New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-07-05
SHEET.
"a sIs.-.- - :. 80 ., .-..
RISE OF CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY.
THE REV. DIR. sTORRs AT THE ACADEMY OF
MUSIC.
OF the worm uUgetnrf, uru-0
that world to His throne.

Mr.. President - FELLow-CI CITIZENS: The
day come, and passing peacefully tho
impalpabe line which separates ages, the Republic COM
petes its hundredh year. The predictions in when al
fectionate hope gave inspiration TO political prudence
are fulfilled The fears Of the timd, and the hopes OF
those TO whom national existence Is menace are
alike disappointed The fable Of the physical world be-
comes the fact the poitical and after alternate sun
slime and storm heavings OF the earth which only
deepened s roots and Intellectual blasts OF hghtn1g
whose lrid threat died in the air. under sky row rain
ing bengnant influence the eenturyplan OF Amer
lean Independence and popular government bursts INTO
this magnificent blossom Of Joyful celebration iiuih
mating theland!
With what desiring though doubtful expectation those
whose action we Commemorate looked for the possible
coming OF this day, We know from the records winch
they have left With what anxious solcItude the states
men and the soldiers OF the following generation aitci
pated lefchaDges which might take place before this
Centennial year should be reached have heard our
selves in theic great and fervent admonitory words
How dim and drear the prospect seemed TO cur own
hearshfteen years since when on the Fourth OF july
1851 the XXXyIIth Congress met at Washington with
no representative in either Hase from any state south
Of Tennessee and Western Virginia and when deter
mined and numerous.army, under sklful commanders,
approached and menaced the capital and the Govern
mcnt-,his We surely have not forgotten; how, in
the terrible years which followed the blood and fire, and
yapOr OF smoke seemed oftcntmes to swim as sea- or
to rise as wall between eyes and this anniversary
at cannot outast the second generation from those
who founded IT," the exulting conviction OF the
many loved tho traditions and state OF monarchy,
and who felt them before the widening fame IN
the world OF prosperous Republic. at may not
reach ts huudredth year." the deep and sometimes
the sharp apprehension OF those who felt as all OF us felt
that their liberty welfare hope with the brightest
political promise OF the world bound up with the
unity ana the life nation Never was sOcitude
more intense, never prayer TO Almighty God more
eryent and constitutional in the earliest beginnings OF
our history when Indian ferOcty threatened that history
with swift tcrmnation not in the days OF supremest
trial amid the Reyoluon-than in those years when the
nation seemed suddenly split asundcr and forces which
had been combined for it's creation cnched and
rocking back and forhn bloody grapple on the question
OF IFS maintenance.
The prayer was heard. The effort and the sacrifice
have come their fraitage, and to-day the nationst
one as at the start though expanded over such I'M
mene spaces absorbing such Hcessant and diverse ee
mens from lands, developing within opinions so
conflicting Interests various apd forms Of occupation
so novel and manlold-tOday the nation, emerging from
the toll and the turbulent strife, with the earlier aud the
later clouds alike swept out Of its respendcnt stellar
arch paiscs from its work 70 remember and rejoice;
win oNhiara.cd spirit anticipate its future, with
ercut heart to oner to God its great Te Dcum.