The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-06
PROF. DRUMMOND'S ADDRESS
AT fl PATRIOTIC SERVICE AT THE
 FIRST CHURCH, MILFORD,

July 3d, 1s9s-His Subject; "The ReIa- ton of the Town of Milford to the Commonwealth, With Reasons for Observing Our National Holiday"
 Following is the address delivered by Professor A. M. Drummond, late of West Haven, at large patriotic ser vice held at the First church, Milford, last Sunday evening:
 While individuals and families find pleasure and satisfaction in the cele- bration of birthdays, it is higA'y be- coming that a nation, which is but an aggregation of individuals and fami- lies should remember it's origin, and should bestow suitable observances upon the recurrence of each anniversa- ry.
 Among all the nations of the world, the United States is the only one that can point with accuracy to a recognized birthday. All the others began some time, somehow, but they are not able to fix a definite date and say when they commenced to have and to exercise power and influence on the earth.
 Greece Rome, Russia, England and most other nations were the products of long periods of time, but without exact beginnings.
 The Fourth of July, in the year sev- enteen hundred and seventy-six, is the date which, in the evolution of nations, has emblazoned upon the pages of the worlds history the birthday of the United States; and we, as citizens of this great nation, do well to celebrate the occasion.
 Through the long procession of the centuries and the encircling of the globe, the trend of the human race has been onward and upward, striving for a betterment of existing conditions, push ing forward in search of liberty and freedom.
 Nineteen hundred years before the Christian era, Abraham, the patriarch of Israel, journeyed toward the west, seeking home country, in which his descendants might realize the bright possibilities of their coming destiny
 About five hundred years afterwards, under the masterful leadership of Moses, vast concourse of people, leav- ing behind the cruel expressions of Pharaoh, started out for a new home, implicitly believing the proclamation of their illustrious commander that there should exist an essential equality among all ranks and conditions of man. kind.
 Another five hundred years passed away, and David, in the height of his glory, was manifesting his patriotic de- votion to the welfare of his people, and struggling for the sacredness of the cause in which he was engaged.
 Five hundred years later the Romans were striving to overthrow royalty, and the story of Horatius at the Bridge commemorates the uprising in the cause of liberty.
 At the beginning of the Christian era, the world recognized that the Greeks were noted for their intellectual attainments, the Romans for their pro- ficiency in law and government, and the Hebrews for their growth in spirit ual things, tending toward liberty.
 During the next thousand years, and especially during that portion of the pc riod which witnessed the downfall of l1eathenism and the establishment oi Christianity, great powers were al work in the moulding of the nations.
 The immense empire of Rome, ex- tending from Palestine along both sides of the Mediterranean sea to the great ocean, and having a population of one hundred and twenty million, had be- come disintegrated.
 The empire of Charlemagne had riser and fallen the intricate network of feu- dalism had begun its course; and causes were operating which leG to the Seven Crusades, and to the sharp con. fict for sovereignty between pope and emperor
 In the period covered by the next five hundred years occurred the wonderful series of crusades, comprising the struggle for an idea, viz, liberty o1 thought between the Christians and the Mohammedans; the Norman Conquest which laid the foundations of the Eng land of to-day; the victory of the bar ons over King John at Runnymede when he conceded Magma Charta which contained two basic principles oI constitutional liberty; first, that thu sovereign could use the resources of hi: subjects only when they granted it tt him for public purposes, and, secondly that the sovereign could not executN punishment upon his subjects at will but only after trial and conviction by their countrymen; the Hundred Year War with all it's consequences, some ia vorable and some unfavorable to th' advance of civilization; the invention O printing, which did so much to faciii itate the revival of learning and tht universal dilusion of knowledge; and the discovery of America.
 Looking backward, we can scarcel! understand why it was that, durinE nearly one hundred years after thu great discovery of Columbus, no at tempt was made to establish settle ments in the vast territory of the west ern continent.
 Exploring expeditions were sent ou from various countries of Europe, fo the purpose of trrritorial requisition O for other mercenary reasons.
 In the reign of Queen Elizabeth tha monarch whose long rule of more thar forty years was characterized by vani ty, petulance, courage, devotion to tn good of her subjects, and the good sens to select wise counselors, then tool