social systems have been not only broken up, but left the ground perfectly covered and obstructed with their ruins But not only are funds wanted, but agents and teachers, with local sympathies and knowledge, must be searched for, and trained in the spirit and methods of Oberlin. A hundred normal seminaries, like those of Hampton Institute, should as early as practicable be established and aided by Congress, and a system of industrial schools, for whites and blacks, be at once organized all over the country. Here is a field in which the largest public spirit can find scope for the fullest exercise. Let all unite to do even tardy justice to this long neglected interest, and let Southern men and women be employed in the work of educating their own children, under such systems, and even without regard to systems as developed in other parts of the country, as shall be found practicable in their hands. What we want, what these States and the whole country want, are schools, numerous and good enough to meet the pressing want of over one million of children and youth. Let us have as soon as possible a generation of adults educated in the ideas and ways of the new dispensation. The old Bell, which has become historic from its association with the Hall in which the title deed of our liberties was signed, and that more august instrument, the Constitution of the United States, was framed, has long since done its work. It rang out the old, and rang in the new dispensation. But its proclamation of "Liberty throughout the land" which had come echoing down the centuries from the old Hebrew Commonwealth, took a prophetic significance in 1864; and now, on this centennial anniversary, ten thousand bells have quickened its still lingering vibrations and carried their inspiring tones into the hearts of millions which they never reached before; and on each recurring anniversary let them all

*

*

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

*

THE GRAND MISSION OF AMERICA.

AN ADDRESS BY REV. JOSEPH H. TWITCHIELL,

DELIVERED AT THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT HARTFORD, CONN., JULY 4TH, 1876.

This republic was ordained of God who has provided the conditions of the organization of the race into nations by the configuration of land and the interspaces of the sea. By these national organizations the culture and development of the race are secured. We believe that our nation is a creature of Godthat he ordained it for an object, and we believe that we have some comprehension of what that object is. He gave us the best results of the travail of ages past for an outfit, separating us from the circumstances that in the existing nations encumbered these results, and sent us forth to do his will. We built on foundations already prepared a new building. Other men had labored and we entered upon their labors. God endowed and set us for a sign to testify the worth of men and the hope there is for man. And we are rejoicing to-day that in our first hundred years we seem to have measurably-measurably—-fulfilled our Divine calling. It is not our national prosperity, great as it is, that is the appropriate theme of our most joyful congratulations, but it is our success in demonstrating that men are equal as God's children, which affords a prophecy of better things for the race. That is what our history as a lesson amounts to.

There have been failures in particulars, but not on the whole; though we fall short, yet still, on the whole, the outline of the lesson may be read clearly. The day of remembrance and of recollection is also the day of anticipation. We turn from looking back one hundred years to looking forward one hundred. It is well for some reasons to dwell upon to-day, but the proper compliment of our memories, reaching over generations, is hope reaching forward over a similar period of time. Dwelling on

But as out of
Some things

to-day-filling our eyes with it-we can neither see far back nor far on. We are caught in the contemplation of evils that exist and that occupy us with a sense of what has not been done and of unpleasing aspects. True there are evils, but think what has been wrought in advancing the work of the grand mission of America. Do we doubt that the work is to go on? No! There are to be strifes and contending forces. strife has come progress, so will it be hereafter. that we have not wanted, as well as some things that we have wanted have been done, yet on the whole the result is progress. It is God's way to bring better things by strife. (The speaker here alluded to the battle of Gettysburg, where he officiated as chaplain in the burial of the dead-the blue and the gray often in the same grave—and said that the only prayer that he could offer was "Thy will be done, thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven."

The republic is to continue on in the same general career it has hitherto followed. The same great truths its history has developed and realized in social and civil life are to still further emerge. The proposition that all men are created equal is to be still further demonstrated. Human rights are to be vindicated and set free from all that would deny them-Is any law that asserts the dignity of human nature to be abrogated? Never. The Republic is to become a still brighter and brighter sign to the nations to show them the way to liberty. We have opened our doors to the oppressed. Are those doors to be closed? No; a thousand times no. We have given out an invitation to those who are held in the chains of wrong. Is that invitation to be recalled? No, never. The invitation has been accepted; and here the speaker alluded to the fact-which shows how homogenous we finally become as a nation, though heterogenous through immigration-that the Declaration of Independence is read here to-day by a man whose father was born in Ireland; the national songs are sung by a man who was himself born in Ireland; and the company of singers here, nearly all, were born in Germany. Then he passed to the subject of Chinese education in this country and spoke of Yung Wing and his life-work, alluding to him as the representative of the better thought and hope of China, and then paid

his respects to that part of the Cincinnati platform which alludes to this race. So long as he had voted he had given his support to this political party whose convention was held at Cincinnati, but that platform wherein it seems on this point to verge toward un-American doctrine, he repudiated; "I disown it; I say woe to its policy; I bestow my malediction upon it." Now, if there is any one here who will pay like respect to the platform of the other party the whole duty will be done. We are urged to-day in view of our calling, and of the fulfillment of the past to set our faces and hearts toward the future in harmony and sympathy with the hope we are to realize. Let every man make it a personal duty and look within himself. God save the Republic! May it stand in righteousness and mercy; so only can it stand. If we forsake our calling, God will take away the crown He has given us. The kingdom of God will be taken from us and given to another nation which shall bring forth the fruits thereof.

NEW HAVEN ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

AN ORATION BY REV. LEONARD BACON, D, D. DELIVERED AT THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, NEW HAVEN, CONN., JULY 4TH, 1876.

In the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, the fourth of July fell on Thursday. On that day, the Continental congress at Philadelphia gave notice to all nations that the political communities which it represented had ceased to be colonies, were absolved from their allegiance to the British Crown, and had become Independent States. The news that such a Declaration had been made was not flashed along electric wires; it was not conveyed by steam car or steam boat; nor can I learn that it was sent in all directions by an extraordinary express. But we may assume that as early as Tuesday morning, July 9th, the people of New Haven heard the news, and that such news reported by neighbor to neighbor, was talked about everywhere, with every variety of opinion as to whether the Independence that had been declared could be maintained; some rejoicing in the Declaration and sure that it would stand; others doubting; here and there one indignant, but not daring to express his indignation. All knew that the decisive step had been taken, and that the country was committed to a life and death struggle, not for the recovery of chartered and inherited rights as provinces included in the British empire, but for an independeut nationality and a place among acknowledged sovereignties.

It is difficult for us to form in our minds any just conception of what New Haven was a hundred years ago. But let us make the attempt. At that time, the town of New Haven included East Haven, North Haven, Hamden, West Haven, and almost the entire territory of what are now the three towns of Wood. bridge, Beacon Falls and Bethany. What is now the city of New Haven was then "the town plat"-the nine original squares