The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-07-21

= lnsl6l9 Ferdinand Magellan cir
cumnavigated the globe, and subsc;
quently did Sir Francis Drake, also,
making for themselves Worldwide
regulations as bold and daring sea,
men and nice aud skillfhl nayigators
But their route was one Of gloomy.
toll and exposure, beset with hard.
ships and dangers, theirs was not the
greetings of rapturous applauses or
the smiles Of royalty, But in 1877
an American citizen began a trip
around the world and returned home
after an absence Of more than two
years, having viewed the court trap
pings Of every soyoreignin the world
And it was his, the applauseof mill
ions, to command, and to be feasted
and toasted by all who wore the roy
al diadem. His path was strewn
wherever he walked with garlands
of roses and flowers Of brightest hue
and every mark Of distinction was
paid him by the renowned Of earth,
and people spared no pains TO evince
their profound admiration Was all
u =
this done simply because it was U.
S. Grant2 No, it was because he
was the representative abroad Of the
greatest country the world has ever
known. There should be no linger-
ing prejudice against this man be-
cause Of this magnificent reception
abroad, it was the homage which
other nations felt was due to US and
they chose to eyince their respect
andEesteem to; Individuality which
@asin visible form before them,
and which, nc doubt, they felt
would be appreciated and re-
membered by us. So we thus per-
ceive that the light Of our glory asa
nation has shed its rays across the
world Of waters and shines in beau
teous grandeur on the Eastern con.
tinent.
In my praises Of our country, |
would not be fulsome and in her eu-
logy would not be considered ex.
trayagant, but if the choice were
laid before me, accompanied with
the means of carrying my election
into effect, Of choosing the palace Of
royalty or plain home in "the land
Of the Free" should not hesitate to
take the latter. In the palmy days
Of ancient Rome, when she sat upon
her seven hills and from her throne
OF beauty ruled the world" it is said
that to be a Roman was greater than
q king. What a grand sayingl But
of q truth may it be said that to be
an American citizen is greater than
to be q king. Though it is our good
fortune to enjoy as our birthright
and heritage the rights and privil-
egcs of good government, and to have
our lot cast in ahappy land;yet such
a citizenship must not be thought to
be without its duties-yes there are
duties-for duty and right are recip-
rocal, one cannot exist without the
other, and the duties that rest upon
us are ardent and responsible, and
no good citizen will shirk or evade
their prompt and earnest discharge.
The prime duty Of US all in this
regard is to love our country and
obey tho voice of her laws. This is
the only way in which we can pre-
serve the integrity Of our institu-
lions and ensure the perpetuity Of
our republic. We should not speak
ill Of any of her forms without a
well founded reason; for the effect Of
such a course defaces her beauty and
dims her glory. AS we should not
speak the name of u fcllow-citizen in
the language of detraction and sland-
er, so our remarks as to our country
should be likewise tempered with
the words of decency and respect
Let us refrain from laying the ruth
less hand of innovation upon our
public institutions aud measures Of
governmental policy, and make no
advances under the guiso and name
of progress, unless it be a step taken
in the direction of the real good dc,
termined upon in the councils and
deliberations of the wise and noble
of our fellow.citize but l would
not be understood as even intimat-
ing that it is not our duty to call our