Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-05
Grafton of Charles Francis Adams.

/ salute you, my fellow. .cou1trymen,
with a cheer OF wslcome on this joyous
day, when forty millions Of human
voices rise up with one accord to heaven
In grateful unison fCr mercies showered
on three successive generations Of our
race by the Great Disposer of events
during the hundred years that have
passed away. Yet, far be it from Us to
glory ia this anniversary festival with
any spirit of ostentstion, as il assuming
to be tie very elect of Goi's creatures
Let US rather join in humble but earnest
suplication for q continuance of that sup-
por. from on high, by reason of which
email, weak and scattered band have
Teen permitted so to gro " in strength as
to command recognized position
among the leading powers of the
earth. Less than three centuries
since an European explorer first
set bis foot on these northern shores wi b
a view to occupation. He found priiui-
tive race, aspiring scarcely higher than
to the common Ell jDyments Of animal
existence, and slow to respond 10 any
nobIer call. How long they had con-
tinued in this eame condition there wss
little evidence to determine, but enough
has since been gathered to justify the
b-lief that advance never can be one Of
their attributes. Without forecast, and
IL ,nsibIe to ambitions, sitter long expe-
rienee and earnest effort to elevate
them, the experiment Of civilization
must te admitted to have failed. The
North American Indian never could
have improved the state he vas in when
| first found here; he must be regarded
merely as symbol of continuous mega
| tion-of everlasting rotation OF toe pres.
ent. Not profting by the experience
of the past, and fsebly sensible Of the
poss bilities of the future, the European
at last came in upon him, and the scene
| began at once to change; the magnifi-
cence of nature presented to his view,
10 which the native had been blind, at
once stimuIsted his passion to develop
its advantages for civiliz alton. Ere long
tie wilderness began to blossom like q
rose; the hum Of Industry was heard to
echo in every valley, and it assembled
every mountain. A new people had ap
peared, animated by spirit which en-
listed labor without stint, and directed
Ii to channels of improvement with
their eyes steadily fixed upon the future
and their sturdy sinews bracsd to the
immediate task. There is no cause for
wonder that the sparse but earnest sd-
venturers who fist set foot on the coil Of
the new continent should have, in the
steady progress of time, made good the
aspir atioD, with which they began Of
founding future happy home for the
ever increasing millions OF the'r race.
Between thtss two fences the
American Indian, who dwells only
ia the present, aud the European ad-
ventGrer who fixes his gas SO steadily
on the future, tho issue of struggle
cou,d end only in one way. Whilst the
one goes on dwindling down to the pros.
pect of ultimate extinction, the other
spreads peace and Happiness among its
men bers, increasing the population of
our continent with Fapidity seldom ex-
ceeded in the records of civilization. But
here it seems as IL catch a sound of re-
buke from siar off in another quarter of
the gieoe, Come, now, says q dsnizen
of ancient Africs, this assurance on the
part Of ne pe0i lie ike yos is slto-
gether intoiersble. You are OF a race
starting only as il it were yesterday.
With your infant civilization, what nom
sense to pride yourself en- your petty la
bors, when you have not su ides OF the
results obtained from them in our fer
tile regions by q population civilized
long, and long, snd long kefore you
and your bossting new sentiment
wcro ever dreamed Of in the prcgress Of
10 ankln6. Igst come over here 70 the
land Of Egypt, fowing Vith milk and
honey; cas- e glance It our teBples and
pyramids, at our lakes aud rivers, and
even at our tombs, erected so long since
| that no ody can tell when; observe the
mS.terIy skill displayel in securing du-
rsbiiity, calling Tor correspond ng con-
trlbution Of skilled lsb " from myrisda
of .worknen to complete them; COD
sider, further, that even that holy DO h
which you yourselves esteem as embO
dyin the iighest conceptions of deity
and lessons Of morals, continually
taught among you to this day, had it