The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-02-24
Centennial.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

~ The P"ople Of the State Of Mich
igam
Without the sanction of Icgislat-
i've authority or established prcc-
cdent as guide, | cannot resist the
temptation that the Centennial year
we have jast entered upon brings
to me of asking your attention to
few suggestions and thoughts as
to the use we shall make of it.
Though as a political organization
We cannot lay claim to even "A semi
centennial age, yet as one OF the
younger brethren ofthc great house,
hold of States, We hold in grateful
love our place in the family. We
have within our borders no Mecca
like Plymouth Rock or Bunker Hill
to which patriotic pilgrims turn
their willing footsteps, yet large
proportion of our people are the
descendants of the Fathers of the
Republic-the men who in council
framed our form of government,
and on score of battlc-fields fought
and died to establish it.
The lapse of time, the demands
of business, the new life We are liv-
ing, all tend to Il forgetfulness Of
the old time, and of the history our
fathers made with pen and sword.
Is it not well therefore, in this an
nivcrsary year to pledge anew our
affections to the Gland we live in,
to rebuild the fire of patriotism on
our own hearth-stones, and renew
the love of Liberty and Country in
our own hearts, that in times of the
Revolution warmed the hearts Of
our ancestors!
Have We not forgotten, in the
hurry and strife of our moncy-get-
ting, in the rapidity with which
events have crowded upon one an
other in these latter days, the bless
ings that have come to us from the
past, and the debt we owe it! Have
we not taken the good that has come
to us, rs rewards of our own merit
rather than the hard earnings of
the early builders? Are we not
growing thou, htless of our country,
it's institutions and government, and
careless Of its perpetuity? Polite
nj Uuack. imagine new diseases af-
fecting the body polite, and invent
panaceas for their. cure, without Il
protest from tn: people. One urges
that property should govcrn-an-
other, education-anothcr, birth
placc-one lc,ponds for fear the
government j.. '.ot stron:, enough,
while another shud,lers III he CEN
tralization Of power. and here and
there pcr hancc is II misanthropc
who has lost all faith in govern
ment of the people.
Shall We not in this lundrcdth
birthday Of The nation, turn away
from these teachers of false doctrine,
resolvins'so hold f"s:. moi only to
the form, bui TO he rpirit of the
government rs it Wa established in
it, simplicity aud strength? Sore
solving and so doing, We need not
fear Tor he future.
We. OF M;Yhigan, need to do our
duly i'm this direction, and we can
not commence too soon. The his
story of the [ nitcd States is not
taught in five thousand Of the six
thousand schools o" tic State. Ii
o;curs to me that this is not the
way TO insure .,ood citizenship in
the future. lfour children are thus
elucated-or rather uncducatcd-.
We shall by-and-bv become nation
Of doubtc,# and oakcrs. l hope
the paicn,S and children, The school
officers and school teachers of this
STATE will see to it tllat this be
chynged at once. If from the in.
spiiation Of the time this sing re.
fo,ni ,hal be secured, he centcn
NAL viii indeed Prove = blessing.
On Saturday, 'he 10Th day o
April 'cxt. ! u,gc upon every citi
zen Of nj, sac who own, piece
Of God's ground .whc her t b,
large or small, whether IN city OF
country own or .illagc-to plan
a ,r"e. raj on "hiId ~ ind oul
child 2n's "l'l,'rcr may know ant
rcmcmbe. q, ,he t. &c planted by
patriotic hand- n the IL u Ccnten
NAL Yer # III, I!cDubl;c. In ;
country o .ahd-owder,, where th'
poorest m.'n may. &c nc will, Owl
the g'ouna We stand, On, TAI. eem,
most appropriate me.nor'a' :.
and | earnestly hope our peopl,
will he.rrily unite in adoptin, til
suggestion.
] ain well aware that these nv,
pcrhap only symbol, --extcrna
show-bul will hey not bespeak al
inward glow Of patriotic impul C
and may !hey MOI set in motion il
the plastic minds Of our youth
and percliancc o. elder foil, IA .ur
rent Of patriot m and owe ofcoun
try, that shall know no cbb?
Let us now resolve to cherish tn,
lcgacies of Free School, Ere,
Church, Free Press and Free Town
meeting left us by he Fathers
Let us preserve simpliciiysnd econ
omy Of government as cardina
points in our political creed, an,
thus make sure "that under God
government OF the people. by thu
people, and for the people, shall
A. L 4 IL