The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-01-01

national independence Nations like in
dividuals have their natal days, their an
niversaries, which commemorate some i'm
portant event or epoch in their history.
One hundred years ago, the colonies then
few in number and sparscly populated,
having fewer inhabitants than now people
the single State of New York, brsved the
power Of the mother country, and declared
themselves free and Independent States
From the original thirteen, they now mum
Der thirty-seyen, and from their three
millions Of population they have increased
to forty-6ye millions, peOpling territory
of vast proportions, extending from the
St. Lawrence to the Rio Grnnde, and from
the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. Aeon
fury in the life Of nation is but the pc
Rod Of its infancy, but this nation is some
thing more than an infant in material
development and prosperity. What il
viii be in a hundred years to come, battles
the power Of speculation. That it win be
the giant nationality Of the whole earth is
more than probable, If il continues under
the benign influence Of its present consti-
tuition, and there are no States, ediseordaut
and belligerent," to decimate its popula-
ton and retard its natural growth and ad-
vancement within that period. Our re-
preventative system Of government is capa-
bic of indefinite expansion, and may, BY
that time, embrace the whole territory Of
North America with all the adjacent is
lands. populated by over hundred mil
lions of inhabitants.
The history Of our progress as nation
is one Of the marvels Of the world, and its
prosperity and success are an enduring
monument'to the wisdom and patriotism
Of our forefathers, of whom it may be
truthfally said, intellectually at least, that
"there were giants in those days. They
gave to the world the first example Of
written constitution, and made la,o, the
expressed will of the people, the sovereign
power, to which, without distinction, al
alike are subject. Under the law, the
citizen is as free as the air he breathcs,
the only distinctions known are those of
moral aud intellectual worth and excel
lence, every man being the arbiter Of his
own fortune. The highest honors within
the gift Of the people are accessible to all
alike, and our public functionaries are but
the agents and servants Of the people, in
whom all sovereignty rests The examples
Of Greece and Rome, and all the Repub-
lies Of the earth which have preceded us,
afforded the founders of our government
nomodel for the system which they wrought
out for themselves, which seems to have
been the result of their own heaven-in-
spired genius, guided to success by the
hand Of destiny itself, or rather, by the
hand Of an overriding Providence.
Asw look back over the events and
the achievements of the past century, We
have abundant cause generalization. From
few feeble colonies our country has grown
to be one of the foremost powers among
the family of nations. II has passed
through four wars-three foreign, and our
own unfortunate sectional contest, and our
constitution has stood the strain Of all,
with slight notifications Theproblem Of
selfgovernment by the people is no longer
a doubtful one; century Of unparalleled
prosperity and Of more than the average
stability and order IN our affairs, has de-
monstrated that representative system,
such as ours, with It's checks and balances,
is the best form of government yet devised
by man. 0ur Union is the cynosurc of
all eyes, and the oppressed of all lands
find an asylum upon her soil and protec.
ton beneath the folds Of her starry flag.
Our climate is mild aud favorable to the
highest degree Of physical development,
and the utmost limit Of longevity. Our
hills and valleys abound in minerals, pre-
cious metals, and all the elements of
wealth. Our soil is adapted to nearly all
the products Of the earth, extending as il
does through many degrees Of latitude
from the torrid to the frigid zone. The
surface Of our country is interlaced with
railroads, canals, and telegraph wires.
Populous cities and thriving towns and
villages spring up ike magic, and checker
the fair prospect presented to the beholder
on every hand. Manufactures flourish,
and Agriculture fills the Golfers Of her
votaries to OVERLOOKING The whole broad
earth no where presents more thrifty,
happy, and independent yeomanry, Our
sails hcck every sea, and our steamers
everywhere plow the briny deep. The
arts and sciences flourish, and the learned
professions meet theirjust reward. Every
interest receives an adequate return, and
our enterprising and industrious popu-
lation are in the main prosperous and