Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-09-15

! purs III NHlcu you nave asSelnulSu 10 90
honor to the first centennial anniversary
of your political existence.
In the further discharge of the duty
assigned me by the executive committee,
| shall attempt to recall an incident
connected with the early organization of
the government
Upon the walls Of the hall in Phila-
delphia, in which was held the session
of the convention Of 1887, that framed
and adopted the Constitution Of the
United States, there was hung picture,
representing sun half concealed below
the horizon
After the final adoption of that instru-
ment, Benjamin Franklin once spoke as
follows: Mr. President, since we have
been in session and which listening to
the debates of this Convention, / have
often looked upon that picture, and Won
dered whether it was intended to repre-
sent, rising or u setting sun, now see
by the adoption Of this constitution,
which guarantees to the people Of the
coniederated States national life and
Independence, that the picture was in
tended to represent rising sun. "That
instrument, the power and strength Of
which was then so propheically foretold
and under which the nation has grown
from three to forty-three millions OF
people, is said, in some of its most inn
portant features to have been patented
after our own State constitution, adopted
in l776, just eleven years before the
adoption Of the Federal constitution.
BY its provisions, just ono hundred
years ago, this day, our county was set
off as a separate and independent politi-
cal organization, and clothed with all the
rights, privileges, advantages and re-
sponsibilities incident to, necessary
for, such an organization.
1t may be worthy to note, that this
event occurred but sixty-two days after
the adoption of the Declaration of In
dependence, and presented the opportu-
nifty, eagerly embraced, by our imme-
date forefathers of this country; to
draw a broad and distinct line, between
Royalty and Republicanism and there
by to proclaim 10 the world, that the
separation was fiaal and forever. Hence
the name Of Montgomery after this gal
liant soldier Gen. Richard Montgomery.
who on the last day of the preceding
year, 1775, yielded up his life in the
| heroic attempt to rescue the Canadas.
from the dominion Of Great Britain, and
win them to the then struggling cause
of Republicansm in the United States.
No longer do we find our towns and
counties named after lords and princes
such regal names as for example, My
Lord Frederick and Prince George.
Washington aud Montgomery, one in
spirit in hcroism and in patriotism,
twin-sisters born on the same day and
from the same parent, will forever mark
a new era, new history and a new
form Of government for the State of
Maryland.
As subdivision went on and new
counties were formed, such pretentous
names as My Lord Baltimore Lord
frederick and Lord Aruudle were made
to give way before advancing republican
IDEAS and republican names.
Names memorable both in tho civil
aud military service of the county now
appear, thus Carroll and Howard the
first, after Charles Carroll, Of CarrolIton,
the second after John Eager Howard
both distinguished IN our revolutionary
struggle, and ID a long and honorable
career as useful citizens and officers OF
the State. Aud last young Garrett af,
ter the distinguished President Of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad whose motto
is "to strike for distant points, :"
hence the marvellous fact we now have
that the teas and silks of China and
Japan are actually passing through our
county as their quickest and nearest
route from the west to the eastern
markets Of the world. 1t seems there
fore eminontly fit and proper, upon an
occasion like this the recurrence Of our
first centennial that we should meet as
we have done, in the broad light; not Of
balf-riscn, but full maridian sun, in
the presence Of each other aud in the
presence of the venerable mon who
remain and ] hope may long remain, as
living links between the past and pres
ent, and with them, in social and friend
y intercourse, with song in verse, with
music and in oratory, give expression to
such feelings aud enjoyment, and such
new resolves as such an anniversary is
SO well calculated to inspire and suggest.
Let us upon this centennial day
recall the primitive habits Of industry,
frugality, economy and true republican
sentiments which distinguished our an
cestors as is shown by the many inter-
esting relics, sketches and "reminiscences,
here on this day gathered and displayed
Let us gather from them wisdom and
knowledge, truth and justice, religion
and pioty And in this light, regard
and recognize each other; not simply
as inhabitants Of the same county, diyid-
ed and kept apart by sect and party,
but as fellow citizens, friends and neigh
bors bound to each other and to our IN
heritance by the ties Of common interest
and common destiny with mutual
obligations and an opportunity for recip-
rocal benefits, advantages and good
Offices.
Only by culiiyating such feelings and
sentiments and acting upon them. can
we hope or expect to elevate our beloved
county to the rank standing and infu- I
ence 10 which her historic name, central (
position, social aud artificial advantages 4
and advantages Of soil aud climate. en-
title Der to occupy among her sister