The Independent 1886-07-08: Vol 38 Iss 1962

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2 ARs —_— LF) SRP A RGA —— PAY nag Be eer Sie a ae! 7 wai b> AY \\ 9 » 3 — Entered at the Post-office at New York, as Second-class Mail Matter “ EvEN AS WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED OF GOD TO BE INTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL, 80 WE SPEAK; NOT AS PLEASING MEN, BUT Gop WHICH PROVETH OUR HEARTS.” NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1886, NUMBER 1962. The Independent. am sinverely sorry that it will not be possible for me to be in Woodstock this year. As I have already writ:en you, I am compelled by official busi , of which the conciusion cannot be un- For Table of Contents, see Page 16. INDEPENDENCE DAY. CELEBRATION AT ROSELAND PARK, WOODSTOCK, CONN. Ir was a perfect day at Woodstock, from the cannon and bell-ringing at early dawn to the balloons and rockets reflected at night in the lake at Roseland Park. The sky was clear, and a light breeze tempered not too much the heat. The citizens of Windham County and vicinity came in long lines of carriages, over the dusty roads, from Putnam and Pomfret and Thompson and Chaplin and Dudley. They listened, as such a country audience does, with deep interest, but in uoresponding silence, to the speeches, eloquent or convincing. One has to go among them and listen to their appreciative comments to discover how fully they catch every political allusion, and how thoroughly they enjoy the oppor- tunity to hear the dis:inguished speakers. The absence of Senator Edmunds aad Lieutenaat-General Sheridan and General Horace Porter was a disappointmert; but their letters gave abundant explanation why they could not be present. The order of addresses was as follows: MORNING. 1.—Hon. Joun T. Walt, Member of Congress, Nor- wich, Cona., Address of Welcome. Introduc- tion of President. 2.—Prayer. $.--U. 8. Senator Josera R. HAWLEY, Hartford, Cuno, Address as President of the Day. 4.—Ts#omas HILL, D.D., Portiand, Maine, ex-Presi- dent of Harvard College. Poem: “The Gleam of Light.” 5.—PHINEAS C. LOUNSBURY, President of Merchants’ Excnanyge National Bank of New York. Ad- dress: ‘* Grateful Kemembrapces.” 6.—HENRY CLEwS, New York City. Address: ** Our Railroad Methods.” 7.—Hon, JOHN F. PLUMMER, New York City. Address. Industry and Piuck. 8.—Music, Voval and Instrumental: ** America.” AFTERNOON. 1,—Hon, CHARLES H. GROSVENOR, Member of Con- gress, Athens, Oulo,. Address: ** Tae Ballot.” 2.—Hoa. LEvi P, MonTON, New Yor City, ex-Minis- ver to France, Address; “ Allies of the Revo- lution.” 3.—Mrs. LOUIS£ CHANDLER MOULTON, Boston, Mass, Poem: * Follow the Leaders of 76.” 4.—Lieut. A. W. GREELY, Washington, D.C. Ad- dress: * ‘I'he Arctic Regions.” 6.—H. K. CARR DLL, LL.D., New York City. Ad- dress: “* The Kepublic of the Future,” 6.—Doxology—Accompanied by the Band, 1.—Benediction, The following letters of regret were re- ceived from gentlemen who had expected to be present: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D, U., Juue 8.b, sett My Dear Mr. Bswen: I find upon my return to Wasnington that business which, when I lately saw you, Thad not anticipated, will compel my atteudance in Chisago tne latter part of this month and the first of next, and will unfortu- nately interfere with the visit which I had con- templated with so much pleasure being able to make you. Tnanking you for your attention, Yours, very traly, P. H. Suenipay, Lieutenant General. Mz. Henny C. Bowzy, Woodstock, Conn. Heapguanrzns Agmy oF THE Unjtep STA Wasusnoroy, D, 0,, June 17tb, 1806. Dear ir; fiad your letter of the 10%b in . plap’, owaiting my reburn from West Point, J duly hastened, to be in Ohicago during the first few days in July, and cannot leave there by the dates you suggest. It is with much regret that I am compelled to dissppoint you, but the neces- sity for my presence in Chicago has arisen since the acceptance of your invitation. Hoping vou will bave a very successful meet- ing, Yours truly, P. H. SHERipan, Lieutenant General. Mr. Henry C. Bowen, Woodstock, Conn. SENATE CHAMBEB, WASHINGION, June 26th, 1886. t Dear Mr. Bowen: I am more sorry than you can imagine, but will be obliged to inform you that I do not see how [ can possibly be at Wood- stock for your celebration. I had looked for- ward to it with much pleasure, in order that I might see Eastern Connecticut, whence so many of our early Vermonters cume, and to become acquainted with the descendants of the same