Year: 1877

AGAIN brought around the anniversary ot
American Independence. One year ago
This anniversary marked the Centennial
Of our national existence, it was the end
Of century of national life. Now we
have begun second century, the first
great landmark Of Time is left behind.
The events of the past hundred years are
part of our history-we now address our
selves to the century before US.


IF we progress in the future as in the
past in the same relative degree, the mind
can scarce conceive the extent Of Ameri-
ca power when our second Centennial Is
reached. Compare the America Of to-
day with the America for whose freedom
our foreiathers joined themselves together
and pledged "their lives, their fortunes,
and their honor" The Old Thirteen
were bounded on the North, South, ard
West by the domain Of foreign powers
it would scarce have seemed probable
then, to the infant nation struggling for
existence that ere the century should pass
Is flag would be recognized to the Gulf Of
Mexico, and its empire extend uubroken
to the shores Of the Pacific. Yet such is
the case, for to day we are the citizens Of
a State far surprising in either wealth
or population the most populous and
wealthy Of the original colonies. 1t is
not to be thought, much less desired that
the coming century will witness any such
broad territorial acquisitions as the past
has seen, for one Of the chief motives
which prompted such acquisitions in for
mer years no longer enters into our ma
tional scope, and none but vi,ionaries, or
over Jealous fanatics can believe such ac-
QUESTIONS desirable even could they be
obtained. Within the present limits Of
our country's domain there is ample room
for the growth and expansion Of power
which we may dream Of, but scarcely
hope to see. The world has attained that
stage of reason when it begins to think
that all things may be possible to science,
and that what progress was made in sci
entiGc development during the last half
century may be only cbild's play to what
the future will bring forth. Many things
which are possible to day were not CEN
tury ago and it is but reasonable to sup
pose that the limit Of scientific progress
has not been reached.


Politically and physically our country
is all that in reason we could ask 1t
is to the moral and intellectual status Of
! its people that we must now look TO see if
we are to advance yet further in those re-
/ spects which make up the true greatness
/ OF nation, or remain rs we are. We
have elements in our composition, which,
il not kept under proper restraint and
guided rightly, will be dangerous foes to
national advancement. On the othe


hand, if rightly directed they can become
essential factors Of national strength
| Perhaps we have, in our desire to render
/ this land truly free to all, gone few steps
further than the condition of the age
would seem to warrant. If SO, 1t is then
well to consider what steps are necessary
to guard against any threatened evils.


We look forward hopefully to the future
and desire TO traasmit the blessing. Of
free government to the generations which
shall succeed Us, with all the rights we
enjoy unimpsred. Gan we DO it The
experiences Of the Centennial year do not
give good augury that we can to a Ger
tainty. Complications then arose in oul
politics which showed dangers Of which
we never before dreamed, and only
the adoption Of prudent, patriotic counses
saved the country from condition OF


anarchy like that to which some Of our
sister Republics are, unhappily, not
strangers. The fact is that the wide lib
erty Of which we pride ourselves, is not


in all cases appropriately bestowed. We


have given the widest scope to the exer-
else OF the elective franchise when It is a
right which should be given to those only


capable of using it with just and careful
discrimination. While it is properly be-


slowed in the respect that it makes no in
y vidious distinction by reason Of creed


caste, or color ii is universal where il


should be, impartial. In the abuse Of


this franchise lies the greatest danger OF


failure. Ignorant men are easily led by


prejudice or operated on through THEN
: fears, and in the hands Of designing po


litical knaves the power OF swaylng q


mass of ignolant voters by reason OF


either Of the causes given, is n most dan


gerous one.


Yet we have that sterling confidence in


the honest patriotism Of the masses OF


our people that we can look forward hope.


fully to the future, and believe thattht


close Of another century will look upon


our country with its territory still united


and it government Republican. We have
, abundant reason for this confidence, the


events Of the past twenty years fully just
ilies it. The lessons Of the great struggle
from which we have, as 1t were, jus
} emerged. are rot lost upon thinking
people. There is -dHy, far more liber
alty of sentiment, far more independence


Of party feeling than in the oiden time
before the issues had been sharply joined
1t is in the true feeling OF Independence
t that which induces men to dropparty anc


withdraw their adhesion from it wheI
s found wrong, that the way TO good gov
I ernment lies.


7 A CLEVER SwINDLE.-Rev. Josial


Heneon, is "cullud brudder" who ex