The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-07-17
O II a ~ 4 % -
Pronounced at Jane Lew,
July 4th, 1876,
Hon. WIN. T.. Arnold
BY

tennial Anniversary Of our Nations
birth. A hundred years ago to day
that Declaration just read, was adopted
by the representatives Of the people in
Congress assembled at Philadnlpaia,
signed ,hy all the members but one, and
promulgatcd::to the world. The wrongs
ii sets forth, and the truths i. asserts
the solemn pledges Of its signers, and
the effects which the principles therein
contained have had upon mankind, |
propose to make the text Of MT Grafton
to-day. Preliminary thereto. let Us
FIRST, with one voice, give praise 10 that
Being who created us, and honored us.
as witnesses, 10 behold the return Of a
day which is 80 noted in our
countrys history; and let as not forget
to return nnr thanks 10 our storied faith.
ere. for che almost countless blessings
which We enjoy. Gratitude for favor
bestowed, is heavens best gift to man.
Tho light from on High is not more
precious to The soul Of tho Christian as
be offers up lis prisons to God for Se'
turning day. than the anthem
praises Of devout gratitude which pos.
terit5 may render to the entOnbed.
The discovery of this county
--its rise and progress, together
With the events and scenes of the day,
throughout these United States, ia a
fruitful theme. To me, il is SO vast in
conception, and bou,dles, 10 extent,
that | scarcely know where to begin, or
in what way to most interest you. l
doubt whether the founders Of this great
government, in their most abs'ractsd
dysams, ever contemplated such scene
as that witnessed to-day by their pos.
,erity. The reality has more tho APP
pearanco Of fiction than Of fact. But
ye,terdoy. as it were. this tsir land,
now teeniug With lifs-the home Of the
sturdy sons OF every clims-ombraoing
in hor arms more than forty millions Of
freemen. and making the very earth re-.
sound with the hum ofindustry aud the
shouts Of joy. WAS the ABIDE Of the saw
age. and tho baum. Of deyouriug beasts
Of prey. The Sun, the lumiuary Of
Heaven and fountain Of light, as he rose
in the morning to shed bis rays upon
our new world. was greeted by no hu-
man sounds. save the yells Of the wild
r,en. But nature berselfhAs been sub.
dued-didant seas have bsen made TO
miugle their social waters-these have
passed away. aud a new race Of people
now succeed them. Tho spell
which so long bound The geniu, Of
Csris.endom was at length dissolved
Our Puritan fathers, borne down by the
oppression oftbe old world and stripped
Of their just rights to satisfy the capriccs
Of crowned heads, left the land Of their
birth. and challenged the waves Of an
almost trackleH sea, to witness the pur.
ity OF their intentions 10 search ofbetter
bones. After bulfeting storms And
perils at which the stoutest heart would
falter and startle back. they at last
found an "Ararat" upon this cont,
nent. 4 new starting point was
wanting BY which to propot nts boiler
and purer principles, and to build for
themselves o government under which
they could enjoy civil, religious and po.
li,ical liberty. 10 their efforts to &C.
complish it, many were the scenes Of
trial they bad necessarily to encounter.
The mother country still claimed them
as her subjects, and sought to subject
them to her colirol. Encroacbucnt.
repeated encroachmen.. becime ut
length too iu;olcrable to be borne. Re-
sistauce uas The only alternative left.
and Nth strong arms and stout hearts
they gave themselves up to the God OF
Battles. Massachusetts and Virginia
joined hands in tho struggle. and SO
bot did it soon become that Governors
DunmOrs aud Gage were compelled to
vacA,c their royal chairs. and fee to
their fleets for safety. 1t was decreed
that Massachusetts should receive from
the mother country the FIRST honors.
Lexington. Concord and Bunker Hill
baptized their sonsin blood and offered
th, m up for the sacrifice. TIE shot
that killad Warren az burned Charles.
town united and ireu the thirteen colo.
mics. The ssht Of Massachusetts, be.
came their eight. The Continental
Congress sas 10 session at Philadelphia
John Adams member Of that body.
made speech Of great power aud elo.
ounce on the petl:ng conflict, aud at
its conclusion nored that George
Washington. member from Virginia.
be declared Commander. in Chief Of the
Couliu entail armies. Tho motion car
ried, and 10 q few days Washington
aud Bis staff were on their way to the
seat Of war. His appointment electEi-
fed tho country; and as be journeyed
to Boston. the people aOcked to the road
side to see the man who had been cho-
seu 10 command their armies. On his
arrival there. the historian tells US, ha
vas met by .anittcc Of citizens. who
conducted him to Harvard now the 6ut
Set. Of learning 10 the world. which be
made bis headquarters. The next day,
Washington and bis staff rode to the
field where General Putnam bad the
remnant Of hi, army drawn up 10 limo
to receive him; anu IS. here was pre-
sented . SceHe more solemn and impos.
iag than was ever before or .inco wit.
messed on thil continent. Tho battle
= 4 A.