bile, bat i, Is very impericctly done If we
neglect Ia impress the lesson upon you.
la twenty years those who are now called
children Will be the grown people. This
country will be yours to take care OF.
What will you do with IL: That is IA very
serious question. Ii will DE a greater coun-
try than 1t i, to-day. We have now about
forty millions OF people and In 1896,
when you BOYS will be in the very yigOr OF
young manhood managing the business
and the politics of the country. We shall
have perhaps sixty millions. Some OF them
are now children in other countries. and
know nothing about our principles aud
laws. They will come here aud be intlueuc-
ed by you. " hat sort OF influence Will
You exert upon themt ask you questions
la the hope tnat they may set YOU thinking
about matters to which YOU viii soon be
obliged To pay much attention.
soon after the Declaration OF lndepeu-
deuce-July :. l776-John Adams, who
seconded the motion of independence,
prophesied that the day would be celebrat-
fires aud illuminations, the firing OF can
non. aud the ringing OF bells. Boys love
the thunder OF great guns, the clangor of
bells. the sound of the trumpet and drum
aud | confess TO you that many grown-up
boy, with gray heads like them, too, or
they would not pay out 50 much money
for them. We like TO see the Fourth OF
July observed, and hope the people will
forever observe il. The celebrations cost
something, but they are worth all of the
cost.
But what is all Of this for? What good
does il do: Somebody asked Edward Ev-
erett the same question when he was rais-
ing mohey to build Bunker Hill Monument.
aud he replied by asking, What good
does ANYTHING do" What is ANYTHING
good for that does not 20 directly toward
your food, clothing and lodging: There is
one day in the year when ev-f body is re-
minded that we have country Nag, "a
government, aud Il history with something
In it 10 be proud of. IL is "A day when pco-
PIE OF different churches, parties, ranks,
nationalities and classes OF society can
agree, just ioi that day. to cease from or
binary work, and honor the memories of
the brave and patriotic men of l77G, and
speak OF the good things III our govern
ment. aud rejoice over them in all way
And ii make, all the children think AMI li.-
quire, aud they grow up bellevin" that
their country, ought 10 be believed, honor
ed, aud defended.
If we think We have good form of gov
ernment; ii We believe that all meu ought
TO be free and have share In the govern
ment; if We think our country is favorable
to wise freedom, general education, and
cheerful obedience to law, it is right to
show our regard for that government II
We think that the birth Of the Republic was
AN event OF Importance to the world,
il is right To celebrate the birthday
The men who struggled desperately six
years aud half TO make good the Decla-
ration of Independence deserve to be re.
membered.
Chief among the forms of celebration
this year is the great International Exhi-
bition of 1876, at Philadelphia. All the na-
tions of the world were invited to come to
this birthday cele bration. rhirty-eight OF
them accepted, and more than thirty of
them are represented here. They and our
own people have put up nearly two hun
dred buildings-some very large and beau
iiiul In these there are collected an al
most innumeIable multitude of things OF
beauty and use. There are paintings and
statuary; woven goods OF all kinds; won
derful pottery, and furniture, and house
hoio goods OF al descriptions; all manner
oi ornamental ana useini WORK IN gold,
SILVER, bronze, ana other metals; acres OF
curious and powerful machinery, flowers
aud fruits OF all varieties; all sorts OF ag-
rlcuiturai products-nearly everything
that you can tnink OF as aug out OF the
earth, grown rom the SOIL ora"h from
the sea- or Manufactured oy human indus
TRY ana ingenuity. Inc Chihese ana Japan
ese mere, among tue most Ingenious OF all