National Republican., 1876-07-06
DAY 0E DAYS.
I Continued from First Pcoc,l

never grow dim, or the bell lose Its tone" Over
the main entrance were the letters "1sIo, and
the motto, Though a century has passed, we for
get not the patriots of l7I6" with July 4th" and
"Union" in gas Jets over the door On the right
of the building was picture OF Washington and
family and on the left a picture Of the surrender
ofCornwallis. A large portrait of Washington
was eonspicuously displayed in the center. Bril-.
lancy was given to the whole by a prOfusiOn of
gas jets and two lines Of Chinese lanterns from the
roof to the tree-boXes.
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN BUILDING
presented a grand appearance 1t came from the
hands of the decorator, Mr.. ]. o. Hogan, and was
the subject OF admiration both by day and moon
light. Mr.. Hogan performed wonders in the
short time he was laboring, and evidently knows
Bannarets were suspended from the windows
bearing the coatofarms Of each State, and over
be cnei N graceIai ioas were ieseooned
Streamers, secure in the beak Of the eagle that
perched aloft above the building, floating on the
windows donfng.the front Of the structure, and
found a resting place on the frst floor. Shields
and other devices were placed between.the win
dows and helped to cover the bare walls. Like
the other houses this suffered from the visit of
the evening showers.
NV. GAIT, BRO AND CO.,
with their massive iron front covered with flags,
large and small, and extending in double lines to
the apex of the flagstaff, made a fine showing,
and the display was greatly admired. On each
end of the balcony on the second floor was a stand
OF French eolors that gave additional beauty to
the scene, and revived pleasant recollections with
many at seeing the colOrs of the two great coun-
tries commingling.
THE BEsT-DEooRArED SQUARE
was the north side of Pennsylvania avenue, be-
tween Ninth and Tenth streets. 1t bore the sp-
pearance Of combination among the merchants
to screen the houses from view by decorations,
while above the store doors and extending along
the curb were lines Of variegated cOlored lanterns
that made the square doubly attractive during
the illumination at night.
Among the business places so extensively and
timely dressed were those Of Drew Gibbs, W. N
Dalton, Willett Ruof, NJ. W lillian, b. Robin
son Co, Solomons & Chapman, W. NJ. Shuster
Bro, VIM; Wam, Alexander Gardner, John W;
Boteler & Bro, W. G. Metzerott & Co., John T.
Mitchell, Ellis & Co., Choate's bookstore.
AMONG THE OTHER HOUSES
on which display was made and which cannot
be described in detail, We notice the following:
ing, Critic building, Washington Journal, b. ].
Major. J. T Moli9g. E. Grermulleh Raft
Brothers F. a. steif, Geo '' MeiIng jr., i L. N.
wthsrSw' Gona F. Shining A. GrSPe III BeEgepoz,
pert, H Bonitz, ]. Hatzilds, NJ C. Mitchell,
New York Tea Company, b. Coppes. United
Louis Schmidts, Beresford's, Eiseman Brothers,
E. F. Buckley J. l.. VOigh, X. Kneessi, b. Gus
dorf, VIM. Helmus, Geo Bcitbarth. Reeds
": r. Rilty y & Bro, w. X. Johnson & Co, J. W.
Colley, Robert NcMurray, Johnson's photograph
gallery, Perry Brothers, Sebastian Aman's, Dun
canson Brothers, Robert Fulton's, John Key
worth, Geo. T. Keen, Robert Boyd. E. Ab1er,
Gray's restaurant, Louis Betz, Ned Valentines,
saloon, Imperial hotel. railroad ticket oficcs b.
Henzie, Hoy Clark, st. James hotel, Jos.
PlatZ, Eutaw house, Meyer hotel, Dubant's
hotel. Mades' hotel, A. Koch, Ed. Kolb, Analos-
tan and Potomac boat houses, 1. Saks.
The Oldest Inhabitants.
In accordance with the custom of many years,
the Oldest Inhabitants Association assembled at
noon at FOrd's Opera House, to hear an Grafton
from one of their own members and to quietly cele-
brate the great anniversary. The opera house
was filled with very good audience. The old
men belonging to the association occupied the
portion of the hall nearest the stage. In the au-
dience were many OF the Oldest and most respected
citizens of the District. DR.. John b. Blake
HOratio N. Easily, J. II. Semmes, Nicholas Cal
Ian, F. b. Lord, G. A. Bohrer and others occupied
the stage. DR.. Blake president of the associa-
ton, called the assembly to order and, after ap-
propriate music by the band, the Declaration Of
Independence was read by Horatio N. Easily, esq.
GRAFTON.
