Morning journal and courier., 1882-07-06
The Fourth at Woodstock.

Features of the Speeches of the Celebri-
 ties at the Great Celebration-Rev. Dr.
 Stsrrs on the Moral Lffo of the Nation
 Senator Miller on Civil Service Re-
 for1n-ouher speeches..
 With such a cool Fourth there was not great audience at the Woodstock celebra ton this year. The prospect of thousands draws thousands. Stiii there were about 5000 peo- pie under the big chestnut trees on the west ern shore of Woodstock Lake, where the eel ebration was held. Teams kept coming in the early afternoon despite the portentous look of the clouds. drizzle began at about three, and an hour later, when Senator Miller was winding his speech, the drops came large and thick.
 The meeting was called to order at 1O:30 by Secretary of State Searls. The speakers stand was in "The Glen," few rods from the lake. MT. Searls made short but felic. itous speech and introduced Governor Bige- low as presiding officer of the day. As Gov ernor Bigelow approached the band played s'Hail to the Chief'
 Governor Bigelow acknowledged the honor conferred upon him and made 8 character istic speech of historical and local na- ture, in which he alluded to General Samuel McClellan's patriotism in 1775 in planting four elm trees the Woodstock common three Of which still sur viving attained a mammoth size, and referred to the celebration of our centennial year as valuable in teaching us lessons of history and liberty connected with Americas greatest festi val. The Governor concluded by an nouncing that the Rev. Dr. William H. Ward, l of New York, would offer prayer.
 At the conclusion of Dr. Wards prayer an | innumerabls array of vice presidents and 1 three secretaries for the meeting were put in | nomination by Secretary Searls and elected. America" under the lead of Herbert W. Bowen, of New York, was sung by the cele- brants on ground and platform.
 l Owing to the non arrival of the Rev. Dr. Storrs, Chief Justice Drake, of tho United States Court of Claims at Washington, was introduced and spoke upon the theme, "Washingtoa and the Constitution" Judge l Drake called this the centennial year of the constitution and of the real independence o1 the nation. "Time tries human greatness by centuries He whom one hundred years still speak of is sure of perpetual recognition | in history" said Judge Drake, ''and the real founder of the constitution is still called the father of his country"
 Judge Drake dwelt upon Washington as civilian and showed that to him and to bis earnest desire for permanent union was due the substitution of the fabric of nationa constitution for the limping, weak and inef fectual articles of confederation.
 l H. Stoddard's poem, composed for th' occasion, was then read by MT. Clarence w lBowen, of the Independent. It had true Trythmic swing and was neatly composed
 The Rev. R. s. Storrs, D. D., on s'Th,
 Moral Life of the Nation." followed in ont
 of the ablest efforts 1t has ever been tht pleasure of Woodstock audience to listen to
 His theme was '"The Moral Life of the Ma
 tion" He asked if it had kept pace with it
 material prosperity What the soul is to
 man so is morality to a nation. Is the mora
 lifesstrong and progressive? Some believe
 that there is moral decay and that thu
 sturdy character of fathers is wasting away It cannot be denied that the passioi
 for wealth in this country is increasing, ant
 when this becomes the predominant passlol
 moral power must decay. The pressur
 from foreign immigration has had a depress
 ing effect, and this must be so till those wht
 come to our shores are affected by the infu
 ence of the nation The Lords day is beini
 by degrees transformed into continents
 Sunday. The marriage relation has los
 something of it's ancient sacredness. Grim
 is on the increase and it is not a wonder tha
 people say We all going to the dog
 together.' The speaker did not believe
 however, that are coming to such al issue. Conservative forces are working il
 the other direction. The home int1uenc
 is still strong and as long as the countr
 is anchored to home it is secure. Tn
 press contribute an important degree to tn
 morals of the nation. The journals of to da contrast favorably with those in the time o
 Jefferson. and their moral tone is higher
 though the editors are not all angels. Tn caustive severity with which they criticis
 the clergy shows that they have high idef before them. The methods adopted by tn
 pulpit are changed, but they bring the truth preached the general mind. Tn ; more positive a mans opinions, the greate his grasp on the Bible, the stronger will b
 his hold on the people. Dr. Storrs spoke c
 the law which protected and then execute Guiteau and said that while there were oG
 casional acts of mob violence in the country
 the law generally took its course. There is
 tendency to put good men in office Tn
 nation elected Garfield notwithstanding tn - assaults on his character, because it truste him, and yet it did not know hil
 as it afterward learned to know hiI l in his hours of suffering Never before wa
 there greater educational enthusiasm in tn
 country, the historical influence is increasing , and with education goes missionary worl
 The speaker further reviewed the causes fo F congratulation in national prosperity, makin z a humorous allusion to our navy, which, sai he, twill soon equal that of Switzerland, an '- an American ship will be rare as a hor, 0 race in Venice'' The causes for serio' s alarm in our existing national life, he mel Fl toned as the system of putting a man in ' office because he happens to belong to pa $ ticular party, the decline of religion, the di e position to amass wealth prevalently exec
 sive, the effort to make life more ornaments ', the 65O,O0 immigrants of the past year, u