race, to whom I always look now as first cousins. And I had also hoped that I might perhaps contribute something to the consideration of one of the great problems of the present ‘ime, indicated in the syllabus of what I was to say. But the state of business here is such, and I am so overwhelmed in the Judiciary Committee with much confidenual work, that at this stage of the session I feel that 1 should be remiss in my public duty if I were to give up the time neces- sary vo visit your place. With every good wish for the felicity of the occasion, and with sincere thanks for your kind invitation, I am Very truly yours, Gro, F, EpMunps, Henny C. Bowrn, Eaqg., Woodstock, Conn. New York, June 29th, 1886. My dear Mr, Bowen; I have just received a telegram advising me that my brother, Judge Porter, of Pennsyivania, died very suddenty. He was the oldest of our family, and was both father and brother to me after my father died, when I was quite young. I leave here to-mor- row to stay till afver the funcral and to help jook after his affairs. This sudden affliction will, I regret very much to say, prevent my join- ing in your celebration of the Fourth of July at Woodatuck. I[ believe it the first time I have ever had to break an engagement to speak, You wil, I am sure, tuily sympathize with the motives which compel me to do so now, Thanking you for your great courtesy, and beggiug that you will always command me if I can be of service to you at any tuture time, Lam very truly yours, Horace Porter. Henry ©. Bowen, Esq. At eleven o’clock the Hon. J. T. Wait, M.C., called the meetiog to order and made the following uddress: ADDRESS OF WELCOME. BY THE HON. JOHN THURBER WAIT. Ladies and Gentlemen : To the men and women of Windham County 1 tender a warm and respeciful greeting. At the request of him who has invited the presence of this vast assemb- lage, I bid the sons wad daughters of Con- necticut, and all who have gathered to aid and take part in the ceremonies of this day, a sincere and hearty welcome. No pace could be more appropriate, no surroundings more fitting for an occasion like this, on which the memories connected with the days of the Revolution are to be revived, the present condition and futurg prospects of the pation and our duties and responsi- bilities ag its citizens are to be contemplated, than here on the soil of that bistoric paup- ty which, from its earliest existence, has been equal to every call that Las been made upon it in time of public peril or distress; the home of Israel Putnam, of Thomas and Peter Grosvenor and Nathaniel Lyon, and of countless, nameless heroes who have been faithful, even unto death. in the performance of their duty to their state and nation. In- spiration to a renewed consecration of our- selves, to the accomplishment of such ob- ligations as may be laid upon us springs from the associations around us and from the memory of what those who have gone before have done. These outward mani- festations that are everywhere apparent show us that such inspiration has not been in vain. They are living proofs of those sentiments of loyalty and devotion to coun- try that lie deep in every heart and are ready to burst forth in flames of patriotism at the first summons to active duty. And, if we will but heed it, that call is constantly ringing in our ears. It is not only amid the thunder of artillery and the blaze of battle that the duties of American cilizenship are to be performed and the standing and character of our people are to be established and perfected. ‘‘ Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war.” From the war of the Revolution and the great struggle of recent years, in which dis- union and rebellion were overthrown and he power and supremacy of a Government, imperial in its strength and dominion, were overwhelmingly demonstrated, the Repub- lic has emerged upon a higher and broader plane of human civilization and develop- ment. It is prepared for new advances and accomplisuments in freedom, educa- tion, humanity, and all that tends to elevate and improve the condition of mankind and make the world nobler and better. It leads the nations in its form of @onstitu- tional government, which is founded upon the inalienable rights of man; in the strength of its institutions, which secure to every individual the vroadest liberty con- sistent with public satety, and in the gen- eral prosperity which has attended and cheered its progress along the pathway of national existence. With these increased