Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-07-10
Fourth Of. July Mt Harrisorburg.


July demonstration at Harrisonburg from the
Wednesday was a lively day in town. AT an
early hour the people began to gather In from
every portion of the surrounding country TO
witness the 4th of July celebration. The trains
from Staunton and Winchester brought large
numbers, the whole number of strangers in
town being estimated at 1000
At half past 10 o'clock the. procession was
formed under Col. 9. 7. O. Ferrail. Ch1ef Mar
shall, with a number of assistant marshals.
The column was headed by the HarrisOnburg
Band. Next came the HarrisOnburg Guards,
IS strong, commanded by Capt. .. Is. Roller
These ere followed by tho New Market Band
from Charl estown, w. Va, was also Ing line
then some 90 orEO citizens ON horseback, com
manded by a full compliment of officers. The
colored Fire Company embracing, perhaps 40
men came next They had their; engine. hand
somely trimmed with eyergreens and flowers.
and seated on top was little girl, representing
the Goddess of Liberty. CTEilsslas
After marching through the principal streets
g ,ns when Is as
Att o'clock the people assembled at the
Courtyard, when the exercises were introduced
of Indepenllence in admirable Style This was
followed by an able and eloquent address by
Gen. J. H. Williams. of Winchester We shall
W., as we shall, in all probability publish part
or all of it in our nextis
At the conclusion of Gen. Wiiiams's address,
the ley. J. "; Dungee, colored, was, loudly
called for. and In response made q speech Of
great ability, An which he discussed the situa-
ton of the colored race and their relation to
We do not hesitate to say it was the best speech
we have ever heard from a colored man on any
At the conclusion of Mr.. Dungees speech the
crowd dispersed.
1t may De statedthat theexercses werevaried
and enthused by appropriate music at suitable
intervals, and the firing of Salutes. i5s
In the afternoon, Col Holiday was serenaded
at the Spotswood Hotel, and acknowledged the
commitment in HelQnUPOt and rnatriOtic
speech, amidst the plautits of large and en-
,thusiastic crowd. ! Ai& ss.sfastksats
We extract the following from the address Of
Gen. J. II. Williams, which we find published
in full in the Old COMMONWEALTH. twas most
excellent production, indicating great research
and thou hit:
The award Of war was against us: secession
was buried in an honored grave. : 1t represent
ed the extreme OF this war of construction, and
never could have numbered our old mother
ground of coercion and force, {foreshadowing
Capitalization and empire as she believed re-
sorted to by the authorities at Washington.
With the close of the war came military rule,
reconstruction acts, States out of the Union BY
their failure to get out This feeling represent
ed the other extreme; with soldiers quartered
in Slate capitols and in State Houses, keeping
law makers in their place by bayonets, for par
ty purposes, who represented neither the vir
tue, the Intelligence, the honor nor the proper
ty OF those states. During these years, quietly
struggling for existence,and manfully keeping
IN tie tuIness of line It not as we
| hoped, not as we had planned, but it came, and
| to-day, as an humble Confederate, am happy
to realize thatwe have country and a govern
ment, Of which we are a part; something to
live for, something to work for and that the
noble sentiment of patriotism may be cherished
ard cultivated, and that We can know and feel
that we are not aliens in our own land.
In saying this, I do not mean to endorse
the manner nor the means by which the pres
ent administration came into power, but do
mean to accept the SITUATION, Qnd iNdye the tree.
,sts nl.is There IRE now 70 ssIdisfs stand I
odious rulers kept III place by soldiers Of the
United States. The President merely did his
fduty, and it is not for me to judge my brother;
but this much 1 will say: the withdrawal OF
| troops was ordered, when it known to be
the end of regime but for which Mr.. Hayes
would neycr IN an probability, have been
The al osities that spring from Iwarbre for
| tunately not always enduring. Eng1and's
Queen has just received in royal style and cor
dial manner our late President, whilst the
whole realm made hasteto pay honor to him as
| The war clouds are all gone now; the desoa
| ton in the track of war has all been repaired,
and to-day those who saw and felt the weight
and force of our metal, and crossed bayonets
with our ragged veterans cherish no hate.
| What American will not indulge an honest
admiration when he reads how that modest, re-
tiring eccentric, conscientious professor of Lex
| ington, enthused with the spirit of battle, be-
came very "son of thunder and made
grand large place for himself and country in the
pantheon of history; and then that Other self
poised, noble unselfsh, great good man. Who
when he had, filled the world with his fame
modestly claimed he did "the best he conld,''
in war and peace, the immortal Lee, whose
grand heart broke under the weight of
cares, and lived not to see his people restored
to their ancient rights. What historian of our
country but will strive to do him justice and be
pardoned as .he proudly challenges the world
for rival in all the grand elements that make
up the man and then that little band that at
AppomattoX gave their parole of honor kept as
bright and pure as the bayonets on which they
| car led the Confederacy, would blush to call
them countrymen.
Let us rejoice to-day in our great country, in
its progress and wealth. in It's stability, in its
freedom, in its government, in its hopes and
lessons of wisdom and goodness Let US throw
open our doors to the down trodden and OPP
pressed; love Justice and strive to be worthy
votaries of this s'Temple of Liberty, whose
foundations are a continent, whose vestibules
are the oceans, whose dome is the blue vault
of heaven, and whose worshipers are freemep.