Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-07-11
Qua COUNTRY.

Our MethUdiN friends observed INDIE
pendence Day in manner which wins botli
appropriate and pleasant The doors of
the church parlors were thrown open dur.
ing the afternoon and evening. Ice cream
was served aud REBEccA was found at the
we'll. No chrome, wood cut or sleel Plate
picture ntout this, bat living reality.
The evening" entertainment was inter
spersed with music, America" aud other
appropriate pieces being rendered. Mrs.
L. T. CLARK read WHTrTIER's beautiful
Centonniai Hymn, and Mrs Esther f.
BARTON prepared aud read on this occa.
sion the following beautiful tribute to Our
Country, which we deem worthy Of and
give space for the paper in full:
Four hundred years ngo The New World
was not even dreamed Of by the inhabit-
Rnts of the + ,stern Continent. And doubt.
less, ii there had arisen y prophet with as
clear vision NJ had the Jewish prophets nf
old aud foretuld the discovery Of new con.
tintnt on the soil vt which should spring
up nation whose influence wuul lie fell
TO the remutest corner of the earth, he
would have been laughed to scorn by the
Wise meu Ot hiS tinc, ana MS WOfuS treat
Ell ~ "uld wives tales"
One hundred and five years ago this ma
tipn was an unknown quantity, the value
OF which the last century has ouly approx
in ,tclv determined. Our cuuntry'- histu-
ry ia Ia lee mn apt illustration Of the truth
that the greatest results often arise from
the least beginnings. II has been said that
its commencement was like the glimmer of
n star upon the bOsum OF night; its pro-
gre4s the beamings OF noontide effulgence
One hundred aud four years ago last
Apr !, II Lexington, was begun the great
stiuggle for Independence, to the is~ue ut
whio we Of the present day owe so much,
pud which we seldom think Of ~ being at
all connected with ~ IA individuals. That
struggle virtually IN led with the defeat uf
Cornwtllis in 1881, and by the treaty of
Paris in 1888, the United States became an
Acknowledged power among the nations of
the earth.
Common danger had proved a snfi icient
bon ! among the thirteen States, but when
the danger was passed it was found that
the Articles OF Confederation adopted in
1777, allowed the exercise of so much IN
dependent power by the several S ates and
50 little by the Congress that no system of
taxation for carrying on the Government
could be put in practice. Congress could
on recpmmend The attempt was first
made Ia amend the Articles Of Confeulera-
tinn, but it was soon found that they were
too faulty for amendment, and the result
wss that the National Constitution under
which we live, was adopted in 1889. This
was the NOSE important event in the his
tory Of our nation. Then the nation was
born. Then the Republic of the United
States began ira glorious career. Then the
Ship OF State was launched, completely
fitted out TO sail over the unknown sea. of
the future destined-n- the pilots prove
trustwnrihv. or otherwi4e-either to safely
make her way through shadows and break
=, aud I've fpund seawnrthv, ar TO make
-hipwreck upon the rocks Of political dem
nguguci-m
The Union il Older than the Consti uiion
but il brave men had not 6ef nd,d the
CurStiIuion by word and deed there wouId
to-day be no Union. Three times since the
Revolution hss Columbia called her sous
To arms. Three times have loyal men an
rwrred the call, saying, at il sweet to die
for ones couniry." But nt last HE blood
red blossom Of war has closed it, petals IN
an afternoon Of peace which please Gud
NAV never come in u close.
Ii seems meet that we suould cOmmemn-
rate this, the anniversary Of uur nations
Independents, not alone bv the blare Of
trumpets and thunder Of cannon, not by
vain glory and useless boastirg of the
greatness nt "the land Of the free and the
home OF the brave" but by calling to mind
hc = our lorefaIhers made thai
they might leave to their descendants the
invaluable heritage of liberty untram-
meed by lien or mortgage. May the old
f'Ahion OF patrintism never die out among
u4. May we ever remember that our first
duty is 10 God, our next TO our country. II
we are a christian people we mus; be pat
riOtic people. In the words of another,
let the ministry, let tie church in every
b.nncn. Ot all denominations, frnm Maine
10 California, from the frozen Nor h 70 the
trrrid South, echo the cry, God aud our
country" Let it I've the watchwurd in all
national and state councils. Let all the
youth in the land from our primary 4chnols
10 the halls Of our universities " kp in
thnnderlones the shout, 'God aud our
Country Let treason all over the land
hear II aud know for once that we car not
bought, that We will not he sol l. that we II
NOT he conquered hy the fnrets or terrified y
the laundering hatterie- Of the world. LIT
all know that under God, we have hut one
aim, purpose aud prnyer-to live or die a
free, united, aud independent Republic.