Year: 1876

THE CENTENNIAL.


A hundred years ago to-day that bell


of destiny, whose mission it was to "pro-


claim Ii berty to the nations" rang out at


Indep endence Hall the glad tidings that


the old thirteen colonies ''were and ought


to be free and independent States" The


hundredth year from the occurrence Of any


remarkable event is regarded with refer


ence to that event with deeper interest


than any other year within the century.


Why this is so We shall not now inquire,


but we congratulate all our people that the


centennial year of our national existence


is this day completed, that the hundredth
year is this day upon us with all its expe-
riences, it's hopes, its Developments, as
we'll as with is warnings and admoni-
tons. We imagine that no century has
passed since the Christian era so replete
with astounding results affecting the


moral, social, political and physical con-
dition of mankind-no century displaying


such magnificent trophies of the achieve
ments of science, such grand rewards


from the proud mastery of mind over


matter has yet rolled by. But we have


mo purpose to 60 into the consideration of


these grand results. The theme is too


vast to be taken up on this gala day. We


shall, however, as not inappropriate, refer


briefly to very prominent fact before us


in the political view presented. That
great truth, clothed with the con-
temporaneous history of the century,
/ is that our national existence and
our form of government have continued
unchanged hundred years. When our
government was established no statesman
or politician of Europe was found who
had confidence in the success of the new
endeavor, for new endeavor it was, essen
TALLY. No republic had been attempted
in Europe for many long centuries. The
small republics of Venice and Genoa were
of short duration. Their power was
small and their example weak. From the
foundation of this government almost
down to the present time the objection
prominently urged against it was that it
was with out self-sustaining power; that it
was devoid of the elements necessary in a
condition of war, but most of all that it
would prove powerless to sustain itself in
the event of any serious rebellion or in
surrection arising against itself. These
views, We do not conceal, were partici-
pated in by very many of our own states
men and patriots. They, like the states
men of Europe, doubted whether this
govern ment had the capacity to deal with
Internal connections. The foundation of
The government was regarded every
where over Europe, even within the
past half century, as a mere expert
|ment, and one that was to certainly fail.
One of the great historians of England,
Mr. Alison, spoke Of '::those powerful
States which in the midst of transatlantic
plenty, had ventured upon the doubtful
experiment of Democratic freedom"
These views and opinions, we incline to
think. were adopted more upon the gen.
eral assumption that republics, through
out all history, had been failures, and all
new ones must follow the fate of their
predecessors, than from the proper con-
sideration Of the true character of the
people of this country and proper esti-
mate of the true character of the govern
ment they really made. One grand pur-
pose of the government is announced to
be to insure domestic tranquility. Congress
is clothed with the power ''to provide for
calling forth the militia to execute the
laws of the Union, suppress insurrection
and repel invasions" The constitution
Of the United States and the laws of the
United States made pursuant thereto, etc.,
"shall be the supreme law of the land"


We have seen the result of q most for
midable and dangerous rebellion that has |
actually occurred within our own borders |
within the centennial year. The appi-
ances presented by the constitution, to-
gether with the admitted rules of civilized
warfare, were successfully resorted to by
the republic in suppressing a rebellion
seldom if ever equaled in any age Of the
world. Equally successful has the gov
srnment been in the wars it has engaged
N since the fourth of July, 1776.


II it has stood firm and unchanged
hundred years, why may it not SO stand
thousand years? If patriotism, honesty
and a proper regard for the principles and
great objects for which the good and wise
men established it prevail land why
should they not prevail?) the republic will
remain indefinitely.


The Business Of the Port.


The following is a statement of the en-