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


one pr the other shah assert lis uns
doubted and acceded supremacy
But in this contest we know how the
issue will be Victory will perch
upon the bannersof those with whom
right is and that viii be with them
who arc striving for liberality and
freedom Of government. For this
great change Of sentiment through
out the continents of which I have
Just spoken, may it not be truly said
that we are entitled to the credit?-
To what other influence can it be at
tributed, but to that which the great
American republic wields? Then
where is the citizen that would hes
itate to turn with patriotic pride
and JOY to the days doings Of our
forefathers in "l4iberty Hail." one
hundred and four years ago, when
they struck ''for liberty, their affairs
and their fres2" j indulge the hap
py thought that there is not one in
all this broad land.
But, aside from all this, what a
treat it is to turn the pages of our
country's history over for the centu-
ry last past, and to read therein the
record of noble deeds, the conquests
in science which we have made, the
achievements of.inventive genius, of
the places where charity and relig.
ion have taken up their abode, and
the joyous march which education
has made into all ranks and condi-
tions of our people. II gives more
pleasure TO recount, these conquests
than it does those Of the sword, how.
ever briIliant the latter may be,
though sour. people have shown them,
selves to be men Of valor when the
honor or safety of our country requi-
red it.
1t is in rendering our conntry's
history that we are enabled to form
any just conception of its grandeur
and glory. In extent of territory
ours is not far behind the largest
country in the world, stretching as it
does in its broad expanse from the
wild waves of the Atlantic to the
golden shores of California, on the
gentle Pacific, and in lenghth from
the icy bosoms Of the Northern lakes
to the land Of flowers in the South
In fertility Of soil and variety of eli.
mate, we eclipse all other countries.
Here we find cline and soil adapt
ed to the growth of nearly all the
products that minister 10 the neces.
sities, comforts and luxuries of man.
kind, from the dwarfed and sour crab
up to the orange and date that "grow
ripe under sunny skies" Here we
find our wheat fields waving in grace
full bows to the breezes that watt
over them the gentle showers that
enable US to garner up every year
not less than 100000, 900 bushels, and
to send to foreign ports 100000
bushels, to give our fellow-beings of
other countries the "staff of life:"-
And here our corn-felds yield us ey-
cry year not less than 1,30O0,00O,000
bushels, and we might continue to
enumerate he'products of our count.
ry until you would grow weary in
listening, but this will suffice.
Here homes are found bright and
happy homes, too-for more than 40,-
100000 Of frecmen, and there is room
for many millions more, and people
from all countries on the habitable
globe are coming to our shores every
year asking to become citizens and
to take up their abode among US,
leaving behind them native land,
home and friends. The contempla-
tion of all this must necessarily in
spire the breast Of every American
citizen with honest pride and Joy and
selfish indeed must be the heart Of
that man, whose homo is.among us,
if he cannot come out with his friends
and acquaintances and celebrate his
country's birthday of freedom and
independence, for only think what it
would be for a country like ours to
be still in the throes of bondage and
humility incident to that yoke Of
monarchy which the colonists had TO
bear. tits matter of self.congrat-
ulation ton tn nnntonnlnta tha b;,b