Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-07-09
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE
Observance of the Fourth at Lancas-
ter and other Points.


The glorious Fourth was general,
observed by the people of this county
When one locality did not provide tc
celebrate some other place did, and
thus the people OF halfa dozen town,
jollified at Boscobel, as many at Patel
Grove and at Plattville and at Bee.
town. There were also anniversary
exercises at Mt. Hope and Wyalus.
ing, all we'll attended. The day was
hot, mercury indicating the highest de.
gree temperature felt during the seas
on. The roads were dusty in the ex
treme. But nobody ever heard o.
such trivials as dust, and one hundred
degrees in the shade preventing any.
one from going one to twenty or thirty
miles to hear the eagle scream on this
our National day.
AT LANCASTER
The celebration in Bushnell Hollow
was a perfect success. A large body
of people there assembled early in the
forenoon. They organized by the cleo
ton of David Schreiner, Esq, Chair.
man and Mr.. w. FL. johnson Secreta-
ry, andi Mr.. Joseph Nathan Reader.
Appropriate introductory remarks
were made by the President. After
the reading of the Declaration of In
dependence, music was the order and
several patriotic airs were sung by
Messrs. Michaels, Rousche and
others. Mr.. Chas. Orion was then in
troduced to the assembly who deliver
ed the following Grafton
Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen:
This day we commemorate the birthday OF
our national independence, which was born
TO US as a free and independent people on the
4th day of July, l776, in the Halls of our
National legislature.
On that day-the day we celebrate-the
declaration of our national independence was
proclaimed by the representatives of the
United States Of America 10 Congress assem-
bled, and in l77S, July 8, articles of confed-
Grafton and perpetual union, between the
then Is original states with the Providence e
Plantations, were promulgated by the law
making rover of the land, and in both these
articles and declaration we can to-day see
written in seemingly superhuman wisdom
principles calculated to perpetuate mutual
friendship and kindly intercourse among the
people OF the different states. These two
documents made ample provisions for the gen.
eral welfare of the people, binding them to-
gether as one man, each promising to assist
the other against all force offered to or at
tacks made upon them, or any of them, on ac-
count of their religious proclivities, original
nationality, trade or any other pretence what
ever.
1t mattered not then, whether a man was of
English, German, French or any other nation,
al extraction; 'ft he was a man he was a man
for a. that" Even though he might have
come from the icy north, or be bronzed by a
torrid sun, he enjoyed all the privileges and
benefits of the compact, and was willing to
suffer all the pains and penalties legally i'm
posed on him for violation thereof in any of
its terms.
We then as one man having suffered all the
boodshed, pledged ourselves to stand one by
the other, and to hold out induce
ments to the oppressed of ali nations
and powers Of the earth, 10 jein US in
this laudable and soul-tryng undertaking,
and what has been the consequence? All
nations of people on the civilized earth have
flocked to US, thus augmenting our power,
until power is power.
We are to-day the most powerful nation
on the earth, and thank God we feel rejoiced
to-day that we can say that we are one COM
mon people, Notwithstanding efforts have
been made looking toward disntregation and
n aiional and local strife among us.
When the star of rebellion and disunion
came up in the South in 1893, it was then
promptly rebuked and punished but secret
relic OF that foul genie slept IN the unquiet
breast of traitors until 1860 when i. began to
show signs of life and in 1861 it awoke from
its siumber and spit forth its powers thou
sand times more venomous and destructive
than when il first showed its hldeous proper
tons
II was then this people proved to the world
that the father of our country and the heroic
deeds of our fathers were not forgotten, and
that we, American citizens, by birth or
adoption, no matter phich, went forth to the
tented field to battle for the right against the
actuated our fathers of the revolution when
they were battling for the privileges we now
enjoy.
Who then does not rejoice that he is an
American citizen to-day, notwithstanding all
the petty differences of opinion, in our social.
local and political views, when III point OF
facts we are a unit on all matters Of national
importance. The good of the whole people
seems to be the pass word of all true men
and women, and even our children are being
inspired by daily evidences of reform cropping
out OF the body polite. Corruption is being
purged out and more perfect state of things
is seemingly being enthroned, and it is the
high and holy duey OF US all TO perpetuate
peace, harmony and good will among the pec-
pie.
Our fathers were practical men, not fanat-
les; they promulgated immortal principles,and
endeayored to carry them out as far as II was
possible; they denounced and detested slavery,
and proclaimed doctrines whose tendency
was to sweep it from our land.
NV friends, the day we celebrate is fraught
with proud membranes, the recollection OF
which should produce emotions OF the most
profound gratitude TO the great author OF the
happiness of individuals and OF states.
We have been taught by past experience,
that in the evil hour of the Inauguration OF an
organized ueteI mlndtiOH, III lHe HiduuCss VI
political excitement and ectional strife, that
it is extremely dangerous to step upon the
holy ground covered with principles, sancti-
fed by the blood of our fathers, and made
dear to the memory of every man, woman
and child in all the land. But some men
have been misled by vain ambition, and been
sorely chastised for their FOLLY.
We can to-day, however, renew the assur-
ances of our heartfelt thanks that many of the
differences that have threatened our national
existence have passed away, and that the
theory of the great Washington, Jefferson,
Adams and Pinckney, IS the rock on which
we stand to-day. And, we think, We can
with safety say that the rushing tide of eternal
ages will never move the base of cur fabric,
or the foundation of our faith in Republican
form of government, properly administered.
We can to-day rejoice over the privilege of
enjoying the hospitality of the Giver of all
good when we look at this beautiful grove,
covering as with its rich foliage, and We can
in our Imagination strain our visionary organs
until they pierce and pass through this grove