The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-03
The New Year In Indianapolis.

1SpIANAPoLIs, January 1.-The Cen
tennisl year was ushered at II o clock
midnight by the widest demonstration
possible TO be made. AT q given signal
one hundred strokes were sounded from
the fire department bills, followed by a
peal Of "Praise God, from whom all bless.
ings flow" from the chime OF Christ
church. This was followed by the firing
of one hundred guns, screaching of stean
whistles, shooting of pisto and ire-crack-
ers, and other noisy demonstrations OF
,oy. At 10 o'clock nettirg was held at
the Academy OF Masic at which Mayor
Caven presided. After prayer, by Rev.
f. a. Bradley, Rector of Christ Church,
Gov. Hendricks was introduced and ad-
dressed the assembly, briefly referring to
the progress which the country had
made during the past century, the popu-
lation Of which had grown from 3,OOO,OOO
to 10, 10000. He characterized the emf
grafton which had contributed SO
largely to these shores as one OF
enterprise and courage, and to
whom an interest had never been suf-
fciently valued. 1t was these features
Of the enterprise, courage and intelligence
which had given prominence to the char
acter, and swept from colonial lines until
it has made glorious the Psc tic shore,
and now American judgment governs
from coast to coast, and American Ideas
and American sentiment predominates in
every section. Two ideas were pro-
minent!y advanced by the Governor
OF special Importance. First, while
he would not say that the American
schools surpassed those of other coun-
tries; still the foundation was laid for
system Of tree schools, which within
quarter of n century would surpass them.
The free school must be regarded as the
foundation of American stability, and
the people must consider and treat as
foe any one who will bring the system
into controversy with view Of injurlng
its efficiency. Second, Since its birth tho
country he's borne ii-elf proudly and sus-
cessfuliy against its enemies-frst in the
seven wears war, with Wa hington at its
head; then II laid the foundation
for future permanent government;
then in the foreign war and more recent
ly the test Of ciyil war, which Is the
hardest for any government to sus-
tain. and in all of these it came out with
its institutions preserved and Its integrity
sustained. In conclusion he drew an
eloquent picture Of the manner in which
American sentiment was recognized by
other governments and that this senti-
ment embraced in the one idea, govern.
ment resting upon the consent otthe gov
,rned, would eventually end IN every
nan being free.
This was followed by an address by X.
J. l.. Mathcrs, editor OF the Sentinel. The
centennial Of our flag, in which he traced
t. success. from the time when first flung
the breeze, one hundred years ago, by
ieorge Washington, 20 the present era,
where, as the ensign of a mighty nation,
commands the respect and admiration
# the world.
General John Coburn, spoke of In
annapolis MS 1t was, as it is and as 1t
vii be-, tracing its progress for ffty-hYe
'ears from wilderness TO II city with Its
resent population ofover 100000.
The exercises were concluded with an
address by {. W. Green, otiicisl Centen-
nal agent.