Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-07-01
THE CENTENNIAL.


its readers the One Hundreth Anniversary
of American Independence, with its re-
Joicings, its displays Of patriotic feeling,
its interchanges Of congratulation on the
past and Of hope for the future, will have
passed away. The first century Of ma
tional liberty and self government will
have been completed and the second en-
tered upon. Itis an occasion long TO be
remembered by those fortunate enough
to be the living witnesses OF its arrival
they who participate in its rejoicing must
feel that it is an event which can occur
but once to man, unless Providence
"bounteously lengthens out their days.
and enables them to once again meet,
with their descendants Of the fourth gen
GRAFTON and celebrate the day, 1t is a
day on which, while rejoicing in the pres
ent, we should make the stern resolve to
leave nothing undone TO transmit. the
blessings of liberty by which we are sur
rounded to the generations which will
succeed our own. 1t is day and period
in which the past should be scanned with
the eye of vigilart patriotism, and from
the lessons there to be gained, we should
learn to avoid the dangers to our country
and her institutions, upon which the
hope Of Republican Liberty 10 mar
rowly escaped destruction.
All men have implanted in their bo-
SONS that love Of the land in which they
first saw the light, that is the foundation
rock Of liberty and good government.
"Breathes there man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
This Is my own-my native land.'"
From this inherent feeling springs that
feeling we call patriotism, which leads
men 10 peril life and all that renders life
worth possessing, IN defence o1the lber-
ties of the land Of their birth. The Al
pine heights, which look down upon the
Businesses Of Switzerland the vine-clad
hills Of la belle France; the orange groves
of Spain the white cliffs Of Albion the
btoried banks OF the Rhine and the
moors and highlands OF Scotland, or the
the green bogs Of the "Ould Dart" poses
a charm alike to the natives Of those
lands which time may dim but never ef-
face. The love OF country is u love which
we should nurture and cherish wherever
found. But if this feeling is a commend
able one on the part Of those whose birth
place was in those fair lands, how much
greater cause for its existence with the
sons of America, a land combining the
beauties of the world, and blessed with
a degree OF civil. political and religious
liberty to which the world at large is a
stranger. The waters of two oceans break
upon her shores, and the wide interve ming
space is the home of proud States, each
equalling in area some Of the Kingdoms
Of Europe. Broad lakes and majestic
rivers penetrate to the rich valleys and
plains Of the interior, bearing on their bo
SONS the products Of industry and COM
merce the twin giants, Steam and Elec-
tricity have combined TO disseminate in
telligence, education and improvement.
To-day the seat Of Empire is found where,
when our fathers we're battling for the
liberties we enjoy, the rank vegetation Of
the prarics furnished the pasturage for
countless herds of the wild animals Of the
country, while tribes of savage natives
held undisputed sway. Even while the
battle Of liberty was being fought and
Won on tho ocean, the feet Of the pioneer
were turned to the heart Of the continent,
and on those spots where he first built his
rude cabin of logs, proud cities greet the
morning sun, networks of Railways inter-
lace and entwine. bearing to the humblest
in the land the comports and necessities
OF civilized life, such rs we're unknown to
tn, mansions of the wealthy of a century
ago. Above all these blessings the
wisdom OF our fathers has given, and the
patriotism of their descendants preserved
to us, government which guarantees to
all free thought, free speech, q free press,
freedom of conscience and freedom of
opinion. The handful Of patriots which
burst the bonds Of British oppression hiss
grown to nation of people able to cope
with the strongest powers Of the Old
World.
Ifthis is the progress we have made in
the first century, what may we not hope
fully aspire to in the future if we are but
true to ourselves. And if We are true to
ourselves we will be true to posterity also.
In this era of Centennial rejoicing let US
not forget the responsibilities resting upon
US ms citizens of the nation. The past has
showa US where all danger lies, let that
past and its lessons guide aud direct US
through to another Centennial.