The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-07-02
wAsHINGTON's ONLY FOURTH
OF JULY ADDRESS

independence Ouyb AsOAs AAAS RAs$SS,
at that time, was the largest inland
town in the United States.
Washington, in his diary, thus de-
scribes the incident:
Monday, July A, 1871. This be-
ing the Anniversary of American In
dependence and being kindly re-
quested to do 1t, l agreed to halt
here this day and partake of the en-
tertainment which was preparing for
the celebration of it. In the fore
noon / walked about the town-at
half past O'Clock l received, and
answered an address from the cor
poration and the compliments of the
Clergy of different denominations
dined between and o'clock
drank tea with Mrs. Hand"
The address from the corporation
was as follows:
ITO George Washington, President
Of the United States:
"Sir: On behalf of the Inhabitants
of the borough of Lancaster, the
members of the Corporation beg
leave to congratulate you on your
arrival at this place. On this jovial
occasion, they approach the First
Magistrate of the Union with hearts
impressed with no less grateful re-
spect than their fellow-citizens Of
the East and South. With them
they have admired those talents, and
that firm prudence in the field, which
finally ensued success to the Amer
lean arms. But at this time, rever-
ence forbids the language which
would naturally flow from the recap
itulation of the events of the late
glorious revolution. The faithful
page of history will record your IL
lustrious actions for posterity. Yet
we cannot forbear to mention what
we, in our day, have beheld and wit
messed. We have seen you at the
awful period, when the storm was
bursting around us, and our fertile
plains were deluged with the richest
blood of America, rising above adj
versity, and exerting all the talents
of the patriot and the hero to save
our country from the threatened
ruin; and when. by the will Of Heav-
en-, these exertions had restored
peace and prosperity to the United
States, and the great object for
which you drew the sword was ac-
complished, we have beheld you,
adorned with every private, social
virtue mingling with your fellow
citizens. Yet that transcendent love
of country, by which you have always
been actuated, but not suffer you to
rest here;-but the united voice Of
myriads of freemen (your fellow
citizens) called you from the repose
of domestic life, actuated solely by
the principles Of true glory-not
seeking your own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
but sacrificing the sweets of retired
life to the wishes and happiness Of
your country, we have heheld you,
possessed of the confidence of great
people, presiding over their councils,
and, by your happy administration,
uniting them together by the great
political bond of one common inter-
est.
sit is, therefore, that the inhabi-
tants of this borough seize with joy
the only opportunity which has Of
fered to them, to testify their ap-
probation of, and their gratitude for,
your services.
"Long, very long, sir, may you en-
joy the affections of your fellow
citizens. We pray for long con-
tinuance of your health and happi-
ness, and the choicest blessings Of
Heaven on our beloved country
and on you-its Father and its
Friend"
Washington's reply to the above
address was as follows:
"To the Corporation and the In
habitants of the Borough of Lam
caster.
Gentlemen: Your congratula-
tions on my arrival in Lancaster are
received with pleasure, and the fat
tering expressions of your esteem are
replied to with sincere regard.
while I confess my gratitude for
the distinguished estimation in which
you are pleased to hold my public
service, a sense of justice to my
fellow-citizens ascribes to other
causes the peace and prosperity Of
our highly favored country. Her
freedom and happiness are founded
in their patriotic exertions, and will,
/ trust. be transmitted to distant
ages through the same medium Of
wisdom and yiAtue. With sincere