OUR FLAG-THE PROUD EMBLEM OF THE

REPUBLIC.

AN ADDRESS BY GEN. FERDINAND C. LATROBE, MAYOR OF BALTIMORE.

DELIVERED AT BALTIMORE, MD., JULY 4TH, 1876.

GENTLEMEN :-On behalf of the Commissioners of Harlem Park, I accept the beautiful flag which you have this day presented. Our country's flag, the most fitting gift to be made on her one hundreth birthday. What recollections crowd upon us on this Fourth of July, 1876! One hundred years ago on this most blessed day, there assembled in Independence Hall, in the City of Philadelphia, a band of patriots, who bravely, fearlessly proclaimed to the world that immortal declaration, written by Jefferson, which created a new nation among the powers of the earth. A century has elapsed, and from those original thirteen States has grown this mighty confederation known as the United States of America. The flag thrown to the breeze in 1776 has withstood the battle and the storm; and now triumphantly waves over thirty-eight great States, and fifty millions of free and independent citizens. Based upon free institutions, free speech, free thought, and free schools, our Union rests upon an imperishable rock foundation, that only hardens with the test of a century. What a triumph for Republican institutions.

The birth of our country was not peaceful. One could suppose on reading the words of the declaration that the expression of such sentiments, such "self-evident truths," would have brought forth shouts of gladness and congratulations from the enlightened nations of the world; but the greeting received was from mouths of shotted cannon, the rattling of steel ramrods, the sharpening of swords, and the whitening of the ocean with the sails of transports, bearing armed men across the sea to stamp out the bursting bud of liberty before it should bloom into the flower of eternal life.

During seven long years of trial and suffering the American patriots under the leadership of the immortal Washington, struggled for a free existence. At times the fortunes of the colonies were at so low an ebb, that the great leader himself almost despaired of final triumph, and contemplating a possibility of failure had determined to rally around him those who preferred death to submission, retreat to the fastnesses of the raountains in the interior, and there maintain a desperate struggle for liberty until the end. But the God of battles had willed it otherwise, the darkness of the storm was followed by the bursting light of the day of freedom, and the nation nursed in a cradle of blood and war for seven years after its birth, sprung into manhood in the triumph of victory in 1773.

And now one hundred years have passed. We had our trials and troubles, wars, foreign and domestic, but the Providence that so tenderly watched over us in our infancy has not neglected us in our prime. To-day the Republic is at peace with all the world, our flag respected at home and abroad, our people prosperous and happy, and our example already liberalizing those very governments which looked with horror and dread at the growth of free institutions. And when another century rolls around, may future generations be as devoted to these great principles of freedom, and as determined to maintain them as the generations that have passed. And in 1976, as now, may the star spangled banner in triumph still wave, "o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

I accept in the name of the Commissioners of Harlem Park this beautiful flag, and assure you upon their part that it shall be cherished as it deserves. And when hereafter it floats from your tall staff, may the mothers of Baltimore, pointing their children to its gorgeous folds, teach them to love, honor and revere that starry banner, as the proud emblem of this great Republic!

A CENTENNIAL RETROSPECT.

A POEM BY DR. FRED. A. PALMER, OF MONTMORENCI, S. C.

DELIVERED AT THE CENTENNIAL

CELEBRATION, AIKEN, S. C., JULY

4TH, 1876.

A noble band of patriots with faces all aglow

Stood in the Halls of Congress one hundred years ago; Stood side by side, as they had stood upon the battle-field, When they compelled the troops of England's King to yield.

The enemies of Liberty sat silent, pale and still

While these brave men prayed God to know and do his will; It was an hour when Justice was trembling in the scales, When God from man the future in tender mercy veils.

These brave men knew that they must act for children yet unborn,

They sealed the Nation's destiny upon that glorious morn, When each man pledged his all for Right, for Liberty and

Peace,

Forever sacred to our hearts shall be such men as these.

'Tis true they left a stain upon our banner fold,

But we have wiped it out with blood and paid for it in gold; These patriots fought for Liberty, and pledged themselves to

stand

For Freedom, Right, and Justice, a firm unbroken band.

But while they threw their own chains off, they bound in bonds more strong

The bands that held the colored man in misery and wrong; But soon or late all wrong comes right, for such is God's decree,

And in His own good time He set the black man free.

It was not some one favored State, North, South, East or West,

That gave the true brave signers of that Declaration blest : No; each State gave her patriots who bore their noble share, And when the Nation's work was done, each State had proud names there.

Let us clasp hands, to work as one, for all the Nation's good And stand together as one man, as once our fathers stood; Behold, how short the time has been, but one brief hundred

years,

To plant the tree of Liberty and water it with tears.

Brave men have fallen on the field, to guard that sacred tree,
To save it from all vandal hands our aim shall ever be;
Altho' we still have many faults, our Nation yet is young;
And we will carry out the work which these brave men begun.

We live in freedom; let us clasp each other by the hand;
In love and unity abide, a firm, unbroken band;

We cannot live divided; the Union is secure ;

God grant that while men live and love this Nation may endure.

ADDRESS.

BY HON. P. C. CHENEY, GOV. OF N. H., AND PRESIDENT OF THE DAY.

AT THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, AT MANCHESTER N. H., JULY 4, 1876.

FELLOW-CITIZENS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-We meet here to-day to recall the memories of the past, to hallow the acts and deeds of our fathers, to pay our tribute of love and grateful remembrance to the heroic dead, who, one hundred years ago, bravely met the duties of the hour and in convention declared that these united colonies are, and of right, ought to be free and independent States, and in support of which solemnly pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. We meet here too to note the rapid progress in art and science, the triumphant and onward march of civil and religious liberty : but what is most important of all, my fellow-citizens, we are here to consider how great is the responsibility which rests upon us, the children of this blessed inheritence, to which has been committed the truths that were purchased and paid for in the sacrifice of lives and fortunes of men whose inspirations were from on high and whose actions were crowned with more than human success. The experience of this generation has led us of the people to comprehend how great and how serious is the charge with which we are entrusted. Yes; bitter experience has taught us if we would preserve these blessings unimpaired, we must keep our hearts filled with love towards one another, and we can move forward with malice towards none and charity for all. But I don't propose to occupy your time; I take pleasure in introducing to you a man whose name is a guarantee that it will be a pleasure to listen to.

Mr. B. F. Dame will now read the Declaration of Independence.