The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-07-08

OPoec0 ~ Eo@uoo SoSBShs 6s4s4 -
| thc German Cesebrasioa on abe
| Foursh..Tranalate from the Ger.
man.
Ladies and Gentlemen :. ~
For the first time In the history Of Lee
county have the Germans as class, 10
brotherly harmony, united to celsbrate
that great, memorable day, the anniver-
sary Of the erection Of this republic. We
initiate that beautiful example of our
German ancestors well worthy of imita-
tion-in celebrating in the broad forest,
under the shady oak, because ins the for
est liberty seems best to prosper, aud be-
cause the strong oak tree is emblema,ic oi
fidelity and constancy. 4e
Lee county, l believe, has the heaviest
German population Of any county Of this
State, but since her existence, she has not
seen such . German loye-fsast, such =
good old time celebration of the Fourth
Of July. | see here my countrymen from
every part of the county assembled !;
cheerfully and kindly they extend their
hands, aud from every part you hear the
welcome sound, therefore thrice welcome
to US be the present occasion. and in the
name Of the assembled multitude extend
to you my right hand of fellowship. Let
US celebrate this great day according to
the pure old German fashion, and you all
may rest assured that in after years We
will with pleasure revert to it and often
wish re-occurrence Of this occasion.
To-day We celebrate the eighty-eigh
anniversary Of the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence Of the United States. About
one -and-a half centuries had passed in .
country that was far distant from Europe.
The desire for independence in those,
who had crossed the Atlantic ocean. had
fitted and prepared them for self-govern-
ment. Wearisome wars with the French
and Indians had brought forth the strength
and power Of the colonies. The power of
the French on this continent was dis.
PEELED after the taking OF Quebec 10 the
year 1850. ra.
The colonies had vast empire, which
was their own, and we're capable of self
government. Should they submit 10 have
officers i'm posed upon them from the other
side of the oceanf Should they allow
their mother country, whose interests diff
fered widely from their own, to dictate
laws to them Should they suffer foreign
mercenary and Immoral hireliogs among
them sent to keep them in subjection p
By what authority did Great Britain as
sumo to interfere with the internal com
merce and manufactures of the colonies
or even 60 SO far as to prohibit them =
These were the reasons which forced th,
colonies TO independence against thei
own will. m
Ga the 18th day of December, 1854
the gauntlet was thrown down to th.
British uation. Il was at the time of tha
historical debate in the colonial legisla,ur
of Virginia. on the stamp duty that hat
been imposed upon the colonies, whe'
Patrick Henry spoke those memorabl
words which should ever and ever resoun,
in the heart Of every patriot. With
voice of thunder he scourged the tyran
nicsl act of the British crown, and wit
the mien Of lion he spoke to the Brisis
toficials. h r&@s8 8swga go ~.
"Ceassr had his Brutus, Charles tn
LIST his Cromwell, and George Ill ns.
profit by their examplel If this be lres
SEQ, sir, make sAemost Of IT, ~
J Such were the. words of one of Ii
founders Of this republic; such the her,
ism of true patriot; such was the lov
of liberty of one of The greatest citizea
of tins country. Let Us pray that Ties
words nay be verified upon all traitors t
the repnblic, and may they sgain an
again resound from the lips OF eyel
patriot IL
! TIE several American coloaics sgai
and again pctitioned the English Parli
/ lmenf ca ..ars y : Peseoeal Iepresenu
tons were made to The British Crown
. ameliesate aud cure the wrongs practice
upon the colonies The petitions, it,
true, were read ip .tbe halls Of Psrliamen
! but had no more effect than little pap
!. rolls upon tie skin of the elephant. II
personal Representations that we're ma,
TO George Ill. we're only that many wor
jspoken TO deSf ears. The patience, Il
II sudarsnce of the, American people b
/ been tried to the utmost The ooloni
u resolved 10 no longer submit to the y
rany and usurpasions Of the mother cou
uy. They would not allow themsels
+ to be robbed of their natural and &c
3 given rights BY the lasless and bru'
hirelings which the British crown saw
= to station among them. They did n
yield to .Ehehnd the right to exhaust
country by excessive taxation, and esI
p cially not As they had no representatit
g EHelsnd iBeisted and the colonies did l
yield, and the hurricane broke loose.
q England ssnt mora troops tooysrawe t
IN colonies, but had rsckoped without |
host. To arms. TO arms! solHd
10 through The whole. country. With I
4 velocity of the electric spa rks ths call '
!; carried from place to place. The sp.
- had ignited. The people prepsred
the contest, and on nshe 10th day Of Ap
a. made twice historic by the course
70 events oisths ceuntsy, in l7z5 tie b
4 tie Of LsxinatonstoekzRlsoe, and the E
American blood vas spilled to estabi
y tthe independence Of the colonies.
= 1.-THE same dsy in the year 1851. The
p 4 n "A