Litchfield enquirer., 1881-10-27
WHOLE H NO. '2s'9o'


 Johnston of Virginia rapped the assemblage
 President Arthur was introduced by Secre- tary Blaine. He.spoke as f0llOws :tjeiH
 Upon this eoil one hundred years ago, our fOrefathers brought to a successful issue their heroic struggle for independence. Here and then was 4eslab blished, aud, as we trust, made secure upon this continent for ages yet to Come, that principle of government which is the very fibre of our political system; the sov- ereignty of the people. Those sentiments which attended and for time survived the clash of arns have long since ceased to ani- mate our hearts. It is with no feeling of ex- ultation over a defeated foe that to day we sulnnon ap a remembrance of those events which have made holy the ground whereon we tread Surely no such unworthy sentiment could find hArbl r in our hearts, SO profoundly thrilled with expression of SUTTON and sympa. thy which our national 'bereavnieut ias evolv- ed from the people of England and their august sovereign, but 1t is altogether fitting that we should gather here to refresh our souls with the cslntemplatioHpf the unfaIierlpg pat ri0tis,n, tk3e sturdy zeal and the sublime faith which achieved the results we now c0ihmetio- rate For s0, five learn aright the lesson of the hour, shaif we be melted to transmit the getieratiUn which stai follow the precious leg acy whiehlo our fathers left to us, the lowe of liberty, protected hy law.l Of that historic scene, which we here celebrate, no feature is lnOre prominent and uOne more touching than the participation of our gallant allies from accrOss the sea, It was their presence which gave fresh and vigorous impetus to the hopes of our c0uhtrynen, when we'll bish dlsheart- ened by 8 long series of disasters It was their noble and generous aid, extended Tn the darkest periOd of the struggle, witch sped the coming Of our triumph aud nlade the capitula- tinn at Yorktown pOssible centdry ago. To their descendants and representatives. who arc here present as honUred guests of the nation, it is my glad duty to offer cordial welcome. You have a right to share with us the associa- tions which cluster about the day when your fathers fought side, with our fathers in the cause which was here crowned with success, and none of the memories awakened by this anniversary are more grateful to us all than the reflection that the national friendships here 80 closely cenented have outlasted the mutations of a changeful century God grant, my countrymen, that they may ever remain unshaken, and that ever hencefOrth with our. selves and with all the nations of the earth we may be at peace. |" ' 'A,'i''7' '"'a
 'o Max Outrey. responded to the Presidents address in behalf of the French delegation.
 He said that the French Government felt deeply touched by the friendly sentiments which sinspired the United States with the thought of asking France to participate in the Yorktown centennial celebration. The manifestation of sympathy following the invitation has been looked upon by France not ouly as an act of the highest courtesy, but especially as a mark Of atectiOnale regard, having the noble aim of ceuientiDgs yet more closely the ties which unite the. two republics He theu spoke of the monument to be erected, which will bot n1.N uate the recollections of au ever.iaithful alliance, and added: AT ...-..... ,,i.,.....
 "ln coming to the Yorktown Centennial, we come to celebrate the day which endeti that long aud bitter struggle against great nation, uow our mutual ally and friend, who here. as under all skies where her flag has floated. tas left sinefacable marks of her grand and civilizing spirit. We come to celebrate the glorious date when the heroes of Independence were ablet to set their final seal to the solemn proclamation Tof the 4tli of July, ll776 We come also 10 salute the dawn of that era of prosperity where led by her great men, Amer lea perlnirtsd the intelligence 1oH her people to soar and their energy E tO manifest itself, and
 thus the power of the United States has strengthened, and every year has added to the prestige which surrounds her star-spangled banner. When France brought from beyond the seas the cooperation of her army and her navy to this valiant people, engaged tn war tor oritsaindependenee when Lafayette, Koch. alnbean, De Grssse, and So many others drew in their footsteps the young and brave scipns of our most illustrious faihilIes, they yielded to a generous impulse, and came with disinIer- ested courage to sustain the cause of liberty. A blessing went with their ehdeavors and gave success to their arms for when one hun dred years ago, as to-day, the French aud tho Americans grasped each others hands at Yorktown, they realized that they had helped to lay the corner stone of great ediiice. But surely the most far sighted among these men would have Started had he been able to look dow 1.-the long vista of a century and see at the end this republication young and slrug- gling with all the difficulties which surround ed her; now calm, radiant, and beaining with her halo Of prosperity The great Washington himself, whose genius foresaw the destiny of thisscountry,q could not have predicted this. France is proud of lhavlng gcontributed to- found this great republic, and her wishes for your prosperity are deep and sIncere
 The Marquis de Rnchambeau made grace fpl response in French. .........s
 Baron Steuben then responded in German, in anApprOpfiates hich was appIauded.
 Tine Centennial Ode, written by Paul Fl. Hydne, was then sung bya chorus under Pref Seigel to music by J. Moeenthal.
 The oration of the day was delivered by the Hon. Robert c. Winthrop, of Massacbu- setts., He said tLat our earliest and our latest acknow wledgenlents were due this day tO France tor tie essiriable services which gave tis crow snihg9 victory a century ago. itsWe do pot, forget, ?; be saidsGl 1bst 1t was from a Bourbon, monarch we received this aid. n It is to Fr lnCe that our acknow ledgements are due ito France, then an absolute monarchy, af- terward an empire, then consl itutiDnal mon archy, again an empire, but always France" The orator also named with emphasis and distincliO that sterling soldier aud thorough -disciplinarians who had been an aid-de-camp of Frederick the Great, but who Joined the AmeFican army in1777, and drilled and dis cplined apd fairly yyreorganized il SD uDliringly aud SO effectively at Valley FOrge-3lajur- Aen. Baroifeyon Steuben.e l1'o DO one, he saidg did " Washington and the American aruy pwe, more than they, owed to him., and the very last letter that Washington wrote as COninIandeFu Chief was q letter of cotnpii- anent aud gTatitudea tos Sieuben. st,All hoi1or to the memory of the brave old German, ,sOl- dier from every heart and lip here gathered, and a cordial welcome to any representatives of his family who may have accepted the in- vitation of the United States to assist at this cjniaem0tation. 2 But while doing k6uof to our allies and friends. he would mt at this hour say anything which should even seem like casting reproach or indignity upon the armies or the rulers of old Mother England at that day, or any other, day. We are not here, he said, to revive animosities resulting from the war of the Revolution, or from any other war, rem0te or reeenty but ratheFto bury and drewn them all I.sWe are as ready to say''Gnd save the Queen as though DO Yorktown had occurred. and to say 1t as sincerely and ear- nestly as she herself, and her Ministers, and her people said ''God save-the President" in those iiOdfs Of hls agony. tl4n conclusion the orator hailed ihespeople of all the States and Territories as brothers to-day; and called upon all, as they advance in successive generations, to stand fast in the faith of the fathers. and to uphold and maihtaing thet matchless institu- uops which are now oprs ssiYOu are the ad- vanced guard of the human race; you have the future of the world" said Madame de Siaal tn distinG,,isl.ad An.a..aa.. ....iI;....