opportunities, these broader fields of action, have come increased responsibiiities and broader lines of obligation, so that the Amer- ican citizen to-day stands before the bur of corscience in the performance of duty, pubiic and private, under a solemn ac countability vaster than has existed in all the years tbat have preceded us. And yet our future greatness, if we shall prove faithful to the trust eommitied to our hands, will be but the fruition and re- sult of ali that has been great and noble and heroic in our past. The buried gene- ations that have dune their work, and peacefully ‘‘rest from their labors,” will still largely aid in direciing our future course by the influence of their remem- bered virtues acd the impulse of their re- vered example. We have come to- gether to-day that we may recall their vir- tues and example. Connecticut has especial cause for pride in the performance of this duty. Every page of her history aitests her faithfulness and deyvtion in all the struggles of the past in which her blood was shed. The men of Connecticut com- pelled the first surrender of British flags pnd British guns in the war of the Revolu- tion. She held the chief command jn the person of Israel Putnam, at Banker Hill. She furnished more men, jo proportion to her population, than apy oubyr state $n - — . Sa the war for Independence. On the arm of Trumbull, her great war governor, Washing- ton leaned for his chief’support. The foot- prints of her sons were traced in characters of blood upon the frozen snow at Valley Forge. Connecticut answered at the roll- call of almost every camp during the eight years’ war for freedom: and Connecticut men were with Washingten when Corn- wallis surrendered at Yorktown. All through the War of 1812, from the begivning to the end of that struggle, wher- ever the American flag floated the gallant and patriotic sons of Oonnecticut were there to uphold it. In the war with Mexico the sons of Cun- necticut tollowed the flag of the Republic to the capital of that country, and helped to win the triumphs of the American armies. At the first battle of Bull Run Connecti- cut fired the first shot in the morning and the last at night, and a Connecticut regi- ment stood on guard when Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House to a soldier of Windham county stock. Her voice from the beginning was heard in favor of the funda- mental principles of free government, and in the controversy betweea the King and the Colonies, it was her Sherman who aided to prepare that Declaration of Independence, and to assert those principles of human rights that overthrew the power of the British throne, and resulted in the establishment of afree and great Republic. Her spirit of loyalty and truth has been displayed in every field and on every occasion, and this outpouring of her children to take part in these patriotic services is but another at- testation of the reverence of the state for the memory of the fathers, and a pledge of her fidelity to the principles that dominated their lives. To all who have aseembled for this pur- pose [ again extend a cordial welcome, and in the further prosecution of the duty with which I am charged, I now nominate as the president of the day, the Hon. Joseph R. Hawley, United States Senator from Con- necticut. Gen. Joseph R. Hawley wasthen elected president of the day, with the following otber officers: Vice-Presidents.—Hon. J. W. Manning, Mr. John A. Carpenter, Putnam; Judge Edward P. Mathewson, Mr. Charles Grosve- nor, Pomfret; Mr. 8. O. Bowen, East- ford; Mr. Robert McArthur, Hun. Charles E. Searle, Thompson; Hon. John Q. A. Scone, Killingly; Mr. Thomas G. Clark, Canterbury; Mr. William Martin, Chaplin; Mr. Daniel Dwight, Mr. Hezekiah Conant, Dudley; Mr. Henry C. Bowen, Judge Oliver H. Perry, Woodstock: Mr. Josiah Perry, Webster. Secretaries.—Mr. Clarence W. Bowen, Woodstock; Mr. A. W. McDonald, Put. nam; Mr. John Cort, Webster; Mr.G. M. Whitaker, Southbridge; Randolph H. Chandler, Esq., Thompson. ADDRESS OF SENATOR JOSEPH R, HAWLEY, Fellow Citizens; I respectfully thank all who have joined in selecting me for the honor of presiding to-day. It is good to be here. It is good to do these things. The prophetic soul of old Jobn Adams, shortly after the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed, said that this day would be, through all succeeding generations, a day of jiJyminations, gnd bon-fires, and orations, aod exultation, evd reverent thanks to Almighty God, Jt bas beep trne, sod yor