L. A. GobrIght esq., delivered an eloouent ora
tiOn, during which he said:
Time was with some of US when on the Fourth
Of July revolutionary soldiers adorned the plat
all passed away, leaving their work as our in
heritance. At first they fought for their rights
as British su6lects, but these being denied, the
Continental Congress iu 1775 meditated separa-
ton from British rule, and on the 7th of June
Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia. introduced the
following resolution:
Res0lred, That these united Colonies are. and
OF right ought to be, free and independent States:
that they are absolved from all allegiance to the
be1WeeD Ssm ann and tt tsas political connection
and ought to be- totally dissolved
The orator told the story Of the discussion over
the resolution and the adoption and signing of
the resolu ion. 1--WE must be unanimous" said
Hancock; there must be no pulling different
ways,re must all hang together" Yes" re-
" W. r0t tnAa
rately.r
s the causes that led to the adoption
eTsl rejoicing that followed. Speaking of
THE AMERICAN EAGLE,
he said:
The eagle, no matter what may be said of his
predatory ha bits, and of the Scriptural express
sion that where the carcass is there will the
eagles be gathered together" triumphs. He is
seen on the buttons OF our warriors on our coin,
and the seal of the United States, the lastnamed
designed by a committee consisting OF 61..;apin
franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
W lIson the American, Ornithologist says Of the |
6irG' @ fGrmed By nature for braving the seaeresi
and Of the land, possessing pow .rs of flight capl
Bile Of outstripping ever .me tempests themselves,
unaSed uih, Dy H;ytnlng but man, and from the
abroad at one glance an immeasurable ex.
panse OF forests, fields, lakes, and ocean deep be-
low him, he appears Indifferent to the To-
utes he can pass from summer to winter from
the lower to the higher regions of the atrnos
phere, and thence descend at will to the arctic
the abode OF eternal cold, TO the torrid regions
Of the earth"
Gentlemen, our Government has such venera-
tiOn for the proud bird that IL has three fine live
specimens in our own franklin square, in cage
for public admiration. The eagle is one of our
institutions, and therefore has our enforced re-
sIeet.
The orator spoke of the adoption of the original
American flag and the alterations in the design.
III 1T would r be mistake" he said, ITO SUPPOSE
The question might be put in this way:
GREAT BRITAIN DID NOT CONQUER THEM.
She found after experience, that, having to trans
port at enormous expense large bodies of troops |
lcrCss the ocean-three thousand miles in sailing
vessels-was very Improbable, as they did not
accomplish the desired object, namely, the sublu-
cation of the Coloniss, who, of determined spirit
and having resolved to be free and independent of
British rule, were not to be frightened from their
patriotic purpose by coats of red. typical Of the
fire that doomed from their unfriendly cannon; |
and, besides, Holland having joined the bellige- J
rents against England and England having been
humiliated by the crOwniDg battle of the contest
the surrender of COrnwallis-she departed from |
our soil. leaving the Colonists in full possession"
Speaking Of the mighty progressive steps that ]
have been made since colonial times, he said:
If our Revolutionary sires could Ier,peaf on
earth, and see these won1rous things, together
with the results of inventive genius, and the
in the arts and sciences their express
sions oil surprise would be equal to, if they did
not exceed, those of the hero of the KaatskiII
in a more agreeable sense-when
he awoke from his long slumber to be Startled
by the nctual changes which meanwhile had |
taken place. We ourselves can scarcely realize
the growth of the infant Republic from its cradle
IN "nendence Hall to the present time when
i stands forth in tny ride Of R9Pbo6d with un-
,onquerable strength.
My friends, in what condition will our country
ONE HUNDRED YEARS HENCE.
the Fourth of July, 1876? WIZ the came form of
Mt we now have be pre- ,eryed? will it
4 ford the same protection of personal freedom.
and human rig.hts? viii the proud
banner still wave over d united and prosperous
pcople2 These are questions to be answered by
succeeding generations. Ifthey are true to the
teachings ard example of our Revolutionary sires
the Republic will endure If not, then the bright,
and we may say this naughty Republic will pass
into history with that of Rome, and for similar
causes. There can be no republic ethat is not
founded on the virtue, intelligence and assent Of
the people. Enforced government belongs to ty-
ranny.
He spoke of the peaceful mission of Sir Edward
Thornton at the Centennial, and the dinner
given by him in Philadelphia, May last.
After quoting from General WashingtoD's
Farewell Address, he closed eloquently, and
thanked the members of the House who were
present in the name of the entire people of the
United States, and wished them many returns of
this happy occasion. He then concluded by re-
eitinu n nOetfcal sketch Of the discOyery q