The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-15
use celebration Of the fsr IS nef pss
80 f,oYnwa,li1 s' IS

i ~, NJ was the scene Of The moss me mo-
..,.,s occurrence - 81 lfe Reyolusionsry war.
In sbst ,ay. and at that place, The besieged
nr,tish nrmy surrendered TO General 9 EoRas
;yy.jlsalH1lISosoS, commanding the combined
Eresst, an American forces. q
This event virtually terminated the strug'
ole that had existed for eight years between
Great Britain and her revolted American
colonies In favor OF the latter.
soon after the news OF this disaster 70
British arms reached Eugland, Par!tsnent'
despairiug OF putting down the reeel'ion'
stopped the further prosecution OF tue war
Ia America, and entered upon neso'ia''oh'
FOR peace. ...,,or
OF 90 great Importance was toe surfena 81
OF CoRNwALLIs considered IN nsS COUNTY
thst Congress, upon receiving the inteih,
..nce of this brilliant success, manllesteu
sss 10y BIZ a vote Of thanks 20 tne cur
manderin.c chief and to the officers ana men
., the allied troops generally. and resolved
that . near5ss column should be erectea Oh
the spot, bearing suitable inscription coln'
memoratiye Of the victory and surrendcr'
In addition to these acts, recognizing 'he
imnortance OF the events at 1orkto"n'
Congress as body moved in solemn process
sion 10 the Dutch Lutheran church. ana re-
inrnsd thanks to Almighty God Tor crown
;ng the allied arms with victory, and ap-
pointed day OF Thanksgiving ana prayer
nm account Of this signal interposltson Of
Divine Providence. -.
The public joy over this event, and the
APPRECIATION OF the conduct OF denerai
WASHINGTON, were displayed by bonnres
md illumlnations, and by the most natter
ing and affectiopate addresses from State
and municipal authorities, and from lnstl-
tutious of learning, TO that great command
er. Looking back through vista OF less
than a hundred years, we behold specta-
Gle such as the civilized world mas never
witnessed before or since. We see lmpoV-
crished and enfeebled colonies, totter-
ing on the threshold Of liberty, sud-
denly springing into a new existence
rapidly becoming powerful and wealthy
States-and, with increased numbers, I'M
der a united form Of government, stand
ing to-day in the front rank OF nations.
In all that tends to make a people great-in
the development of its mineral, manufac-
turing, aud agricultural resources-in fact,
in the development Of all the elements OF
material prosperity-the advancement OF
the United States Of America within the Pc
Rod of a century is without a parallel in
history. Possessing an imperial domain,
its vast territory has furnished homes for
millions Of the INDECENT and oppressed OF
other lands, and to-day the poor and needy
OF Great Britain are provided with cheap
food and raiment by her rebel offspring
the American Union.
No citizen OF the United States can con-
template the heroic deeds Of the Revolution:
and trace their results down to the present
time, without feeling proud OF bis country.
No Virginian with spark OF patriotism IN
his breast can recall to mind the brilliant
exploits OF Yorktown without being proud
OF his codntry and proud OF bis State.
There, on that hallowed spot, occurred The
browning act of the Revolntion-there, on
his native soil, stood WASHINGTON directing
the siege, the assault, and the surrender,
and there yielded to that grand old Virgin
ian the veteran army Of the proldest nation
on earth.
These familiar facts, gathered from his.
tory, are briefly mentioned simply to re-
mind our people that the deeds OF York
town in a great measure determined the
destiny of this country, and thereby to
awaken an interest in their celebration on
the centennial days Of their occurrence,
now fast approaching.
Already other States have celebrated by
centennial observations the prominent
events that mark the, pathway of the Revo.
luton from the starting point at Lexington
down to the storming OF Stony Point.
It now remains to the authorities Of this
State, her legislators, members OF Congress.
and the people to prepare the way leading
to a centennial celebration of the days AND
deeds that guve birth 10 liberty in this coun'
try worthy Of the events to which it refers
and creditable to Virginia, so that it may
not be said that Virginians are unmindiuI OF
the glorious deeds Of their forefathers and
hare forgotten to do honor to the memory OF
those immortal chieftains who perilled life
and fortune that we might be free.