The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-07-11
Mr.. FERRY SPOKE AS FOLLOWS:

.
CITIZENS OF ouR CESrESsIAL:-The
regretful absence of the President Of
the United States casts upon me the
honor Of presiding on this eventful oc-
casion. Much as i value the official
distinction, 1 prize much moro the fact
that seyerally We hold and successfully,
We maintain the right Of the prouder
title OF American citizens. Itranks all
others; 10 makes Office, unmakes on
GERS, and creates States. One hundred
years ago, in yonder historical struo-
turc heroic statesmen sat and graveiy
chose between royal rule and popular
sovereignty. inspired with the spirit
which animated the Roman sage who
in the midst OF Mars Hill declared that
Of one blood were made all nations Of
men, those continental sAges register
ed in tho midst OF Independence Hall
their immortal declarstion that all men
arc created free and equal. Appealing
TO the God OF justice and of battle for
the rectitude and frmneas ~ th-Sr pur-
pose, they. pledged their iives. their
fortunes, and their SACRED honor TO the
abstract principle of the freedom and
equality OF the human race. To-day,
in this rounding hour OF Q century, ap.
pcaiing 10 the same God OF jnstice and
Of peace, We praise Him first. and
pledged our lives, our fortunes, aud
our sacred honor TO maintain the spirit
Of that declaration now made universal
10y the fundamental Law OF the land
We, the people OF the United States,
in this ceute nnisl nsemoriaI, pay double
tribute 20 tae Most High; one of grate-
full acknowledgement of the fulfilled
pledges Of Hour fathers 70 overthrow
royalism, and the other Of Q joyful AZ
surauce Of milling the pledge of their
sons TO uphold repnblicanism. The
great powers Of the earth honor the
spirit OF American fidelity to the cause
OF human freedom by the exhibition Of
their wares, and tho presence OF their
titled peers. The worlds homage paid
to the Centennial genius OF American
liberty Three millions OF people have
grown 10 5000, 900, and thirteen COL
onies enlarged 10 nation Of thirty
seven States, with the thirty-eight. the
Centennial State, forsaking the eight
Territories, aud on the threshold Of
the Union. abidipe the execative ad-
mission. These attest the forecast and
majesty OF the deciarstion Of l776. IL
wasuotbing short OF the utterapeS Of
the soversignty Of manhood and ~orth
OF Auserican cifixenship. Its force Is
fast t&apPIemsnting the assumptions Of
the divine right OF kings by virtue Of
the supreme law OF the nation that the
people alone have the sole power 10
rule. Nations auccecd each other IN
following the example OF this republic,
aud the force OF American institutions
bid fair 10 bring about Q Renaral re-
versal OF the source OF political power.
When that period shall come Great
Britain, so magnanimious in her pres
ence on this auspicious ere, will then,
IL not before, praise the events when
Americsn ipdependsnce wss won under
Wssbineton. and when freedom and
the equality Of the rscss vere achieved
under Lincolu and GrHnt rnlu Il
ntAaor fsssrsAssAu =
TIA H. Rev. wm. Bacon Stevens
then 6IIared the following prayer:
q Awjahty and eternal God. We
Coz belofe Thee 90 praise Thy glori.
ouo ueme and q, give Thee our mosl
humble end hearty thanks for the in
csfimob]e bIcsriugs which ~ nation
we thin day enjoy. We dcveutly re
oognixe Thy fsthcrly hand 10 the plant
in8 and nqrturisg ~ thees colonies. il
ca]EyioG then t1rooGh Ne peeiDs an
tdol1vDg var. % establishing ehem il
re-. ond O. pefmittin9 - - cele
brn(o obis hun1red)h blflhdny q on
undergraduates. We thank Ihe<, u Got
that 'Thoss didst inspirs The hearts .
Thy servants % iay here tlse fou nda
tions OF peace and Iiberty; 70 proclaim
here those principles which hAv
vroueht out for us such civil snd rsli
gious blessings, and 70 sss up here