SPEECH

OF

HON. THOS. W. FERRY, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED

STATES,

DELIVERED AT PHILADELPHIA, JULY 4TH, 1876.

CITIZENS OF OUR CENTENNIAL :-The regretful absence of the President of the United States casts on me the honor of presiding on this eventful occasion. Much as I value the official distinction, I prize much more the fact that severally we hold, and successfully we maintain, the right to the prouder title of American citizen. It ranks all others. It makes office, unmakes officers and creates States. One hundred years ago, in yonder historic structure, heroic statesmen sat, and gravely chose between royal rule and popular sovereignty. Inspired with the spirit which animated the Roman sage on Mars' Hill, who declared that of one blood were made all nations of men, Continental sages echoed in Independence Hall their immortal declaration that all men are created free and equal. Appealing to the God of justice and of battle for the rectitude and firmness of their purpose, they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the abstract principle of the freedom and equality of the human race.

To-day, in this rounding hour of a century, appealing to the same God of justice and of peace, we praise Him for, and pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to maintain the spirit of that Declaration now made universal by the fundamental law of the land. We, the people of the United States, in this Centennial memorial, pay double tribute to the Most High-one of grateful acknowledgment of the fulfilled pledge of our fathers to overthrow royalism,-the other of joyful assurance of the fulfilling pledge of their sons to uphold republicanism. The great powers of the earth honor the spirit of American fidelity to the

cause of human freedom by the exhibition of their arts and by the presence of their titled peers to grace and dignify the world's homage paid to the centennial genius of American liberty.

Three millions of people grown to forty-three millions; and thirteen Colonies enlarged to a nation of thirty-seven States, with the thirty-eighth-the Centennial State-forsaking eight Territories, and on the threshold of the Union; abiding executive admission; these attest the forecast and majesty of the Declaration of 1776. It was nothing short of the utterance of the sovereignty of manhood and the worth of American citizenship. Its force is fast supplanting the assumption of the divine right of kings, by virtue of the supreme law of the nation that the people alone hold the sole power to rule. Nations succeed each other in following the example of this republic, and the force of American institutions bids fair to bring about a general reversal of the source of political power. Whenever that period shall come, Great Britain, so magnanimous in presence on this auspicious era, will then, if not before, praise the events when American Independence was won under Washington, and when Freedom and equality of races were achieved under Lincoln and Grant.

PRAYER

BY THE RT. REV. WM. BACON STEVENS, D.D., L.L.D.,

BISHOP OF PENNSYLVANIA,

used at the GRAND CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IN PHILADELPHIA,

JULY 4, 1876.

O Almighty and Eternal God, we come before Thee to praise Thy glorious name, and to give Thee most humble and hearty thanks, for the inestimable blessings which as a Nation we this day enjoy.

We devoutly recognize Thy Fatherly hand in the planting and nurturing of these colonies, in carrying them through the perils and trials of war; in establishing them in peace; and permitting us to celebrate this hundredth birthday of our Independence. We thank Thee, O God, that Thou didst inspire the hearts of Thy servants to lay here the foundations of peace and liberty; to proclaim here those principles which have wrought out for us such civil and religious blessings; and to set up here a Government which Thou hast crowned by Thy blessing, and guarded by Thy hand to this day.

The whole praise and glory of these great mercies we ascribe, O God, to Thee! "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name be all the glory," for by Thee only, have we been led to take our present position among the nations of the earth. As Thou wast our Father's God, in times past, we beseech Thee to be our God, in all time to come. Thou hast safely brought us to the beginning of another century of national life, defend and bless us in the same, O God, with Thy mighty power. Give peace and prosperity in all our borders, unity and charity among all classes, and a true and hearty love of country to all our people. Keep far from us all things hurtful to the welfare of the nation, and give to us all things necessary for our true growth and progress.

Bless O Thou Mighty Ruler of the Universe Thy servants to whom are committed the Executive, the Legislative and Judicial government of this land; that Thou wouldst be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of Thy glory, the good of Thy Church, the safety, honor and welfare of Thy people; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavors, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and true liberty may be established among us for all generations. Make us to know, therefore, that on this day of our Nation's festivity, and to consider it in our hearts, that Thou art God in heaven above, and the earth beneath, and that there is no God else beside

upon

Thee.

Enable us to keep Thy statutes and Thy judgments which Thou hast commanded, that it may go well with us and with our children; that we and they may fear Thy rame and obey Thy law, and that Thou mayest prolong the days of this nation through all coming time.

Establish Thy kingdom in the midst of this land. Make it "Emmanuel's land," a "mountain of holiness and a dwelling place of righteousness."

Inspire Thy Church with the spirit of truth, unity and concord, and grant that every member of the same in his vocation and ministry may serve Thee faithfully. Bless the rulers of this city. and commonwealth, and grant that they may truly and impartially administer justice to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of Thy true religion and virtue.

Pour out Thy Fatherly blessing upon our whole country, upon all our lawful pursuits and industries, upon all our households and institutions of learning and benevolence, that rejoicing in Thy smile, and strengthened by Thy might, this nation may go on through all the years of this new century, a praise and a joy of the whole earth, so that all who look upon it may be able to say, "Truly God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved."

These things and whatsoever else we need for our national preservation and perpetuity, we humbly ask, in the name and through the mediation of Thy dear Son, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all might, majesty, dominion and power, world without end. Amen.

WELCOME TO THE NATIONS.

BY

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

SUNG AT PHILADELPHIA, JULY 4, 1876.

I.

Bright on the banners of lily and rose
Lo, the last sun of our century sets!
Wreath the black cannon that scowled on our foes,
All but her friendships the Nation forgets!
All but her friends and their welcome forgets!
These are around her: But where are her foes?
Lo, while the sun of her century sets
Peace with her garlands of lily and rose!

II.

Welcome! a shout like the war trumpet's swell
Wakes the wild echoes that slumber around!
Welcome! it quivers from Liberty's bell;

Welcome! the walls of her temple resound! Hark! the gray walls of her temple resound! Fade the far voices o'er hill-side and dell;

Welcome! still whisper the echoes around;
Welcome! still trembles on Liberty's bell!

III.

Thrones of the Continents! Isles of the Sea! Yours are the garlands of peace we entwine; Welcome, once more, to the land of the free, Shadowed alike by the palm and the pine; Softly they murmur, the palm and the pine; "Hushed is our strife, in the land of the free;" Over your children their branches entwine, Thrones of the Continents! Isles of the Sea!