USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > One hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and Independence Square and the three main buildings thereon, in Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania > Part 4
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But where shall we the monument behold, Commemorating those, the chosen ones, Who bravely from the wilderness came out, Proclaiming loud and clear the rights of man, And then through perils, trials, battles, blood, Triumphant marched to victory and to peace, To Constitution, Union, Freedom, Laws, And then to immortality on high ? Illustrious men ! Ye Fathers, wise and true, You opened wide the path to make us all The favored people that we are to-day ; A rising Christian empire to the World. Your monument, instructive, ample, large, Must rise our nation's temple, altar shrine ; One " grand simplicity," to win all hearts, And thus to honor you, will be a work, To honor all your line of ancestors ; The land you loved, our Country, and our age, And marching generations as they come.
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THE YOKE OF INDEPENDENCE AND
THE PATRIOTISM OF PEACE.
The chief building on the central front of Independence Square in Philadelphia is by some persons called Independence Hall, by others the State House. Independence Hall makes a portion of the first story, on the east end of this edifice. It measures forty- five by forty-five, and is, from floor to ceiling, twenty-one feet. The members of the Continental Congress that declared Independ- ence had their places in this hall, as follows, viz. : at the head or east end was the chair of John Hancock, a little elevated by the platform on which it stood; this made the cross-piece to the yoke ; on his left or South side of the bow were the members from the six Southern States; on his right or North side of the bow were those from the six Northern States ; while at the bend of the bow, of course opposite the chair, were the members from Penn- sylvania. The whole formed in shape a Yoke.
On Thursday, July 4th, 1776, that Congress put this Yoke on the Elephant Liberty, and with the harness Principles attached him to the Chariot Freedom, having on its front the luminary Peace ; on one side, the lamps Knowledge, Wisdom and Integrity, on the other, Truth, Right and Duty, while the bright torch of the Patriotism of Peace waved high on its rear. A herald went before, with an order taken from Scripture, viz .: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof." And the move began : on meeting oppression or wrong, the Ele- phant breathed out the fire of conquest, and made the chariot wheels flame with the words Liberty or Death.
The foes of our country were repelled or expelled, the chains of tyranny broken up, the luminary Peace brightened the land, the lamps Knowledge, Wisdom, Integrity, Truth, Right and Duty guided to order, stability, government and prosperity ; the torch of the Patriotism of Peace waved high, and a new nation stood before the world. The retinue traversed, and after many years, it reached the bounds of slavery; there it broke every yoke but its own, and let the oppressed go free. It has advanced into the distant regions of the Indian tribes, and is there preventing a recurrence of the wrongs done by them to us, and by us to them, teaching them right, and by honest dealing and kindness winning them to become useful citizens and friends.
Its grand movement throughout has been to destroy oppression, persecution, cruelty and wrongs of every kind, and with its mighty
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tread and ponderous wheels to break in pieces and press out of sight every shackle, fetter, manacle, chain, lock, bar, bolt and lash used for inhumanity and oppression. In the same time, its influence has been for peace, and all the pursuits, benefits and blessings of peaceful life. Religion, education, industry, charity, truth and happiness attend its pathway. It provides for the widow and orphan, the discouraged and depressed, the destitute and cripple, the poor and homeless, the dumb, deaf and blind, and forgets not the useful animals that cannot speak or plead. It regards and respects worth in character, whether living or departed. It elevates woman, increases deference and defence for female excellence, makes the good wife the husband's safest and best adviser, and also the beauteous gentle morning-star of life to illumine the kingdom of the cradle and childhood and youth with the radiance of maternal love never forgotten, but producing new lights, rising to guide our beloved country, its government, and its whole social life. Children ride in this cha- riot with joyous hearts, for protection, care, teaching, discipline, amusement, culture, and kindness attend them. Girls and boys may play with the elephant, shout their gladness around him, and become his happiest companions.
The stability of our Country is in well-ordered families, not in politicians and polities, for they rise and fall like prices in mar- ket. Mothers and Fathers are in fact the Queens and Kings of the land, and most so the former; because a good mother gives that first direction and impress to character which makes daugh- ters and sons moral princesses and princes, and self-government and home the reliable strength of a nation. These home-yokes made the mighty yoke of independence. United, they are a State of States, a kingdom of kingdoms, a government of governments, a country of homes, and a union for happiness. Such is the yoke our Fathers made, and such has been and is the use of it. To make it still stronger, the elephant more powerful, the harness brighter, the chariot more beautiful, the luminary more radiant, the lamps more brilliant, the torch looming up to light earth and skies, the traverse ceaseless and irresistible, and the proclamation world-wide, must be the happy and welcome duty of their de- scendants.
