Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-11-08
The Centennial OF American Freedom bad,

noan won hundred years ago. The election
of Samuel j. Tilden to be the President, and
Thomas A. Hendricks to be the Vice President
of the United States is not merely the triumph
Of the democratic party; it is the restoration Of
the iyaterus union Of the States i; it is the
triumph Of the principles 0! Constitutional
liberty. SO long held in allegiance, and put 10
such grave peril by q continuous course Of un-
constitutional legislation, and frequent prece-
dents OF executive usurpstiop.
When war eane between the States Tie laws
were si!en, amid the clash oil srms, and When
liz clamcr ceased the legislation Of Congress
that had iUr four years torae the imprint OF
the sword, aud been scarcely more than uili-
tary orders, couched in the torms aud phrase.
ology oi lega! enactmsats. seemed to have
strayed forever away from the precedent- and
practices ct peace. Even that lesser good faith
which is observed between enemies 10 var, was
sometimes disregarded; while all thought OF
that greater comfy which prescribes that 10
peace States shall do each other all the gooi
they can, seemed utterly forgotten. Occasion
ally the voice Of reason made itself heard and
called halt u the b qarch OF Force towards
depot!sm but the halt vas momentary only,
and hour by hour The radical party developed
it's tendency TO so disorganize the body polite
that an Empire would become necessity.
After having broken up the Union aod made
q patch work government out Of the materials
left from the fair fabric our fathers raised, it
was proceeding to break up the States, and
had introduced principles whose fual result
must have been 10 break up society itself, whcu
the sober second thought Of the American peo.
pie stopped its revolutionary course. The last
wave of The tide Of war breaks harmless OF our
feet. Io estimate properly the perils through
which we have passed, it is needed only 10
recall the condition Of public affairs at the open.
ing of the present year. A gigantic effort was
then 90 foot. surrounded by many probabilities
Of success to give the present incumbent Of
the Presidential chair substantial lease for
lie Of hi, o6lce-to permit Grant to overstep
the limit that " ssbiugtoH placed to the ambition
Of Presidents. Aud this, not because Of the
merit Of the occupant Of the Presidency, (for
his administration had been corrupt beyond
prccedeDt,) but because he held Power, aud
was supposed to be able to insure his own cleo
ton, and the retention 10 Office Of bis subordi-
mates. That this scheme was preached, can
vasscG, and seemed likely to be carried Into
effect, shows to what sad condition the coun-
try had been reduced, and what perious posi-.
bities lay 10 the near future, had oDce the
Rubicon of third term been over past. For
tuuately, and it is just that 10 this hour ot trl
umph, We should acknowledge the merit oi
our advcrsaiics, there was much American
feeling lett amoug the paItigaps OF the Repub
lean PARTY. '',hs ray OF sunshine in The r;!l,
though turned aside, is sunshine still, y aud the
plots Gt the schemcrs for Empire were defeated
Ia their own councils and to the deserved
PRAISE OF Governor Hayes. be it said. lie rscol,
ed from the spectre Of cEoTl aud sceptle,
So tar that. whsa III, prospects for HE titst
term we've brightest, be declined, ia aiygace.
the legitimate ambition ot secooi term. That
his fellow cit .as have declined, al,o. first
.arm Tor hin. does uvt d=ifatt i;ou his metlt
10 THIS regard
II vas soou seen, however, chat whatever
the good Infections OF Gov. Hayes might have
been, lie was OF u nature too weak to carry
them ant lie wss taken 10 charge BY the
worst aud uost dangerous part2ans OF the
Grant party, aud has tossed like e cork on thai
tide which has Hoated the whole radical ship
up "thal Salt River" whose waves have in
times gone by borne many better barque.
Let the dead bury their dead. Citizens oil a
COMMON couhtty, JOINT heirs with US of the
highest hopes Of mankind, associates in many
enterprises for the COMMON good, mis!ed yet
not unpatriolie, Our republican fellow citizens
will SOON see that we have fought the battle
for them as we'll as for ourselves, aud have won
q victory which opens the second century Of
American liberty with grand prospects for them
as we'll as for u.s. We shall give them couu-
try that shall be worthy Of its glorious past.
What greeting shall we give The glorious
States that, crushed and bruised, and bound
aud malrea.ed, have risen 10 1876 to renew
the principles Of l776? The patriots Of Bunker
Hill and Bennington must bless the sons Of the
men who fell at CoSpens and Yorktown. The
South and the North have saved civil liberty.
Now glory to the Lord CT Hosts, TO whom all
glOrlei rise,
And let the desp.mouthed cannon fash tharka-
giving to the skies;
And glory TO the Mighty States, the union Of
our choice,
Whose glory be from sea to sea, in hand and
heart and voice.
Ger all the land with one acclaim rejoicing
freedom shout,
lie: bells awake the forming air. fing ell the
b8nnors ou..
Rev Dr. Bledsoe, whom the city is now
proud to number among it, citizens, has an
amusing and interesting article in to days Ga.
zette