Connecticut western news., 1876-07-07

W pounder, could not have been fully awake | from it's evenings nap, as none can be found in this village who heard any one of the thirteen discharges of the piece, and as 1t was only about half a mile away, it is thought to be quite remarkable fact.
 The early morning after daylight was oc- cupied by those of our citizens, who had not completed the decoration of their houses and places of business the night be- fore, in finishing their work so well begun. Among the more prominent, and in fact much the most so, in the work of adorning with emblems of patriotism, was the store of the Clark Brothers. The entire front of the exterior was literally buried in bunting in it's various forms. Over the street near this store was suspended a large flag the centennial tree was tastefully trimmed with festoons of red, white and blue and with flags on the posts of the fence which sur rounds it. Altogether our village was in a very presentable condition to receive the people from the surrounding towns, who came to join with us in observing properly the one hundredth anniversary of our Ma tions existence. -.z-y - s.....
 The early excursion trains came in heav- lily loaded, as also those which arrived later in the day, and with the great number who came in their own private conveyances, the multitude constantly increased in size to quite up to noon, when it IS thought that not less than three thousand people were present at the exerclses in the grove and on the street. 'G&.-
 The procession started at about nine o'clock from Lakevllle, and came into this village at about quarter to ten in the fol- lowing order: Chief Marshal Rudd. Artillery.
 '''" Lakeville Cornet Band.
 s. M. of the Lake, Temperance Society of A' Lakeville.
 Cascade Lodge Mo- I'll, I. o. of G. T. of | Falls Village. (35 or 40 members present.)
 f! The corps of six fifers and six drummers, and the retinue of teams and people on foot; the procession of citizens teams extending at least half 8 | -r mile ln length.
 On arriving '-s-. AT THE GROVE
 and becoming seated. the meeting, and
 which was an adjourned meeting of the
 town from that held in the town hall in
 March last, was called to order by MT. John
 R. Ward, who was chosen to occupy the
 chair in the unavoidable absence of the ven l erable Wm. H. Walton, who was elected ! president of the day at the March meeting l MT. Daniel Pratt was clerk.
 After the opening prayer by the Rev. Dr.
 Reid. and the singing My Country ri!
 of Thee" Hubert Williams Esq. read in {
 clear voice and most effectively the Decla-
 ration of Independence.
 After that grand old patriotic piece 'Hai
 Columbia" by the band, ex-Gov. Holley be
 gan his
 RHETORICAL ADDRESS.
 It would be impossible in our limited
 space to give even a synopsis of the Cover
 nor's ably written and intensely interesting
 address, and as it, with other manners o
 historical interest to the citizens of Sails
 bury, is to be published in book form, a.
 will be seen by the vote of the meeting re-
 corded below, we are thereby relieved iron
 the necessity of doing so. As he gave how
 ever Tn his peroration some most excellen
 advice, and which may apply to other 10
 calities which will not perhaps be sufficient
 ly interested in the history of our town tt
 purchase the book when published, we giv'
 below his remarks concerning that lt which we refer, verbatim:
 After referring to many native born citi-
 zens who have distinguished themselves a
 home and abroad, he said:
 In contemplating this array of worthy
 names, a pertinent inquiry suggests itself t
 my mind in this connection. Shall we con- tinue to send forth men from our town wht
 will dignify the positions they may occupy
 and do equal honor to the town with thos,
 who have preceded them ? Shall we prov to the world that in education and refine ment, in social culture, political integrit, and sagacitY, far reaching and wise plan for the future of our country, we may b able to controvert the oft repeated asseE tion, that we are degenerating that ou , ancestors were wiser and better than tn later generations of men Have we n reason to apprehend that the corruption ! and extravagance of the age-the bitternes : of party spirit-the want of charity toward each other-the malignity with which can didates for and incumbents of exalted DC litical and social positions are pursued an, traduced, will compel the future historia - to verify and emphasize the charge of de I generacy ??
 z In connection with this subject, I cannc ! refrain from giving short extract fror s Judge Church's centennial address. H
 says; This is not the time nor the prope
 occasion to indulge in political reflections 8 But cannot discharge duty which ow a to the young men of my native place-th o persons with whom, in part. the destinie of the country are soon to be entrusted 8 without entreating them to divest them 8 selves of party and political prejudce' e What is prejudice but an opinion forme without impartial examination? This is D crime, and inexcusable in this age an > country; My young friends, never b - afraid of bringing preconceived opinions the test of patient and disinterested il # quiry.' He being dead, yet speaketh,' an 's speaketh wisely.
 T What he said is SO entirely in consonanC d with my own feelings, that cannot r !. train from repeating the advice to m young friends of the present day. Indee > 1 think if he were living now among th e scenes that surround us, he would, in vie e of the frauds and corruptions so prevale1 e in all ranks, make that advice far mol e emphatic.
 !, While too deem it inappropriate to !. certain extent to indulge in political refle Q tions on an occasion like this, still feel e common with every patriotic heart an earl ia est desire that this glorious union and il F best of all forms of government yet devise if by human wisdom. should be perpetuate = = in its purity. cannot but express my aI . prehension that it's value is not appreciated . . The government was not established for . single decade or single generation, and