The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-02-29
PLANT A TREE.
a Recommendations by she cover.
nor.

Without the sanction of Legislative
authority or established precedent rs q
guide, cannot resist the temptation
the centennial year we have just enter
cd upon brings to me asking your at
tention to few suggestions and
thoughts as to the use we shall make
OF it. Though as political organiza-
tion We cannot lay claim 10 even semi
centennial age, yet as ono of tho
younger brethren of the great house.
hold of states, we hold in grateful love
our place in the family. We havo with.
in 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 tho descendants OF the fathers OF
the republic-ths men who in council
framed our form OF government. aud
on score Of battle helds fought and
died 10 establish it,
The lapse OF time, the demands Of
business, the new life We are living, all
tend to . forgetfulness OF tho old time.
and Of tho history our fathers made
with pen and sword. Is it not we'll,
therefore, In this Anniversary year to
pledge anew our affections 10 "the laud
we live in," to rebuild the fire of pat
riotism on our own hearth-stones, and
renew the love of liberty and country
in our own hearts. that in the times Of
the revolution warmed the hearts Of
our ancestors?
Have we not forgotten in the hutry
and strife OF our money getting, tho
rapidity with which events have crowd
ed upon one another in these latter
days, the blessings that have come to
us from the past, and the debt we eve
it Have We not taken the good that
has come TO us, as rewards of our own
merit rather than the hard earnings OF
the early builders, Are We not grow
ing thougtless of our country, its in
stitutions aud government, and care
less of its perpetuity? Political quacks
imagine new diseases affecting the
body polite. and invent panaceas for
their cure, without a protest from tho
people One urges that property
should govern-another education an
other, birthplace-one desponds for
fear the government is not strong
enough. while another .hudders at the
centralization Of power, aud here and
there perchance is = mis,uthrope who
has lost all faith in government OF tho
people.
Shall ws not in this hundrsdth birth
day of the nation, turn away. from these
teachers Of false doctrine, resolving to
hold fast not only to the form, but to
the spirit OF simplicity and strength ?
80 resolving and so doing, We need not
fear for the future.
We, of Michigan, need 10 do our du-
ty in this direction. and We cannot
commence too ofsoon. The history Of
the United States is not taught in five
thousand Of the six Thousand schools
OF the State. 1t occurs to me that this
il not the way to insure good citizen
ship in tho future, II our children are
thus educated--or rather uneducated
we shall by-Hnd-by become q nation
OF doubters and croakers. Ihops the
parents and children, the school off,
GERS and school teachers of this State
will see TO il that this DO changed at
once. IL from the inspiration Of the
time this single reform shall be s.-ur-
cd, the centennial win indeed prove a
blessing.
On SATURDAY, tho 10Th day OF April
next, Iurse upon every citizen sf this
State, who owns n piece OF God Q
groupd--whother il be large or small,
whether in city or country, town or
village--to plant treo, that our chill
dren and our children's children may
know and remember rs the tree plant
ed by patriotic hands in the first cen.
tonnial year Of the republic. In a
country Of land owners, where the
poorest man may. il he will, own the
ground no stands on, this seems Q
most appropriate memorial act, and
earnestly hope our people win heartily
units in adopting this suggestion.
am we'll aware that these arc per-
haps only symbols-sxternal show
but will they not bcspsak IN inward
glow OF patriotic impulse--and may
they not set in motion in the plastic
minds OF our youth-sad perchanss OF
elder folk-a current Of patriotism and
love Of country that shall know nc
end
Let US now resolve 10 cherish the
lsgacies of free school, free church
FREQ press and free town meeting left
us by the father. Let us preserve sim
plicity and economy OF government ~
cardinsl points in our political creed
and thus making sure that unds
God, government Of the people by the
people, and for the people, shall no
perish from the earth
JoHS J. BAoLsY.
Executive Office, Lansing,
Feb. %, 1876.
I