The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-21

ne inupre ocnu.nltaton with other localities
and without pledges OF as.lttshcc irvin o,ne,
colonies relying upon the truth anu Iu nf re-
tLeir cause with war IN each heart anu iite-
dom on each brow" uuaIded anu hlono - nc
bali in motion and boldly inauguraieu III,
ous rebellion. the result OF Whleh ~ M L.,
forateu Therecollecfion Of this chiYaIlc. nus
rerilous Undertaking constitutes source ~
pride 20 the State OF North ,Hronha o''' W
he cherished never 20 he forgotten ..,,or a..
II was a step for which, as Ael. helln,i ~
e,sts a, LARGO nor the Colonial congress was
preuarel II evinceG the highest coui ~. 81 80 -
The loffiest patriotism, bnt IL 'pesistsnce
see.ed TO many patriot. prea.a ,,,ne had not az
snmed anywhere else the form OF deiiairh ~
separation. Such resistance wa ~ 49, an
made e. prot 4 asa.iI'l AUS - grieynncss
rather than 10 establish a new go, stn.hh. Ia
Reformation under royal rule wa. ~ '""' AVA
thus far been generally cont mp ." LOYALTY the
But 90 tin. general sentiment % "yaa,,oiia
citizens of MeckIenburg presented ~ "a 80
exception. The leading chafact.is "a ~, rorv he
have been ripe for revolution run .Ln rnnnlar
ginning OF the difficulties ana tne vgbicb
sentiment responded in one decisive acl "A'o'ii
We this day commemorate. heI ue.t' ~ ,r''i
daring action gave 70 North tarollha 49,, Wy ~
distinction which u has ever 'lnc' ,iii.,'';s 80
sorud the focsin 81 revolution ana 20 '''ois
the right of independence. $500, ti,,l, s,,irit
The same firm determination ana hisH sl.-.'
which led 20 the early prOnuncismeht9 Oh 90.
more than year IN advance OF az "a. 80, -,
colonies. characterized the coi,'u 49,, H.
leople during all the dark ana stoIi.... ;wai =
which followed Lord CORVALLIS INV 'lH.f
paid your forefathcrs n comli inthl VIZ IL. 10 10
declared Charlotte 10 te the hPIhTl htS' "a
North Carolina "a reputation NHlch' an ~
formed, it has ever since EIoIIouSis HALF
tanned. ,
TONS in its consequences because IL was me IN
ccutiOu OF q successful revolution. y wa, never
reiractcd IL was unique. IL was 30 starting lI
its hodness. so grand IN It's conception, 70
FNafI a of
and so securely Intrenched IN those tteIhA
principles which n concisely embodied lhal ~
stands forth con. plcuOu, as an unpItctlth.eu
event q wholly American page ID he history OF
the worlds progress. that II largely lnnuehce9
the subsequent similar action OF me uii'Vv
colonies cannot stand IN need 81 PROOF. IL
kinIled the fires OF liberty everywhere II en-
cOurdCcd the dream oud nope OF Tepalat1
government. II cheered The Woak-hearttu AAy
the waverD.. invigorated tie just demands on
the people and guarried the corner -slono u 'uo
foundations OF all our fufu re greatness. dbl,
II natural that this commentator sh1u9
possess greater interest than ans oiH'. "IlDn
Won observe. 10 belongs 20 your .it,, s oHt
county and yOur state IL has n pecuAar sl-HiH-
canoe 20 you which no other uubuc ''eNt can
import. 10 appeals 10 your local lilde' 4Ou5 SO
cial pride, your pride OF ancestry, your prlde OF
You go forward from this early Nav day TO
to the National Fourth OF July daY as from
zone happy prologue 20 the swelling act
OF the imperial theme"
The great central and important Thought Of
the Necklcnhurg declaration WAS the lusa OF
solf-g government which is boldly emDodlcd. 10
was protest against oppression. III was 4lso
Instinct renudiati0u 0f the divine right Of
kings Tho wisdom oi She conNlcuoh9 theh
embodied i'm the Meckienburg assumption OF
clf-gOyernmcni have been fnqlcalcu ny over
q hAndred years successful administration OF
this republic We may safely assert mat orr
form of government is no longer an expert
ment. lhIs people have demon1tfaled lhelr
cauacitv 10 govern themselves The most M
frepid pioneers who. more than century ago.
len the advance IN the great struggle l9r pohil-
cal liberty and seli-gO'eInment' coul9 hatuly
have anticipated so complete ana so large an
outcome a that which we behold between the
Two oceans. the great lakes and the gull.
