The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-05-27

The 0tHof May, 1892, will long be
'emempered by those who were present
mt Charlotte, N. c., on the occasion of
celebrating the 117th anniversary of
Mecklenburg independence from the
mother country.
The attractions, commencing three
days before, consisting Of balloon sscen
slons, Wild West shows, base ball and
foot ball games, fireworks, q Grand Tour
Dament, Coronation and Ball, wound up
on the Goth with a review of the military
companies present, and sham battle, the
part cipants being the Fayetteville Inde-
pendent Light Infantry; the Columbia
Iouaves; the, Concord Black Boys; the
Huilford Greys; the Iredell Blues; the
Cleveland Guards the Governors Guards.
OF Columbia; the Southern Stars; the
CASTOR Rifles; the Hornets Nest Riflemen;
the Queen City Guards; tie Naval Ar
tillery and Naval Battalion; the Cont.
ncntals.
THE GRAFTON.
After prayer by Rev. Edward Mack.
pastor LIST Presbyterian church, Senator
Gray, of Delaware, read the Mecklenburg
Declaration Of Independence, prefacing
with short address.
Senator Mat. w. Ransom introduced
''the patriotic statesman, Governor of
New York, Senator, the gallant defender
of the rights of all the people everywhere
and the Incompatible advocate Of equal
justice and privileges under free and
constitutions government.
When. the appliance had sabsided so
sT0sl l5sl S1 GsRstaIh Gsy, N the
1f6th year North Carolina IpdepeSs
dence. wv ftand upon historic gt66nd
A birthday tt Liberty The birthplace of
Libertyp N@
''Not only was North Carolina the frat
colony in which independence was de-
clared, but Il is confidently claimed
and history seems to confirm the state
ment that here in your State the first
blood vas l5hled ID the United States
in resistance to the exactions of English
rulers, at an engagement between the
royal forces and the North Carolina mi
!itia, known as Regulators, so early ss
the 10th of May, 1771, at the battle of
Alamance."
Fellow. citizens of North Carolina, it
is not quite enough to say that the Meek
lenburg patriots Of 1715 won and wear,
the unique fame of the precursors Of
American Independence.
"The North Carolina Koh i-noor blaz
from broader facet with finer light.
The Mecklenburg patriots of 1915 also
carried onward the very evaugel of De
mocracy!"
81 am reminded of the fact that this
county has another proud claim to dis.
tinction. 1t is the birthplace of Andrew
Jackson and James X. Polk, two Presi-
dents of the United States, two leaders
of a great political party, two statesmen
whose memory the country delights to
honor, and whose achievements have re-
flected credit upon county and State of
their nativity. Truly you live in most
favored portion of our land. 1t was ap.
propriate that these two great defenders
Of the rights of the people
should have been born at the spot where
liberty and independence were first usher
ed into existence"
Senator Hill held in his hand printed
copy of his speech, of which the f6fego.
ing are extracts. He delivered it ih a
fine voice and with a graceful aud en-
gaging manner. He was frequently in.
terrupted by applause, and at bis con-
clusien the demonstration of approval
was loud and long-continued.
Capt. Alexander sad he desiied to
present to the audience the next Govef-
nor of North Carolina. There were calls
of Carr Carr ~ and as Mr.. Eli Carr was
led to the front of the ros' rum he was
greeted with the cheers, he merely bowed
his thanks to the audience and resumed
his seat.
St TIE TARGET SHOOT
was won by the Naval Battalion of
0harlotte. The following was the score; ;
Charlotte Naval Battalion team, 97 out
Of . possible 129;
Z Fayetteville team, o.;
Guilford Grays, SS;
Southern Stars, SO;
Queen City Guards, so;
CASTOR Rifles, 81
Iredell Blues, 20;
Cleveland Guards, 81;
The Governors Guards and Zouaves.
Of Columbia. and the Hornets Nest
Rihemen did not enter the contest.
s The Naval Battalion team, which won
the first prize, was composed of Capt.
b. II. Smith, Messrs. G., II. Brockeu,
borough, Warren Roarke, @. A. Howell,
and NJ Alexander.
The individual prize was won by Mr..
g. n. Brockcnborough, score: 90 Mr..
=. Il. PeFlberton, of the Fayetteville
team, wonlthe second individual prize
score: 81
{ The Fayeyeville team won the second
prize eq5, aud Greensboro the lkird
tam prize $50.
phn ohitamsn Is said to livs< hops
On dcIIRr per month. I