Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-11-03
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
The Surrender OF Lord CORVALLIS
and Forces Under His Com
nand 10 the
American and French Troops at York
-. a. D-s-k.- 10 ITQI

menced at an early hour with an artil-
lery salute. The governor Of Virginia
held a reception at Lafayette hall, and
on the arrival Of President Arthur
and cabinet, the cornerstone OF the
monument was laid with Masonic GER
emonies, the grand master wearing the
sash and apron presented TO George
Washington by Lafayette. Prayer was
offered by n grandson Of the Governor
Nelson who commanded the Virginia
MALTA at the battle Of Yorktown, and
on the stand was a grandson Of Patrick
Henry. The gavel was ms1e from the
quarterback Of Commodore Perry's
flagship. Facing the dense crowd stood
row OF cannon surrendered by Corn
wallis. The following are the most
material portions of Governor Honi-
days address of welcome.
This vast assembly has met to wit
ness the fulnllment Of the republics
promise. A century ago the spot where
we are now gathered was the scene Of
an event which introduced the colonies
into the family Of nations. Yet neither
America, nor France, nor England,
had any adequate idea Of the event and
its marvellous influences. All were
convinced that young and hardy peo
pie had started, as II were, ut mid-no0n,
with the garnered leCsons Of centuries
Of national life abroad, TO erect upon
the virgin soil of a new continent in
slitutions of novel meaning, and to
suffer an experience which had never
been tested before. Dut none knew or
dared TO think of how the inspiration
Of its genius was TO penetrate the seal
ed confines OF the civilizations Of Eu-
rope. and TO stir them with strange and
resistless forces, OF of how the throb-
bings of its life were TO ill the people
with an unheard-of vitality, and its
growth outstrip anything hitherto
known in the worlds history.
The people who settled along the At
lantic, differing from each other In their
traits. were yet, through those differ
ences, alike in manly vigor and high re-
solve. Animated by various motives
In leaving the places of their nativity
10 come 10 a wild and unbroken will
derness. but with none that were not
heroic and worthy the founders of an
empire; of different religious faith, of
different pursuits, of different nation
alitieS, of different training, o. differ
ent modes of thought, Of different races,
yet all with that subtle bond of
sympathy which made them feel as
one and nodded them into a race at
TO take charge Of the destinies Of a con-
tinent.
They were in a new country of bound
less extent and resources, and around
them no malign influences. The deci-
sive battles in church and state-in re-
ligion and politics-had been fought in
Great Britain and ON the continent, and
those fundamental ideas which they
accepted as intuitive and primary were
the results Of many centuries of fierce,
bloody, and relentless war. These
were the outgrowth of years of saddest
experience, and our fore-fathers found
them ready 10 their hand, and were
, wise enough TO use them.
The results were before them. And.
whether In the council or the Geld, they
felt by the very necessity of the csSe.
in their fight with centralized power.
the value Of those principles which
hal been wrought out in their father
land in both church aud state. There
was no hour from Lexington tc York
town that the importance of individual
effort was not appreciated,
Thus, in the recognition of these
principles. their studies, their expert
ence as colOnists, and the hardshipS
they endured in their struggle for indie
pendence, taught them the value of in.
dividual effort, and resulted in the
formation of n pronounced individual
character that has never been surpasg.
ed. Not f0rgetful of the necessity of
government, nor of those bonds into
which they were born, and which bv
the laws of their being made them
citizens Of the state, they yet broke
away from those traditional errors
which announced its absolute and des-
pouc supremacy. No people ever &C
knowledged the authority of govern
ment and its rightfulpess with more
cheerful and willing Submission, pro-
Vided its true place and power were
f--ANthN1 ~ III NAA0 AAulllAIl economy.
They looked upon ii as an indepen-
dent power existing by virtue of some
inherent majesty, issuing DEGREES as
ny right divine, and without sympathy
with its subjects; nor yet as a mere
agent in the hands Of numbers To
execute their own will for selfish
purposes, regardless Of the feelings and
interests of those upon whom II Ia
executed; not as power distinct and
antagonistic, but rather as the medium
Tor the expression Of popular viii. so
organized by proper checks as TO afford
protection to the individual while he Ia
working out his own destiny-prevent-
ing It's use for evil purposes, and COM
peiling It to perform its proper func-
lions Dy It's own normal operations.
The consequence was that the GOV.
eminent represented not solely the or
gained strength of the community; it
represented the virtues, and excellen-
cles, andprogress of the individuals and
OF the society which they composed.
Imposing no restraint upon the indi-
Vlduars effort In any department of
growth. and protecting him while he
was putting forth his energies, and en-
Toying the fruits of their exercise. each
became the complement of the other.
and presented the solution of the prob
lem long sought for, but hitherto un-
found, of the harmonious union of ale.
glance and protection.
Our fathers were thus ready to en-
ter upon contest with natures ele-
ments. The capacities Of the people
We're evoked and centralized in their
government. A continent was their
habitation, embracing every variety O.
soil and climate and production, with
immense rivers and mountains to be
spanned and tunnelled, which had new
err been navigated or explored by civil.
lied men. Savages held possession of
them, and the wilderness thrust itself