The Historical Sketch, and Account of the Centennial Celebration at York, PA., July 4, 1876., Part 10

Author: Cenntennial Publicaton Committee
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Democratic Press
Number of Pages: 186


USA > Pennsylvania > York County > The Historical Sketch, and Account of the Centennial Celebration at York, PA., July 4, 1876. > Part 10


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ed knees, with the stars looking down upon his un- sheltered head, invoking the aid of the Divine power in words of earnest prayer; Washington was the same self-sacrificing patriot, whose heart beat with no other emotion than that of love for his God and for his suf- fering country. The knowledge of this fact inspired his men with confidence and led them to deeds of noble daring. No throned monarch ever exerted such an influence over any army as he. He was the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night which shielded them alike from the pursuit of the enemy and piloted them safely through the desert and the sea of battle. The magic of his name and presence inspired them with new life and earnestness, and enabled them in the darkest hour of our national struggle, cheerfully to lead the forlorn hope, man- fully to mount the breach and gallantly to storm the battery in the very face of death and destruction.


In the darkest days of the Revolution, after our terrible losses at Brandywine, and when the British, under General Howe, had possession of Philadelphia, and when the bloody massacre at Paoli, had struck terror and consternation into almost every heart, Washington remained firm and unshaken and never once lost confidence in our final success. "At this time when a general pardon was offered by the Brit- ish government, to all who would renew their oath of allegiance, and some of the most prominent and weal- thy men of the country, had accepted the terms and gone over to the enemy, Washington stood firm and unmoved amid all those scenes of trial and discour-


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agement. He was not to be disheartened by tempo- rary misfortunes or driven from his purpose by threat- ening storms of adversity. "When his army was thought to be on the verge of annihilation and the whole world regarded American liberty as struggling in the last stage of its existence, he commenced and pursued an offensive warfare against a hitherto vic- torious army, strong in numbers and confident in its strength, dislodged it from every post it had taken along the Delaware river, relieved Philadelphia from danger and recovered almost the whole province of New Jersey." The glory of these achievements was rendered doubly conspicious by their immediate ef- fects upon the colonists. The drooping and despon- dent spirits of the people were aroused. They be- came inspired with new zeal and energy. The un- shaken faith and abiding confidence of their com- mander rendered him, to them, a great magnetic cen- tre towards which they were drawn by an attraction which they could not resist. The Continental Con- gress could not have selected a commander for their armies, better suited to the emergencies of the times than he. So far as human skill and ingenuity could be employed in controlling the energies of a strug- gling people, Washington discharged his ardous and perilous duties faithfully and well.


In thus selecting George Washington from amongst the men of the Revolution, as an object of special consideration, I do not wish to be understood as at- tempting to detract from the well-earned fame of any of his noble and deathless compatriots. The history


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of that great struggle brings into prominence and distinction, other men distinguished alike for their bravery and patriotism. We glory in the achieve- ments of such men as Israel Putnam, Anthony Wayne, Philip Schuyler, Horatio Gates, Johu Sullivan and Nathaniel Green. These, too, have carved their names in the highest niches of fame's bright temple. But there were traits of character which Washington possessed which were never found in any man before, and hence the opinion, well-supported and sustained, that he was raised up, by the Almighty, for the ac- complishment of His great purpose, in redeeming this land from slavery and planting, side by side, with with the silken banner of the cross, the stars and stripes which are the symbols of our country's glory. From the time the first cannon was fired in defence of American liberty until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis upon the plains of Yorktown, Washing- ton was the same calm, deliberate, brave, enduring patriot; his mighty energies constantly employed in the advancement of the good of the army and in aid of the great cause in which he was engaged.


It is generally conceded that England, in our rev- olutionary struggle, died hard ; that she was badly beaten long before she surrendered. But the loss of so valuable an acquisition as the American colo- nies led to more than ordinary exertions on her part, and it was only when the last plank had been swept away from her, that she was willing to bend a wounded and bleeding suppliant at our feet. The surrender at Yorktown, was a proud triumph of the American


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arms. It was the closing up of a long and tedious struggle, the vindication of the cause we had espous- ed and a permanent death blow to despotism on this side of the Atlantic. From that day we commenced our existence as a free and independent people, hav- ing successfully won that distinction by our treasure and our blood.


I will not tresspass upon the time of this audience by referring to the organization of our institutions, the formation of States, the adoption of the Constitution and the passage of laws in harmony with the demo- cratic character of our government. These are objects familiar in history and might at the present time, prove tedious and unprofitable.


