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

\ .''ttt SVMtl tilR Ap0|t
IsnGna nnil 8 81. d ..I.I. Llsy
upon which our forefatliets pledged
their fortunes, their lives andtheir
sacred honor, for the nststntionand
maintenance ofthe benign, principles
of free government, and those rights
and privileges which truly belong to
a proud and Independent people.
Thisiday, in the year 1776, marks
an important era in the history Of
the great American continent-it
was then determined in the forum d
human liberty that we and our pos.
lterity should be frccmcn, and forever
walk in and breathe the fragrant
atmosphere Of a country made just
and stable through "a government of
for and by the people," resting, too
upon the broad pillars Of equal rights
and liberty to all, not even exclud
ing the weak, poor and humble O
mankind.
In Independence Hall, one hund
red and four years ago, there wa.
planted young tree Of liberty, tina,
for several years was watered with
the deep tears of sorrow and boroaye
ment, and that was watched ant
nurtured at the cost Of fanxiety, priya
ton, suffering and death, but which
now has grown to most beautiful pro
portions, SO that weary strangers
come and shelter themselves beneath
its broad and out-spreading branchei
and recline in peace and safety be
meath its happy shades. 1t may b'
truly said to mark an era in th,
history Of this continent; not only SO
but in the worlds great history, too
Ifor then it was that we brough
slaboptsthe tpsans EhsEek sssluB Il
1the test a theory of goyefninen
which had never been tried before
and to which all lovers or yotarics o
the old forms turned with Jealous
and malignant look, and which they
have ever since been watching il
the same spirit; but thanks beto the
great Preserver Of nations, we have
made successful test of this theory
and are surely demonstrating to .
certainty, mans capability Of self
government, as we'll as fully evinc
the manifold blessing which flow
from it. The influence which this
test has executed has diffused itsel
from ocean to ocean in North Amer.
ica, and has even found its way into
more southern climes, until South
America is largely imbued with the
spirit Of liberty, and hatred to that
doctrine which exults in the divine
right Of kings.
The love of free government did
not spring up and first have its ex.
istence with us-it has been seen
growing in many parts of the world
and in the isle of Greece and in an.
cient Rome it grew aud hourished
with q vigor of which we delight tc
speak even unto this day, but at last
it grew dawnsy, sickened and died
and in its place the rank thorns and
thistles of empire appeared and for
ever shut out its future growth, and
in those countries it blooms no more
Since then it has been seen in differ.
ent parts Of Europe in the form o.
the Dutch republic and also the re
public of France, but the proportions
to which it attained were compare
lively insignificant and trifing Ir
the providence of God it seems tc
have been left to the American peo
pie to teach the world a true ard i'm
portant lesson in the sublime science
of human government, for every
State in the Southern part of this
continent is initiating our example