Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-07-12
Fourth of July.

/ N(oJt
proved q memorable one.
People began pouring into town st
an early hour from all quarters, and
by noon our streets were almost lit
orally jammed and packed with an
immense throug of moving humanity,
all bent on enjoying 'the day we eel
CITRATE"
The town was profuscly decorated
bunting, flags and Chinese lanterns
in every direction, and at various
points across the streets banners
bearing the words, "Welcome friend
C. B. Rouss," ''Welcome, . etc.
At2P. NJ. possession was formed
consisting of the Friendship Band. of
Winchester; Friendship Fire Com
pany of same place, with handsome
c. B. Rouss reel; Citizens Fire
Company, of Charles-Town; Union
Band, of Winchester; Sarah Zane
Fire Company. of Winchester; and
the Independent Fire Company, of
Charles Town. The procession I'M
der the marshalship of Mr.. C. NJ.
Hough, and after passing over the
principal streets of the town proceed
ed to the Hotel Powhatan, where For
rest w. Brown, Esq, was introduce
ed by Capt. j. Holmes aud deliver
ed following address of welcome:
On this beautiful day, under a serene sky
| with refreshing winds to cool the ardor of the
sun. and with the flag Of our fathers floating
over u uuited land. We have assembled as u
| prosperous aud grateful people, to commemo-
rate the birthday of our grcut republic. Stand
| ing in the second century of its existence, cv-
1 cry lover of his country can eXllt III the pride
| of the patriot-whether lie looks back into its
| heroic past into the prosperous present. or
| turns with prophetic eye towards Its expanding
| future. The life of u nation, like that of an
| individual, may be commonplace and indif-
\ ferent, or IL may be eyeutfui and heroic. No
man can review the annals of the last century.
that has covered the growth of this great
union, without being forced to the conclusion
that it was nodded amid the storms of revolu-
i ton, in most mnssiVe and heroic form.
Look back into that past and we see the
mighty powers OF Europe on one side aud the
infant colonies of the west on the other. We
/ see those infant colonies. DuJ 4 s)eck ON the
map of the world, write out the great charter
of freedom. and ut the point of the bayonet
erect system of government that has been the
marvel of the world We sec them cast aside
the errors of the centuries, prOcluiming that
the old theory of kingship by the grace of God
was a false theory and i'll Its place erecting q
] government of the people, by the people. and
for the pvople-ln whom NIL the elements OF
! sovereignty mnst and should reside. We soc
the representatives of the thirteen colonies dcd-
icatc their lives, their fort uncs and their sacred
honor to Its support and carry the banner OF
freedom to victoriOus result over the combined
armies. influence and ideas of the world. Then
lNe see the soldier, converted into the states
man. carve out the first written constitution
since the dawn OF creation. We see that con-
| stltution assaulted aud yet triumphant, over
| the lapse of time and the cOrrOsiOn of false
principlse, until to-day it sleitcrs beneath its
expanding folds sixty-fve millions of people
and invites beneath its protecting influence the
! oppressed of every CLINE. Dedicated to hu-
| Inanity. its conversion" is individual liberty.
Looking into the present see those
thirteen colonies, with but three million
people, expand into forty-four sovereign
Suites. with siXtY-iive million of people, and
become u continout-covering federation. So
| that to-day the citizen of the republc-whether
standing in the cast. where the waves of the
rugged Atlantic sing their hymns to the moru-
ing sum or on the north. where u perpetual
rainbow spans Siagara's mighty falls or in
the southland amid tue palmetto groves OH
the shores of the Gulf or across the Father
Vi hbleTS llu DcyOnu lu6 Lll8uly hDchlSS. Dy
| the sweep of the majestic Pacifc-that citizen
can feel that lie is freeman, and has around
him aud about him and OVER him the shield of
that protecting constitution.
But my mission here to-day Is not to discuss
political or historical subjects. l have q
different and equally pleasant duty. 1 come
to speak for the Independent Fire Company of
| our town. 1t has commissioned me to voice
| its sentiments and to extend to you the free
| dom of our homes. That company was organ
lied in 1884, 6y score or more of the patriotic
! citizens. young aud old, who have served and
| worked for its benefit and the welfare of their
| community, through sunshine and shadow,
through adversely and prosperity. until they
| have reached that state of discipline aud per-
manence which gives to all our citizens guar-
antec against the devastation of fire, and en-
ables the citizen of every class. when the
shadows of evening fall athwart our valley. to
seek rcpose with feeling of confidence and
security. Through their own untiring labor
though the assistance of the community and
| the philanthroPhy of native Virginian-
they stand to-day in the front rank of the
brave fire companies of the age. With par
that company has extended to you an invita-
ton here to-day-an invitation to visit our
beautiful land, to look over 0ur fertile fields.
| to note our progress and our homes. In their
name, as well as on the part of our people, let
me bid you wclcOmr-yea, thrice well
come-whethcr yOu come from the Keystone
State, marching to the music of the boys who
wore the blue or from the land of the ChGsR-
peakc, to tho tune of the ''Star-Spanglcd Ban
ncr'' and "Alarylund NV Maryland :" or
whether you came from the Old Dominion.
the laud of the boys who wore the gray
keeping step with the melody of Dixie" No
matter from whence you come, your welcome
is assured for you come as brothers into the
homes Of brothers, to receive II fraternal well
come.
AT 5. p. NJ, at the public square,
there was afforded a magnificent
display of day pyrotechnics-the fin
est ever seen in this section-for
which the public is under obligation
to the Iiberal-hearted Charles Broad
way Rouss-thc New York merchant
prince who never forgcts the friends
and scenes of his earlier years, and
to whose libcrality the firemen and
citizens of Charles Tewn and Win
chester are much indebted. At $3.50
P. N. the night pyrotechnics, like
wise contributed by Mr.. Rouss, were
sent up from Fairfax boulevard, in
full view of the Hotel Powhatan,
where an immense throng had con-
gregated. The display was bril-
liant one, and proved a grand finale