The Placer herald., 1870-10-01
GRAFTON OF JUAN DEL NJ. ROJAS.
Delivered MT Forest Ell, Sept. 10th, 1870.

Gc,tlemen--We have not, perhaps, in our pop
ular language word richer in its meaning, more
comprehensive Of bright hopes, of historical rec
ords, of patriotic jubilee thar our Diezy Yocho,
(1sth September.)
This is to us a magical word in which old and
young, military men and civilians, ignorant and
illustrious, rich and poor, read what they have
most at heart. The 18th of September, 1910 was
the glorious day on which God said to Chileans,
as he said to his chosen people in days of yore-
"Shake off oppression and enjoy liberty" OF
one accord all nations of the earth saluted us,
acknowledging us place among them Liberty!
sweet word, We cannot find such in our language
to express our feeling, linked with our he arts
together in universal sympathy. Liberty is
what we aspire to all our life long, and has been
the desideratum of ages. For it, old men forget
the weight of years, the young will throw them
selves into the brilliant future, and with the SOL
dier, singing marshal songs, dash into the thick
est of fight; countries will rise, en- masse, with
this sublime cry-Hurrah for Liberty! The
18th of September is to the Chilean people, and
principally to the few remaining heroes which
we are fortunate enough to retain, as precious
relics of the heroic period of our country, the
recurrence of the period OF our struggles, full OF
triumphs and glorious victories. The forthcom-
ing generations carefully preserve the spirit in
stilled into them by the martyrs of our country
who redeemed with their blood the establishing
of Liberty. Yes. blessed be the Almighty who
has wied that their efforts should not be sterile,
oh! soldiers of Liberty! Blessed be you who re-
tained your faith through the vicssitudes of for
tune until you made freemen of nation of
slaves. Your great deeds will be remem-
bered by the nation you freed from bondage, as,
also, that great day which, with just pride, call
(''diez yocho" 18th September,) for it compre,
hends in itself all the glories of our country,
which are likewise represented by the magic tri-
color in our flag and its solitary star.
Chleans call the eighteenth, " that immortal
eighteenth, ,-deiz yocho; the memory Of this
day cannot die out, for the remembrance of its
Independence, the blood split of those who knew
how to conquer it, and the love for liberty will
ever be fresh in the hears of Chileans The
membrance of sterile deeds, carried out to
the pride OF conquerors, may die out; those who
made nations tremble may pass into oblivion;
but the deeds done to give liberty to people who
acknowledged masters, and vegetated in bondage
will never die. 1t may be, that in course of CEN
turies the memory of Napoleon the Great may
be forgotten, but, so long as the great Republic
of the United States exists, the memory of
George Washington will always be gratefully
preserved; likewise, so long as in South Amer
lea, the noble and prosperous Republic of Chile
exists, will the memory of O'Higgins, San Mar
tin, Camera, Freire, Las Heras and so many 9TH
er noble men who were our liberators be kept
Brothers and friends: let us rejoice our having
had such valiant men to undertake such con-
quest, let us rejoice all the more that their eff
forts have produced a peace fruitful in liberty
and progress. Thanks to a series of good and
enlightened patriots who continued the work,
the foundations of which were laid by those no.
ted Republicans who began such patriotic work
ON the 18th of September, 1910.
How many countries like Chile after having
had heroic fighters to put an end to servitude
OF three score and ten years now see their future
in darkness; not having been fortunate as our
selves in finding champions of order and liberty
who could receive and preserve the precious in
hertance OF the conscript fathers of the country.
10 obtain liberty after having gained Indepen-
dence; to have redeemers from anarchy like Por-
tales, after having had redemption from servi-
tude; establish Republic after having proclaim
ed itself nation, is great step gained; those
are the benefits which our blessed good fortune
represents in our cherished country
Let the memory of the great days of our coun-
try revive or love for it; that the memory of
the sacrifice of the fathers of our Independence
revive IN NIL Chileans the willingness to make it
beneficial fruitful and glorious that when the re-
naming heroes of that glorious epoch are taken
away from us, they may take farewell look at
the material and moral improvement of the Re
public and repeat swore to libcrate our Conn
ry-thanks to the Creator, we did So
Before concluding, gentlemen, allow me, on
thus solemn occasion to manifest my gratitude
for this model country, where liberty, work and
respect to republican institutions have such
strong hold for the generous hospitality which
We enjoy, thereby giving a public testimonial of
our sincere friendship towards the authorities of
this town. May God preserve for many years
the lives of those present, that we may always
celebrate this great anniversary, which in truth,
fills our hearts with all the joy the heart of Chile
ans, Jealous of the national glory is capable
(rpntlpmpp LET the Cbila I,
greater reason every year, the good name il bears
for its noble love of order and peace, which it
has won; and that well exercised liberty be al
ways the foundation of her prosperity.
4 NIN,ER CANDIDATE EOR THE VICE