The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-07-06
ORATOR
GRAFTON
Delivered ut Carson, July 4th, 1871, by
A. C. Ellis. ESQ.

~ OA
TLEMEN: We are assembled upon
this national holiday for the pur.
poses of congratulation. The offices
of the day are peaceful and pleasant.
Upon this occasion all animosities
engendered by past conflicts and diff
fe-ences must be buried.
Every American citizen within the
confines of our broad land, should
welcome the Fourth of July as a pc.
litical Sabbath which must not be
desecrated by reviving or discussing
the asperities of partisan life.
In prescribing the duties of our
lives, the Creator has set apart one
day in seven upon which the cares
and responsibilities of the busy
world should be laid aside and for.
gotten; and that day devoted to the
honor and worship of the Author OF
all life and of all government. This
has been prescribed that We may be
constantly reminded of the greatest
consummation to be desired, and
that the great end to be achieved
may constantly be kept in view.
In imitation of this beautiful Gus
tom. the violation of which, we are
told, brings disease and death to
governments and to men, let us
keep politically sacred this common
orative day as it was instituted by
the founders of our Government and
the apostles of liberty.
BY its proper observance our peo-
pie will annually be reminded of the
precious boon committed to their
charge, and inspired with new vigor
and determination to properly exc
cute the trust.
We can do no honor to this day by
meeting together to maintain indi-
vidual or partizan views, but we can
do justice to ourselves in celebrating
and keeping green in our memory
the day upon which the banner of
representative government was
thrown to the breeze. Millions were
then inspired by the heroic act to
deeds of determination and daring,
and to suffer sacrifices to maintain it,
which illustrate the brightest pages
of our history, and upon which we
shall ever delight to dwell. 1t was
then predicted that this occasion
would be celebrated by bon-tires and
Examinations, and let it ever be so,
in that spirit of devotion to liberty
regulated by law which prompted
its authors to promulgate and sus-
tain it. Our declaration asserts the
proposition that all men are created
equal. This is in an abstract politi-
cal sense, by no means intending to
limit governments formed amongst
men from departing from this ele-
mentary and original condition,
when demanded by the greatest
good to the greatest number. Every
nation upon earth acts upon this
principle, our w constitution pro-
ceeds upon the same theory and all
punitive laws are based upon the
same fact. In no other sense are
men created equal; no two men or
women are, or ever were, equal; no
two objects in nature or in art, in
the animal or vegetable kingdom are
equal. A benificent Providence has
SO wisely ordained ; that the hopes
and affections of men may center
upon different objects and from diff
ferent reasons and impulses, that all
may be guided in different pathways
in the journey through life, and vet
move on harmoniously tothe end.
Who will say that the author of
those splendid epics. the Had and
Odyssey, with all their grand i'm
agery and glowing description, paint
ing the achievements of Achilles and
of Hector, the wanderings of ULYSSES
and the surprising beauty of the
dark-eyed Helen, was not the super
ior of the savage Feji or that para
gon of eloquence given by the Pine
Tree State to Mississippi, was not
higher and nobler in the scale of
being than the grovelling Indian.
Men pursue different voeations, or.
if the same, from different motives
and to crafty other passions and
desires.
1 but express the desire of my
own heart, and, 1 believe, the earn
est wish of this audience, when L de
clare that most cherished hope
is to preserve for ourselves and those
who are to come after US, the bless
ings of free governmental liberty
regulated by law.