Year: 1876

mature years, and had planted its yicto-
rious eagles upon the capital of a neigh
boring Republic, was soon to pass through
the most fiery ordeal to which n nation
can be subjected ordeal of civil war.


How well the nation stood that ordeal,
the men and women of day are at once
the living witnesses and judges. The
destiny of the American Republic was not
yet fultlled-its mission of Liberty not
vet ended. We do not care, on this day
of rejoicing, to dwell long upon that part
of our history to which this generation
can only look back with thoughts of min
gled joy and sorrow. For while all who
vonerate this day and the memories it
brings in its train, rejoice that the Union
founded century ago remains as ever
the Beacon Of Freedom to the world, we
cannot Danish the thought that its life and
usefulness were saved only ut fearful
cost The records of the Old World show
nothing to compare with tho magnitude
of the civil war which unhappily fell upon
our country. But tho nation was equal
20 the trial, and to-day wo meet to ceo-
brate the One Hundredth Anniversary of
our country's Independence, not as tho
citizens of halfdozen petty Confedera-
cies, (for il disunion had been permitted
it Is hard to tell whore the end would have
been,) but MS the people Of grand nation,
having common origin and rejoicing
over the common glorlos of the past
And whatever our differences of opinion
may have been in the past, we can unite
in universal thanksgiving that the condi-
ton once SO fraught with danger to tho
peace and prosperity of tho nation is
passed, and passed forever. Throughout
tho length and breadth Of the land the
sun shines upon nation of freemen tho
moans of the enslaved and oppressed no
longer mingle with the anthems of praise
with which a grateful people greet tho
Independence morn.


With the chimes Of the midnight bell
wo commence our second century of ma
tional existence. We have learned, in
the bitter school OF experience, lessons
which should guide us safely onward till
the end and aim of Republican govern
ment shall be clearly manifested to tho
world. To this land is entrusted the
liberties, not Of America alone, but OF all
mankind. In all other lands tho expert
ment of government OF the people, by
the people and for the people, has utterly
lailed to secure that liberty without liconso
which has signalizcd our own. II we
fail, the hopes OF tho worshipcrs at tho
shrine OF Freedom, throughout the world,


must perish. Let us then, in this day and
year of Centennial nationality, remember
that there are certain principals Of equity
which underlic and permeate all forms Of
government, ard that when we depart
from the practice Of thes principles, our
liberties are endangered. Lee: us resolve
to submit to nothing which is wrong for
the sake Of eXpediency TO sanction no
evil in the hope that good viii come Of il.
Above all lot us bear in mind that the
BiN"t, - hob 'lIlJt i'pt lbI luo pcTpeiul-
ty Of Republican institutions, rests in tho
intelligence of the people, that what is
liberty TO intelligence and education is
only license to the ignorant and debased.
To retain this hope then, we must watch,
with jealous vigilance, the pride and
main stay Of the land-our system OF
universal education. We have, in tho
desire to do justice TO those who were OPP
pressed, extended tho privileges Of free
men to many not qualified to exercise
them. Let US now, having adopted man
hood as the standard Of citizenship, 60
step farther and demand that it shall be
educated manhood. When this is done,
We shall see It's logical results; the do
minion of creed, of caste and cf prejudice
will pass away and intelligence, virtue
and merit must become the qualification
Of those who aspire 10 be our rulers. IL
this be adopted NJ our text, we are but in
the infancy Of our nationality, and that
such may be the case cannot but DO tho
wish Of every lover Of his land.