Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-08

4 The leading feature of the Independ-
snce Day celebration on Independence
n '&Square, in Philadelphia, ON Monday,
under the auspices of the Society Of
4 the War OF 1912, was the address by
Former Ambassador to England Thomas
f. Bayard. The full text of Mr.. Bayard's
address follows:
Ny Fellow. .countrymen: IL is more q
matter of historical curinsity thap|of
positive inheritance whether the rnems
orahle and impressive instrument,
State paper second to none in the
worlds Importance which has been just
read to you, was actually signed by the
55 gentleman whose names are appended
to it on the precise dute of the 9Th of
4 July, 1776, or whether they were Hs we
a know singeo at different dates irregu.
i larly thereafter-for it is not and was
not so much question of dates as a
N question of severe and solemn obliga-
n tions which were then registered and
= were attended by circumstances rs grave
n and fateful as were ever possible in the
n lives OF men: and all human history
a does not record transaction of simpler
and greater dignity equally noble in its
form and in its substance, than that
which took place in the modest State
House under whose shadow we are as
sembled to-day.
Well might Lord Chatham proclaim
from his place in the Parliament OF
Great Britain:
II ''History, my lords, has been my
favorite study, and in the celebrated
writings of antiquity | have often ad-
mired the patriotism Of Greece and
Rome; but | must declare and avow
uI 40 H., -
IN do not know the people, nor the
Senate who in such complication of
II difficult circumstances can stand in
N preference to the delegates of America
assembled in General Congress at Phila.
y delphia. "
Yet il is an impressive commentary
upon the blindness OF overconfldent
power untouched by the wisdom of
justice. that these words OF Chatham,
M like the warnings of the guns at Leg.
Il ington and Bunker Hill, fell upon un-
i needing care, and the remarkable State
papors 30 characterized by Lord Chat.
W ham, were not even read by the King or
Al his couuselioIs, but we're "huddled up
in mass, - and after the war Cor indie
n pendence had been fought and woman
4 ancient kingdom had been rent 10 twsin
and a new nation had been born-were
found in an unopened and neglected
/ bundle and labelled American Papers, "
But, my fellow counttymen. George
4 III. and his ministers we're not alone In
their inability to comprehend coming
dangers, and before whom the veil oi
the future nung with its impenetrable
folds.
H On October 9th. l774. here in this
Il city OF Philadelphia, George Washing
vi fOn than "a Halauu fit from tim inn
of Virginia, wrote TO his friend and
former companion in arms, in the war
against the French and Indians, Robert
n Mckenzie, a captain in tie regular
army of his majesty, in the Forty third
Regiment Of Infantry, and stationed al
Boston:
"Give me leave to add, and / think
can assume it as fact that it ia mol
the wish or interest of that government
"a sschusetts) or any other upon this
continent, to set up for independence -
hut this at the same time you may rely
on that none Of them will ever submit
TO the loss OF these valuable rights and
IA privileges which are essential to every
FREQ State, and without which, life.
liberty aLd property are rendered totally
insecure | was involuntarily
led into ehort discussion of this sub.
iect by some remarks on the conduct oi
the Boston people and your opinion oi
their wishes to set up for Independence.
..,4 ] am well satisfied thar no such thing
w is desired by any thinking man in al
3 North America; on the contrary, that
it is the ardent wish of the warmest
advocates for liberty, that peace and
tranquility upon constitutional grounds
may be restored and the horrors of civil
W discord he prevented.
Wash ington wrote these words with
that sedate sincerity that marked his
expressions and in the midst of the
councils of representative men from al
the colonies, in a Congress Of which be
was himself member.
And yet in few brief months and or
the 10th Of June. 1775, standing il
&his place" in the same Congress. be &c
<pepted with characteristic modesty and
&Eonscientiousness the commandership
n chief of the American forces. which
Dad heen unanimously conferred upor
im by the Congress. And be did 81
N ith the avowai that he "eutered upor
Ethe momentous duty to exert ever,
Bower be POSSESSED in the service anC
S3p support of the glorious cause -anc
hat was the absolute Independence o
fbe American Colonies from the rule u
4re9t Britain.
&'no ,whlan a century has elapsed since
po,osvents transpired and these wordi
Fe spoken, and is seems impossible
z45t any citizen OF the United Statei
Han rend such records without beinl
elevated in soul and thrilled by warm
3Hfd strong patriotic emotion.
fectionate gratitude to this match
{Hes loader admiration for his simple,
anly, unselfish character, mingl lee
# ith glowing pride in his great achieve
4fhents until all our emotions are merged
b reverential acknowledges anG
rrayerful gratitude to the Great Powel
#ho sent him upon earth anu upor
MNhom Washington placed his uuques
fioneh reliance. and by which he wal
MEuided to complete victory OF "thi
klorious cause" to which he openl,
Avowed his allegiance and plighted hi
1aith.
A nation must needs possess its 10
EnarnSti ms aud ideals of character; iti
etanJards Of life and action, not alont
Xits standard of value, OF measure anG
of weights, THAT perfect and JUS
weight-that perfect and Just measure
&commanded 10 Holy Writ for the prop,
erty and the contracts of its people
fhoss essentials Of social honesty. in