One by one, the men of the revolution have gone down to their graves, until all have disappeared be- hind the impenetrable veil which separates the pres- ent from the vast and unexplored future. They have left for us and our children a priceless legacy of free- dom, richer, by far, "than apples of gold set in pic- tures of silver" One hundred years of national exis- tence has given us a prominence among the nations of the earth which is alike proud and enviable. From thirteen original States, we have increased to thirty- eight free and independent sovereignties, blended to- gether in one common bond of union; the great pal- ladium of our liberty and our hope in all time to come. The emblems of our nationality have been hoisted upon every hill-top and float in triumph upon land and sea. Our territory stretches, in its geographical boundaries from the shores of the Atlantic to the


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Pacific Ocean. Civilization has achieved some of its proudest triumphs in our midst; religion sports its silken banner in our sky; learning and science have sprung up with the fruits of our soil; agriculture boasts its improvements and the mechanic arts have far exceeded the proudest stretch of ingenious aspi- ration. Our greatness, as a people, is proverbial throughout the world, and the nations look up to us with wonder and admiration. This is the end of our Revolution. This is the purchase of our fathers' blood. They sowed the seed, but it remained for us to reap the harvest.


We have great reason to be thankful that we are permitted the enjoyment of our liberties in a land like this. Here we are surrounded by everything that is necessary to render its possession sweet and delightful. "Our lines have been cast in pleasant places," and we should be prepared to cultivate no other spirit amongst us but one of common patriot- ism and common brotherhood. We should remem- ber the virtues of our fathers and adopt them as ex- amples worthy of our imitation. To protect the liberty and honor of our common country should be our constant aim. Demand no more than what is right and submit to nothing that is wrong. Never anxious to provoke an insult, but prepared, at all times, to resist one when offered. We should be a people jealous of our rights and ready at all hazards, to maintain them; for it is only by a strict and faith- ful observance of these rules that we can consistently celebrate the fourth of July, or invoke, at its annual


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occurrence, the spirit and memories of the Revolu- tion.


The people of York county have a special interest in the proper observance of this, our great natal day. We have been particularly fortunate in having in our own midst, monuments and memories of the revolu- tion which can never perish. It was here at York, where the Continental Congress met, for delibera- tion, when General Howe had possession of the city of Philadelphia. This beautiful town, of which we are so justly proud-the home of your nativity and the home of my adoption; was, at that time, hallowed by the presence and pressed by the footsteps of Geo. Washington and his noble compeers. On the precise spot where now stands the beautiful and substantial residence of our talented townsman, Prof. Samuel B. Heiges, until a few years ago, stood the old building where Washington had his headquarters and where he and his subordinates met from time to time in mil- itary counsel; and some of the doors and wainscot- ing of that old building are still preserved in the new and handsome structure. The timber of which these are composed is, at present, as firm and substantial as it was a hundred years ago. It has suffered noth- ing seemingly, from the natural decay of time, but like our glorious institutions of which it may be taken as a proper. but silent representative, has grown harder, firmer and more enduring with the marches of the generations, until it has become, substantially, an imperishable memorial of that which it really com- memorates.


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We need but travel a short Sabbath day's journey north from our borough and enter our beautiful Pros- pect Hill Cemetery, to find, inside of a handsome iron enclosure, the grave and the monument of Philip Liv- ingstone, one of the signers of the Declaration of In- dependence. Turning from that point and coming back to the Main street, of our borough, near its east- ern extremity, in the old Presbyterian church yard, over which a solitary weeping willow casts its mourn- ing shadows, we come to the mound beneath which sleeps the dust of the venerable James Smith, another signer of that immortal instrument. On his monu- ment we read the inscription, "James Smith, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Aged 93 years." In the quietude of our own homes, sur- rounded by our families, when the labors of the day are ended, we can turn back the pages of our local history, and there find the liberal contributions which York county gave to the men and the cause of the Revolution. There are those standing before me this evening and within the hearing of my voice, I 9 venture to say, whose grandfathers fell battling for the liberties of our country. Let the stranger then, who visits our borough, be informed that the moment he plants his foot inside of our limits, that he is stand- ing upon holy ground. The genius of liberty, when it commenced its conquests upon American soil, found no nobler champions then those whose names are still perpetuated, in the persons of their children's children throughout the borough and county of York.


The proper observance of this day ought not to be,


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therefore, a matter of mere centennial occurrence with us. We should greet each recurring anniver- sary with the same feelings of pride and the same patriotic demonstrations by which we are now sur- roundcd. "Our right hand should forget its cunning and our tongues cleave to the roof of our mouths," when we cease to remember the sacrifices and pay due respect to the men who made. us what we are.


A hundred years in the past will necessarily be fol- lowed by a hundred years in the future. What that future will develop no one can tell. Governments may change, and nations will continue to rise and fall, as heretofore, but may we not, at least, express the hope that our free institutions, whose foundation stones were watered by the tears and cemented by the blood of our fathers, will continue to advance from one degree of excellence to another, until the right of man to self government will be so thorough. ly and effectually established that the whole world will join in one universal chant of liberty and inde- pendence; commencing and being perpetuated, here, upon the shores of time, and finally finding its full fruition around the throne of God.


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