Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1889-02-02
The Bright Side Of
tbe Potion.
AN GRAFTON DELIVERED AT THE CON-
ATENcEMENT EXERCISES OF THE WEST
VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, JUNE, 1888.
By q. S. GRANT P1rzER.

human mind. The Hand that made
man is Divine. The home in which
he passes childhood and youth, it's
scenes and teachings, generally fash
ion the Future, and, indirectly infuse
into his very being, q love for his ma
tive land. This love changes into
patriotism when the Government and
Institutions under which he lives,
are in danger Of subversion and de-
struction.
When Columbus left the port of
Palos and stood boldly out to sea,
who then entertained an idea that
from so humble beginning the
mightiest nation of the West was To
arise !? that the problem of Republi-
can government was to receive true
demonstration? that christianity was
to disseminate It's cu.tlvating and
soothing influences as never before,
and that man was to attain to such
heights of greatness as to surpass
the fondest dreams of the old philos-
ophers and scholars The hand of
God, that moves in a mysterious
manner, bis wonders to perform, guild
ed the humble voyagers and when
in succeeding years, settlement after
settlement was formed on this CONT
nent; when the rigor of the wealth
err, and the hand Of the murderous
savage, and the misery and lonesome
ness of separation, bore heaviest up
on the old pioneers, it was God that
gave them fortitude, that revived
their dropping spirits, and from the
gloom of despair and weakness, de-
veloped the mightiest and most pow
erful people on the face of the globe.
There is no instruction so lasting
and impressive as that obtained by
experience and observation. A ma
ton is but the reflex of the individu-
ais composing it. If they are indo-
lent, prosperity is absent. If they
are unbelievers, it is morally weak
and depraved. If they are energet-
ic and manly, it is prosperous and
mighty. If they believe in the rule
of aristocracy and princes, liberty is
a misnomer. If they assert individ-
ual sovereignty, recognize the force
of law and the right to religious in
dependence, are slow to insult, but
swift to avenge-then, National pre-
eminence, high reputation, and, event.
ually, abiding happiness, will result
1t were unnecessary almost to al
lude to the glorious past. On the
Heights of Quebec, on the plains of
Yorktown, and from scores of the
battle fields of the Revolutionary
War, have been CLEANED the bright
annals of the nations great struggle
for liberty. 1t were best not to re-
call the days of civil carnage that
brought sorrow into the homes of
the Nation. More than twenty-tour
years have passed since wars de-
stroying angel swept over the land.
No more is heard the turmoil of camp,
or din of battle. The bugle and the
drum are as silent as the dead he
roes who sprang to arms at their
martial summons. The tents that
erst adorned the landscape, are fold
ed like ''the sea-bird's wings that the
storm has stopped" In mute but
overpowering eloquence, the little
mounds that rise like pillows on the
sea, appeal to all AMERICANS to for
get the asperities of the past and to
remember alone its imperishable glo-
ries. If there be any animosity in
your hearts tonight, in the name of
God and your Country, let it be ex-
PEELED forever.
The Future is before US and the
fate OF the Nation rests in the hands
Of all alike. The age in which we
live is apt to be condemned. The
achievements of the Past alone bask
in the sunshine. We fail to remem-
Der that the infirmities and weakness
es. the immortality and vice Of its he