nations enlightened by science. Hamden may also claim to be the birth-place of many important manufactures, notably that of small hardware, of carriage springs and fittings, and of harness trimmings. Manufacturing enterprises were developed in the northern portion half a century ago by Elam Ives, who served in the war of independence, and in 1812 when communication with Boston by water was cut off by the blockade, established a freight line of ox teams and wagons between New York and Boston. This leads us to advert to the great contrast presented between the means of communication of a century ago, and those which we now enjoy. The century has witnessed in our town the transition from the saddle to the stage coach, from the stage coach to the canal boat, and from the canal boat to the railway. We may also show a laudable pride in the record of our people in all their social and political relations. The people of Hamden have ever been true to the great principles of liberty for which our fathers struggled, and they have not abused the inheritance they have enjoyed. Hamden has always responded promptly and freely to the calls to arms for the defence of the country. Not only in the war of the Revolution, but in 1812, in the Mexican war and in the war of the Rebellion, the town sent forth its full quota of intelligent freemen for the support of the flag. The spirit of peaceful industry, rather than the spirit of war is, however, characteristic of the people of Hamden. It is a town of industrious and thrifty people, with pleasant and well ordered homes, and law respecting families. Our hills and valleys are dotted over with comfortable and elegant habitations and the spires of our churches, pointing heavenward, show that we have kept the faith of our fathers, and that the people are not unmindful of the fact that we have "no abiding city here.” While thus looking back upon the record of the town let us be duly thankful for the blessings and privileges we enjoy, and show that we are duly sensible of the privations and efforts of the generations that have preceded us. We are also proud of the record of our neighbors of New Haven, and we congratulate them upon their achievements and prosperity. We are thankful that we have some of them, and other valued neighbors and friends, here with us today on this happy occasion, and to them all, in the name of the town, a most cordial and hearty welcome is extended. CENTENNIAL HYMN. Written for the occasion by Deacon J. M. PAYNE, of Hamden. TUNE-America. Let every heart rejoice One hundred years have fled, And to our God appeal, Our country save. May Hamden ever be Our fathers won; What we have done. GOVERNOR HARRISON'S ADDRESS. CCEPT my hearty thanks, fellow citizens of Hamden, that your kindness has given me an opportunity of being present with you on this interesting occasion. My thanks are particularly due to your committee for the special kindness in relieving me from any obligation to give a formal discourse. At their suggestion, however, I will say a word or two, although I am here as an observer and a listener; an interested observer and an enthusiastic listener, rather than as a speaker. You celebrate to-day the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of your town. I wonder how many persons there are present here who appreciate the full significance of that fact-the organization of a Connecticut town. Are all of you aware, do all of you fully understand what a peculiar organization is the organization of a town in the State of Connecticut? Do you all fully understand that by the act of the General Assembly, which made you a town, you were made in your municipal capacity a little indestructible republic, having great powers of local government which can never be taken away from you; and that you are thus entered into the family of towns, that family of little republics, now 167 in number, who by their indestructible union constitute the State of Connecticut? The principle of town government is widely extended in this country, especially in New England, especially in Vermont, the child of Connecticut, especially in Massachusetts and in some other parts of the country, but after some little reading of the history, some little examination, I believe I am safe in saying that there is no state and no country in this world where the principle of Home Rule, or the principle of the government by the people, is so radically carried out and so thoroughly protected by the Constitutional defences as it is in this town of Hamden, and in every other town in the State of Connecticut. You do not hold your rights, your most important ones, at the pleasure of the General Assembly, at the pleasure of the State Government, or of any other power on earth. Your right to representation in the General Assembly cannot be taken away from you by any power. Your right to your town meeting cannot be taken from you. Your right to elect your own selectmen, your town clerk, your grand jurors, your officers, your constable, your justice of the peace; these rights are yours so long as the Constitution of the State remains as it is. The existence of this town cannot be destroyed. The General Assembly cannot abolish the town of Hamden, or annex it to any other town. I will not weary you any more with this line of thought, but it is a line of thought that will be well worthy of your future consideration when it occurs to you to take a little time to find out what sort of a thing a Connecticut town is. The fact that you assemble here in such numbers, notwithstanding the early promise of the day, is, I think, a fact of great significance. It shows that you are not ashamed of this town of Hamden. It shows that you feel that you have good reason to be proud of it, and that you are in fact proud of it, and that is a good and useful feeling for the people to have in a town. Self-respect is essential to a man; it is for him a great safeguard to prevent him from doing anything that would be unworthy of a man of honor and integrity. And so town pride, an effectionate respect for the history of your town, is, and will be as long as you retain it, a safeguard to prevent you doing anything or consenting to anything unworthy of a little republic, such as this town of yours is and ought to be, and you should always be jealous of its fair fame and honor. This celebration is a good thing, not merely because it shows that you have the right feeling of town pride, but it will be a good thing in increasing, strengthening, intensifying that town pride; and I believe, without the shadow of a doubt, that every good citizen here will be, at sunset, a better citizen of the town of Hamden than he was at sunrise this morning, and that he will remain so. Now, I have only to add the expression of my hope that everything will go off pleasantly, and my congratulations for the late but evidently opening promise of a beautiful day for your celebration. THE FLAG OF OUR UNION. M him. HON. N. D. SPERRY. R. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I notice in the historical address just read that among the early settlers of this town was Captain John Gilbert. I want to say a single word about When New Haven was invaded by the British during our Revolutionary war, Capt. John Gilbert commanded a body of men living within the limits of this town. Hearing of the invasion, Capt. Gilbert marched his men to New Haven to assist in repelling the invaders. He and his men did valiant service, and their heroic acts and deeds are treasured with gratitude by the people of New Haven to-day. At last both he and his command were captured by the enemy. Capt. Gilbert asked that they be treated as prisoners of war; but the British officer refused their request, and would give them no quarter. Knowing that they were to be shot, Capt. Gilbert ordered his men to fire, and the British officer fell dead as the penalty for his refusal ; and in turn Capt. Gilbert and his men were killed at once. Capt. John Gilbert's descendants are living to-day, not |