The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-07-13
Hisborough Highland County, Ohio Thursday July 49, 1876

: audience and made the following elo
: quent opening remarks and address O
:; welcome:
d Ladies, Gentlemen and FeUo,U- Citi
= ze,is Il esteem it very great honol
to be called upon to preside over 81
vast and respectable an assemblage o
our people here to-day. The com
d pliment is greatly enhanced when
|, take into consideration the fact that
q have been reared on foreign soil, anC
am only a citizen among you by
choice and adoption. Here permit MT
a to say that all my sympathies are in
a accord with the spirit of our free insti
tutions, and that all my capabilities
both mental and physical, would be
/: exercised, if need be, in defending the
] honor and maintaining the integrity o.
our common country, no matter when
Were, or by whom assailed.
We have now met under the shade
} of these beautiful forest trees to cele.
brate, in such manner as we shall deem
most appropriate, the return of that
day which one hundred years ago gave
birth to this nation, and which pro-
| claimed that great fundamental prin-
n ciple of free government that human
rights are of paramount Importance to
human lars, and a pledge and guaran-
ty that they should ever remain inviO-
|, late i'll our system of national jurispru-
dence.
We do not meet to day as Democrats
or as Republicans, or as partisans of
any political school, or as adherents of
i any particular sect or creed, nor for the
purpose of advancing the claims of any
political aspirant to position or place,
or with the design of discussing any of
the political issues of the hour, or to
say what shall or shall not be the finan-
cial policy of our Government, or
whether the dominant party shall
adopt soft or a hard financial basis !;
but we have met for far higher, ho-
lier, nobier object-for the purpose of
laying our past differences, prejudices
and predictions on the altar of our
country, and renewing our covenant
faith with each other and our allegiance
to our Government, and striking hands
as brothers and praying the God of our
fathers that we may be worthy to
transmit to coming generations that
heaven-born boon of liberty which has
been vouchsafed to us, and that peace
and harmony may prevail among all
our people, and that every heart may
respond to that memorable sentiment,
"Liberty and Union, now and forever,
one and inseparable."
When the Continental Congress met
in 1776, however determined the colo
nists had been to resist oppression even
unto death, the idea of independence
had never been uttered. And here we
may pause in ever-increasing wonder
and admiration at that august assem-
bly, of brave and determined men, re-
garded as rebels and outlaws by the
mother government - they staked
their lives, their fortunes, their all, on
single cast of the die. But theirs
was the bravery to dare and the abili-
the council-chamber dignified and SUBJ
lime were congregated there. There
was the proud and enlightened states
manship of Jefferson, the Spartan
f1rmness and courage of a Hancock,
the impetuous zeal and burning elo-
quence of an Adams, the sound and
philosophic views of Franklin, to
whose genius even the lightning of
heaven itself yielded were there. |
1t was contest for principle, a struggle |
for the very essence and soul of liberty. |
The effects of the Declaration, who /
can tell? There it stands-it speaks |
for itself-like Doric column, simple |
and unadorned, yet magnificent and |
sublime. Search all the records of the
old or new world-in word, ransack |
all the hoary registers of time, and can
you find its equal? No. Among the
triumphs of the pen it has no parallel
it is the Magma Charta of the rights
and privileges of man. Guided by its
principles and governed by its precepts,
the bulwarks of a free government are
impregnable. It's talented and illus
trious author this day just half centu-
ry ago closed his memorable life. A
halo of clustering honors surround his
tomb. If we seek among the inscrip-
tions that tell us of Britain's departed
great, amid the aisles of Westminster
Abbey, you will find no title so impos-
ing as that which dignifies his epitaph
1.-THE Author of the Declaration of
Independence"
What a glorious inheritance is ours
what blood-bought blessings and
privileges do We enjoy to day, and how
upon us to transmit to pos
terity these free institutions as unsul-
lied and untarnished as they have been
handed down to us; so that as the sun
in his diurnal course sheds his rays
upon the earth, he will shine on no
land more honored, more happy, more
united or more free than our own be-
loved country.
Our nation in the past is glorious in
her proud achievements, in her great
success in her mighty progress, in ner
indomitable prowess-indeed, our his
tory is so wonderful as to challenge
the admiration of the world our sue
cesses unparalleled and our advance
ment almost miraculous. Our present
is full of everyday life work, develop
ing new issues and enterprises. Our
future is filled with grand probabilities,
the realization of which depends on
our own and Gods help.
Let but the United States, in her rap
id career, keeping ever as now in the
of nations-let her press for
ward in the cause of freedom, of Justice,
Of humanity, and beneath the broad
folds of that bright banner will be
gathered all nations of the earth.
Ny couotIynaen-andI use that term ,
in its. broadest and best sense-we
have gathered together on this grand ,
Centennial year-on this, the natal
lay of American independence, and
with forty-three millions of freemen, /,
rom the Adriondacks ON the north ,
TO the Gulf on the south, from the
coast of the Atlantic to
.he golden sands of the Pacific, let
here arise this day one long, loud,
oyous Centennial shout of freedom,
20 that the listening nations of the =
1espotic old world, catching the sound,
and initiating our example, will, like
Is, resolve to be Free
Fellow-citizens- of Highland county,
n the name and behalf of the good
people of Hillsboro l bid you, and ev-
cry one present, a hearty, thrice hearty
welcome.
After the conclusion of the remarks
If the President of the Day, he invited !
,he Vice-Presidents selected by the diff t
erent townships, to take their seats
Ipon the stand. The National Hymn, =.
America" was then sung, led by Mr.. .
Iohn r. Doggett, with an accomplished q
,hoir of male and female singers, ac- T
by the Hillsboro Band. /,
The President of the Day then an :
tho roodipu IF tba nooIor,t;o,, &.