The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-07-08

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
At VANCOUVER.

Notwithstanding the universal at
traction toward the grand display at
Portland during Centennial Week
the people of Vancouver were not
behind in their patriotic duty. The
public buildings, business houses and
dwellings were appropriately decor
atctl with flags, and desire to cclc-
bratc seemed to pcrvade all, both
old and young. At one o'clock,
Tuesday, they gathered at the Pub
lie Square, where followed the usual
ceremonies, Mayor Sohns presiding
and John .Jaggy acting as Grand
Marshal. Rev. Mr.. Nicholson made
the opening prayer, after which II.
n. Krcss read the Declaration of In
dependence in very crcditablc man.
ncr. The national air America was
then sung by a choir improviscd for
the occasion.
Capt. VIM. II. Smallwood dcliv-
cred the Grafton. He was not called
upon to act as orator until near the
time the ceremonies were TO com.
mcncc. In about one hour he pre-
pared the following Grafton, which
was subsequently delivered to an APP
preciativc audience:
MIR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN The one hundrcth
anniversary Of the birth of a nation is
well worthy Of the most patriotic COM
mcmoration of its citizens; but the one
hundredth anniversary of II nation born
to liberty is deserving of the comment
Grafton Of all mankind. Century after
century has passed away, and nation
after nation has risen and persisted since
the first attempts at free government
since the first efforts to establish repub-
lies among men. The Inauguration Of a
republic in this country was not only an
experiment, but an experiment which
had hitherto been doomed to such Ger
tam failure in the old world that it was
deemed impossible IN the new. Deemed
impossible by princes and potcntates,
by priests and politicians, and by all
that vast army Of noble name and aris-
tocratic blood which dominated the
nations OF Europe but not deemed i'm
possible by the descendants of those
Pilgrims and Puritans, those Quakers
and Hugenots who braved the storms
Of the Atlantic to find the boon of
free conscience in the wilderness of
America. The seed sown by these re-
ligious refugees inevitably produced an
abundant crop of treason against the
British crown. From such an ancestl y
came the fathers Of the republic that
brave aud pntriotic band whose heads
first conceived the idea of American
independence, and whose hearts first
drank in the sunshine OF its rising. One
hundred years ago to-day the old liberty
bell proclaimed with brazen voice lib
srty throughout the land and unto all
the inhabitants thereof; and recent
writer says the joyful ring of that old
bell was heard around the world, and
has mot ceased to echo in all these hun
dred years. This day one hundred
years ago the declaration Of indepcnd
cucc WAS ordered to be- enrolled, and
John Hancock signed it. The signing
by the other members of the CONT
mental Congress did not take place Till
about the I'd day Of August following.
Without delay the declaration was pro-
claimed in all the towns and cities Of
the thirteen colonies, and was received
by the people OF all classes with the
Widest demonstrations OF joy. On the
Sth day Of July it was read from indie.
prndence square. The platform occn-
pied by the reader is said to be the same
Une from which kittenhOuse, the astron-
Omcr, had observed the transit Vi \c-