The record-union., 1896-07-05
LITERARY EXERCISES.
A Great Crowd Gathered at the Plaza
to Hear Them.

stand and in the shade of the trees in
the park to the number of about o,UOO
to hear the literary exercises. They lis
tened attentively to the exercises and
applauded enthusiastically the senti-
ments uttered by the speakers.
w. D. Lawton called the assembly to
order and introduced Mayor c. H. Hub
| bard, who spoke as follows:
Fellow citizens Ladies and Gentle
men: To-day we meet to celebrate the
anniversary of the birth of our great
nation.
On the 4th of July, 1776, the represen-
tatives of the colonies, assembled in
Congress at Philadelphia, signed that
most important document entitled
Declaration of the Independence Of the
thirteen United States of North Amer
ica''
Seven long years of war followed this
declaration before England withdrew
her armies from our country and ac-
knoWledged that We were an inde
pendent nation.
AT the time this declaration was
made there were but thirteen colonies
Cor States), with a population of some
100000 of people. Now we have for
ty-five States in the Union, with pop
ulation of 70,000,000
Since July 4, 1916, our Union has
grown to be one of the largest and most
prosperous nations on the face of the
! earth. To-day, in every city, in every
town and village, in this broad land, all
of these seventy millions of people are
celebrating this day, because our fore
fathers one hundred and twenty years
e.ier IL j. =
this great nation Of ours into existence.
Rev. T. H. B. Anderson then deliv-
cred an eloquent invocation, imploring
| the blessing of God on our country in
its various departments, it's educa tionaI
| and religious institutions, and praying
| that civil and religious liberty may
| abide with our country to it's latest day
| of existence.
Then followed the singing of the
'Star-Spangled Banner by a quartet
composed of Miss Cady, soprano; Miss
| Andrews, alto; Mr. Owens, tenor, and
Mr.. Week, bass, which was received
with applause.
The reading of the Declaration of In
dependence by Charles Reith was ex-
cellent, both in the manner of it's rem
| dition and the clearness of its enuncia-
| ton, and reused genuine enthusiasm in
| his audience. The young man received
a number of compliments on the excel
| lence of his performance.
| The quartet then sang Hail, Colum-
bia''
THE POEM.
| The following fine original poem was
| then read by the author, H. H Rich
mond, and was received with loud ap-
| plause:
| OUR NATION-WHERE IT WAS
| PLANTED.
1t was planted where the Chesapeake
| bends down into the sea,
And the rivers sing from mountain
throats old songs of liberty:
| Where Mary and Elizabeth across Poto-
| macs waters
| Gave America her mothers in England's S
fairest daughters;
| W here Baltimore sought refuge from per-
| secution's rage,
And Captain Smith and cavalier wrote
Nirginia's glittering page.
1t was planted in the forest, with the
| pines together bent,
| Where the song of bird and leaflet had
+, for centuries been blent;
| Where the rocks had built an egress for
| the bay of old Cape Cod,
And our fathers might be hidden from
| the face of all but God
4
| grand old river runs
| And the North and South together meet
| the years returning suns:
| Where the arteries of empire flow out
| from one common heart
| And old Nature binds so closely none but
| God can tear apart.
1t was planted where the Hudson breaks
its trackway to the south
| And an island rears its frontlet to dis
| pute the rivers mouth,
And the bay of old Manhattan like an un-
read prophecy,
| Spreads its sillSen scroll of waters to the
| empire yet to be.
When the forest of its shipping shall out
| number shrub and tree
1t was planted by DE Leon on the flower
embroidered coast.
/ Where another Eden recompensed the
| fabed fountain lost:
| Where the travail of the nations gave an
| other world in BIRTH
And the bay OF old Mexitla spread her lap
| TO all the earth.
1t was planted where the Delaware
| spreads out into the bay.
And the red man met the stranger from
| the islands far away,
And the pipe of peace was lighted and
| around the circle passed
And tho links of common brotherhood
We're welded firm and fast,
| And the world received it's lesson from
| the noble-hearted Penn
That Gods glory must be coupled with
] the best good Will to men.
1t was planted by Sir Francis, gazing
| where the Golden Gate
Had swung out on silver hinges to admit
| the coming State;
| Where the Argonauts cast anchor on the
| broad Pacfic's breast
And the weary brow of empire felt the
sacred hush of rest.
RETRO AND PROSPECTIVE
Age followed age till time was ripe,
Full fronded for the better day,
| When ermined robe and feudal caste
Should from the earth be swept away;
| When liberty wrought into law
l Should form the fabric of the State,
And rulers from the masses draw
| The only licenses of fate.
Ripe was the age and ripe the land,
! Made so at tyranny's behest:
Plain was the index of the hand
| That pointed TO the star-crowned West.
The heroes of all clmes were hers
| The bounded Argonauts of EARTH
And all the history they made
Called liberty to second birth.
Come war. come scourge, com all the ills
That stalk with their unga train,
Plow bloody burrows on our I.
| Paint crimson Ger the yerdaA plaini
Come death when honor swatheS the brow
And buoys the soul with high resolve.
The question of all ages comes,
The question that our sires must solve.
lCome Lexington and Bunker Hill.
Come Stony Point and Brandywine!