The people Of North Carolina contrlpniei
their full share Throughout the whole reNo.u-
tiOnqry struggle which followed the county and
the cO.ouia. declarations of Independence. he
valor Of their troops was displayed on every
Southern battlefield. The State itself was the
constant theatre OF important engagements and
stirring events. We do not nset 10 DE re-
minded of the achievements AZ bulli rd court
house and King Mountain and other notable
and bloody contests. where your citlIen sololei'
won enduring laurels over LnElandS best dis-
cipincd forces. The glorious victory az hlne
Mountain. occurring A. 10 did az most gloomy
period of the Revolution. when the hOpe' OF
patriots had been Frustrated and tho enemies
of America encouraged by the disaster OF am
den. turned the tde ~ tho South IN favor OF the
patriot cause a. dld the victory Ol trenton uh-
der Washington M the North.
Inc battle of Guilford Courthouse. whore
Greene measured swords with CORVALLIS, was
an important struggle, where great military
geniu, and valOr cOutemded for mastery. and
where the cause of the whole country seemed
10 De i'm jeopardy. Tie heroism OF rour fore
fathers made your soil an uncomfortable add
ing place for British soldiers.
But IL ia unnct essary 20 repeat IN your pres
ence the story OF the American heyolutlonN BE-
causc Won are as familiar with n a hOuschold
words Next 70 the story OF the saviour II u
the first one you teach your children 10 read.
II sounds like a romance. IL laftahcS 81 some
of the features of q legend 10 Is fale o. resist
auce TO unjust oXactlOns; OF opposition 10 a re-
stricted commerce; of the struggle OF brave
people of thirteen colonies seeking 10 De, lIec.
revolution Tor inst cause: oil an Hnelqal
seven long years Of numerous ,a,,,l bloody
hordshius and woes: II j. the narrative OF a
cause which produced a Washington 90 lead IT.
armies: young Lafayette 20 BRING succor and
assistauce from across the waters, q Franklin
TO give counsel; jefferson 10 defend with hls
voice and pen: u L. the account or courage. he
rOi,m and fortiude unsurpassed lh me annals
of time. II tells OF an army crossing tile Della
ware amid snow and ice. and OF the
retreat of half-starved patriot soldiers with
hare feet and bloody tracks; ~ tho capture Of
Hconlcroga lin the name ~ the Great Je-
hovah and the Continental Congress; OF tie
intrepid Putnams great leap from the rocks. ~
vglor of Mad Anthony Wayne; of the shame
fnl treason of am Arnold ~ critical period of
the contest. OF the &c 'i-lVt battle 40 Saratoga
in the North AMI the sub-cruent surrender of
the English ann. under CORNWALL. at York
town in the south. OF the execution Of New
York; of the final gorl Gus triumph OF the Con-
fineutal armies. OF the recognition OF our INDIE
pendence ami tho establishment N free re-
public this is the epItOme OF the Revolution.
an reminded of the fact thar this county
has another proud claim 20 distinction. IL ls
the birthplace of Andrew Jackson and James r.
Polk. two Presidents of the United States. two
leaders OF great political party, TWO states
mon whose memory tine country delights to
honor. and whose achievements have reflected
credit upon the county and state ~ thor ma
tiWty. Truly you 1--we IN most favored portion
OF our land II wa. Appropriate that these tNO
great defenders OF the right, Of the people
should have been born az the srot where iierty
and independence were first ushered into exist
enco.
The great heritage Of freedom which WAS
Transmitted 10 MS is Ours-"Ours 10 enjoy. our.
10 preserve. ours % transmit" DE exercises
of TINS day. besides refreshing olr recollection
OF revolutionary memories and stirring orr
hearts with patriotic pride serve better pur-
pose I'M mpressng upon our minds SENSE of
tie RESPONSIBILITIES and duties OF citizenship
which deyolye upon thls generation. J. he de
fense and preservation on tho Tree institutions
of America are obligations which We cannot es-
cane. The eyes of the world are upon us. For
over century this country has run the glorious
race OF empire. We are i'm the leaf, but the
struggle is still on.
We should not be unmndful of the fact that
we are the custOdlans OF a sacred trust. Let rs
distinguish or discharge OF that trust by the
performance Of deeds worthy 20 bee remom-
welfare and promote the progress OF our COM
81 d aule4vrr &, Ina lena