The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-07-07
CENTENNIAL ORATI0N


MK PRESIDENT, LADIES AND t,ES-
TLgsEs The occasion of this ASSEM-
blsgc. the place where a. arr. and the
cirsslrnstancs~ which sgrrou-d u to-day.
would seem naturally 'o direct IL - tiss
go temptation nj the glorious past, the
auspisi..n- present. a2d the great nn-
known future. The past with rs nigh
- achievements. 4ceompi shed with the
iselp of divine Providence, through the
enervy. IRE endurance, she ws.cr. the
devotion of our fathers. the present,
with IT, blessings of peace. prosperity.
and liberty, lis passing opportunities,
iis momentous responsibilities. and its
hopes for the future, and the vast. the
mysterious. the unfathomable future,
which expsnd- before us like the maies-
tic ocean upon whose shores We have
Assem- bed
We have assembled to-day from every
se'tion of our own country, and from
every country here upon the far North
western confines of our national domain,
where, a. from lofty summit at sunrise.
We hail tho first cffulgent rays of the IN
coming century. And. as we survey
the scopc within the range Of our vision,
looking back over the past to the be
ginning Of the new era in the history of
civilization. from which centuries are
mum bered. We behold the sublime spec
tacle of three millions of people consti-
tuting group of thirteen colonies. hav-
ing an extensive coast and frontier un-
fortified, and themselves unarmed un-
prepared, and uninclincd to engage in
bloody war; and yet for llberty-liberty
for themselves. their posterity. and the
oppressed of every 'land-unitedly
through their assembled representatives..
huriing defiance at the mos; formidable
power Of the earth. and unitedlv pledg
ing their lives. their fortunes. their
sacred honor, Ia the support of the
solemn declaration then given to the
world, of Independence, for themselves
aud their posterity, and equality for all
the brotherhood of mankind
These colonies. planted in the wilder
ness by mere handful of bold advcn-
,nrous spirits, aud sturdy puritans, who.
IL the cost of severing all the ties that
bound them TO their native land, and
forsaking all that their hearts held dear,
except their religion and their liberty,
had braved the perils of the sea, and
amid the dangers and privations Incl.
dent to the settlement of small detach
ments in the wids of "A land inhabited
by savage beasts. and no less savage
i men, had persevcrcd, toilcd. and fought.
I In overcoming obstacles numerous and
formidable; in subjugating the wilder
ness and establishing the institutions of
civilization and religion, and in defend
ing their lives, their homes and their
affairs from the cruelty, destruction, and
pollution of their savage neighbors and
the foreign enemies of the Mother
Country. These colonies, from SO feeble
a beginning under the blessing of the
God whom the people trusted aud served,
having grown to an enyiable degrae of
prosperity; the peaceful pursuits of
agriculture, and the mechanic arts, hay
ing extended over their hills and val
leys; thriving towns aud cities aud husl-
ness enterprise. having displaced the
wigwams and hamlets of the savage;
churches with their spires towering
heavenward. and institutions of learn
ing having been erected; their bays aud
harbors. whitened by the wings of com
mcrce. bringing wealth and emigration
from the four quarters Of the globe.
these colonies must now cease for time
Ia iask in the sunlight Of prosperity
We behold. as We look hack through
hn l,,, - I.,,l.I
dark cloud of war that for ,inc over
shadowed them like the heavy pail Of
night Ii is not the cruel'y # savage>.
nor the jealousy and hatred of foreign
enemies that mtnsc, them now their
foe is tho unnatural spirit of avaiic,.
of annoyance and oppression of lie.
luded parent We see the cloud actually
burst In storm and fury over their de-
voted heads We see th.m a. they re
ccive the visitation e carriages and de-
struetion. which sweeps over .he land :;
we see their patriot sons forSaking their
peaceful pursuits and engaging in the
deadly conflict with the firm. resolute
apirit Of unyielding determination which
animates only the hearts Of honor
able sons. husbands and fathers enga-
gei in the defense If their homes their
families. their Liberties And noble was
the defense they made. Noble sons.
noble husbands, and noble brothers,
wives, and sisters Lexington. Bunker
lInl. Remington. Trenton. German
town, Saratoga. Valley Forge and
f Yorktown. are but few of the exam
Piles which prove their valor. prove
their endurance. prove their devotion !;
and tell Of their suiferings in camps and
on bloody fields; and tell their story of
gi orious triumph.
We see tue lorm abate aud i'm the
sunlight Of peace which then dawned,
wc sce our illustrious Washington ana
Hamilton. Franklin. Shearman and
/ Madison mcn whose names will ever
/ be inscribed with those of earth's great :
est and best. with that body Of grea,
statesmen Of which they were mem hers
esgsged in the work of constructing a
new fabric oS gosernm Mt We see the
free. the enlightened system which they
perfected. adopted by tho people. Aud
pu. 10 the ,sst of practical experiment
Ne see the snesrs of the world in antici-
patton Of its future. give place to aston
ishmsut At its success. Yes. INV coun-
,rymen. thank God. /. proved success
Ia its infancy i, s,ooi the test of fire,
when the fierce hea, of the second war
of independence swept the land nd the
gallantry Of American freenien. on land
and sea. won q second triumph f1r FREE.
dom. glorious and complete ike the tirrs.