Let the retinue traverse the nations, take the children in its arms, do away all oppression, elevate all rights, alleviate all sufferings, increase the blessings of human life, by promoting re- ligion, knowledge, integrity, charity, industry, and goodness everywhere, until the patriotism of peace shall see its work perfected, and hear the Angelic song from all mankind ascending, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men ;" and the full firmament reverberating with universal Amens.
The patriotism of peace would then with joy Behold the triumphs of the Prince of peace, Who gave the wisdom that to victory led,
And when on earth this patriot language spoke,
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In saying to the City that he loved,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how oft
Would I thy children gathered unto me !
His kingdom in all households and each heart
Would make them true reciprocating lights.
And then ability, though diverse given, With just accountability would stand ;
While man for immortality would live,
And earth and Heaven hold converse pure and high.
Such must be the legitimate results which. will ever attend the great first principles of integrity, truth, and right; and such are the safeguards of the individual, the family, and the nation. They are foundations for the highest and noblest structures of personal and national character. The grandest edifice stands on a base unseen ; the loftiest tree, and most beautiful, is supported by a root under ground. The base and the root must be kept firm and sound. So must principles : the base of all good char- acter. With those principles, let this bright inheritance received from our Fathers be transmitted by us to our children, not only unimpaired, but advancing in every excellence, to make us the beloved people of all people, as our Washington stands in char- acter, the beloved man of all men .*
* The letters he received in his official life, his own letters, and his original papers, would amount to more than two hundred folio volumes. Amid all the cares of public life, no duties were omitted by him. When trials were heavy, he wrote from camp, in a letter to Mr. Lund Washington, who had charge of his estate at Mount Vernon, as follows: "Let the hospitality of the house, in respect to the poor, be kept up; let no one go away hungry. If any want corn, supply their necessities, if it does not encourage idleness, and give of my money in charity, forty or fifty pounds a year, when you think it well bestowed."
Eighteen years afterward, when declining the second term as President of the United States, three members of his cabinet wrote to him long letters urging his acceptance. Says Jefferson, "The confidence of the whole Union is centred in you. North and South will hang together if they have you to hang on." Says Hamilton, "It is clear that if you continue in office, nothing materially mischievous is to be apprehended ; if you quit, much is to be dreaded. I trust and pray God that you will continue to make further sacrifice of your tranquillity and happiness to the public gocd." Says Randolph, "The Constitution would never have been adopted, but from a knowledge that you had once sanctioned it, and an expectation that you would execute it. It is in a state of proba- tion. The public deliberations need stability ; you alone can give them stability. It is the fixed opinion of the world that you surrender nothing incomplete."
When pressed to serve a third term as President, he peremptorily declined, using these sublime words, "I would not give the shades of Mount Vernon for the Empire of the World."
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PATRIOTISM OF PEACE.
I. Our country's Past, let Present see it rise
2. In vivid portrait; simple, noble, grand.
3. Instructive, too, declaring Right and Truth
4. To make impressions deep on every heart,
5. And place conviction full in every mind.
6. A lesson wise for us and for the world,
7. That knowledge, freedom, joined with Heaven- born light,
8. And duties well performed, with self-control,
9. Secure a nation's government from all,
Io. To rule impartial, just, and well for each.
II. Let mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, and friends,
12. Unite in such a work with heart and hand,
13. And spread the boon which thirteen States wrought out.
Independence Square and Three Main Front Edifices. That noble casket see! Its jewels gone, But still their fadeless lustre lights the land; And here will rise again a welcome morn, To shine in pristine glory, simply grand.
Its golden day all days will brighter make, To breathe its air, and moral strength obtain ; The little child the mother's hand will take, And youth, and age, and nations share the gain.
he Wealth of Patriotism.
I.
OUR COUNTRY,
Its Moral Treasures;
2.
3.
4.
OUR NATION,
Its Moral Jewels:
5.
OUR STANDARD,
6. Their Works and Worth Portrayed.
7.
And when brought out,
8.
A moral power
9.
To guard our dearest rights,
IO.
Guide as a Family our States,
II.
Make strong our Union Bond,
12.
And fill our land
13.
With happy, cheerful homes.
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