Daily Republican., 1883-11-26
Tho Evscusaion Centennial.

4OuAy Will WAthooo oho ies8S VI sNS
serial Of centennial celebrations con.
nected with the American revolution
that gave birth to . nation that now
stands as . monument of free govern.
ment. New York was the only place,
one hundred years ago, on the 25th OF
November, where British soldiers trod,
but after that day they we're to tread it
no more as q part Of an army Of occu'
patton. A seven years devastating and
bloody war had drawn the armed foe
from every part Of the thirteen united
colonies into the city Of New York.
What contrast between the New York
Of that day and the New York OF TO-
day. Then city of 30, 900 Inhabitants,
now a city with a million. Through
the greater part of the seven year, q
struggle New York was held by the
British anu became the place where the
tories of the revolution were protected.
A large part of it was devastated BY
fires at two intervals and added to this
came commercial prostration and losses
in population. Not patriot remained
In the city who could possibly get away
and as the patriots marched out the TO-
ries marched in. The finest churches
were turned by the British soldiers into
military training schools, barracks and
com mmissary departments. Originally a
centre of patriotic resistance to British
misrule, New York had been deserted
by patriots. The hatred between them
and the tories made 1t impossible for
them to live together in the same city.
So obnoxious had the tories made them.
selves that the British Commander, Sir
Guy Carleton, was forced to postpone
the evacuation for twenty-five days to
or able them to escape to Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick. 1t was therefore
q forlorn and PROSTATE city that VEL
coined Washington, Clinton, Knox and
the Continental veterans from the High.
lands on the day of evacuation. But
it was a day of rejoicing throughout the
young nation. How inspiring must
have been the sight of the British trans
ports filled with red coated British SOL
diers pushing off from the shores at the
Battery, as Washington, followed by his
veterans, clad in buff and blue, marched
in to take possession. How appropriate
the following poem composed for the
occasion
They come They come! Tho heroes
come
With sounding tife and laundering drum,
Their ranks advance in bright array,
The heroes OF America
He comes 'tis mighty Washington.
Words fall to tell all he has done;
Our Hero, Guardian, Father, Friend
His fame can never, never end.
He comes He comes It's Clinton::comes
Justice her ancient seat resumes,
From shore to shore let shouts resOund,
For Justice comes with Freedom crowned.
She comes, the whlte-robed Virgin, Peace;
And bids grim War his horrors cease.
Oh . blooming Virgin with us stay,
And bless, Oh bless America.
Now Freedom has our wishes crowned,
Let flowing goblets pass around
W 9 u uTlnh W + TecuOIH ItNOTltt
Health, Peace and Joy 10 Washington"
1t has been one hundred years since
that event. Yes, only one hundred
years. Scarcely have all those born At
that period passed away from our midst.
W hat nation the young Republic has
grown to be From three million
of freemen went up the shout of liberty
gu evacuation day. From fifty million
to-day goes up the shout In honor of the
centennial observances Of that day.
One hundred years of free Republican
government finds the nation one of the
strongest ON the face of the globe and
her career is onward Surely this is an
occs sion when every true patriot can
Join our New York brethren in theiI
centennial evacuation jubilee.
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