The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-07-08

dren in no small degree. Enthusiasm
is good but it alone is not sufficient.
Worst of all, the enthusiasm of the
American people, which they seem to
have come by honestly, has grown to
be Of fearuly selfish kind. In this
free country, where all the avenues of
trade and business and profit are open
to every citizen, the people have &C.
qnired such enthusiasm in the Business
of money making that they rush pell
NELL into struggle which has grown
to be one of the most serious and alarm
ing evils of the land. This mania for
money making, like that other mania
for fame and power, is one of the natu-
raj outgrowths Of a republican govern
ment. From such source comes that
luxury and effeminacy which democrat
ize society and at last produce that an
archy which overturns thrones, splts
upon constitutions, and takes away the
liberties of the people. The great de-
sire to get money and power are SO
strongly impressed upon our children
by our own teachings and examples,
that they are in danger Of acquiring
them by whatsoever means--honest
or dishonest. In order that our sons
may be professional men, we encourage
them in Incidence and raise them to
manhood without learning them tie
important truth that it is ordained that
man should earn his bread by the sweat
of his brow. In order that our daugh-
tiers may shine in the glare and tinsel of
fashionable society, their dainty hands
are strangers to the toll of the contented
housewife, and they 60 at last to the
capital of the nation to lobby through
schemes of peculation or deal in post
traderships; while their brothers, raised
without work, must continue to make
all their raises in the same manner for
the remainder of their days. From
this large class of indolent men and
women come our Tweeds and Belknaps,
our Jim Fisks and Josie Mans6elds.
To any and every intelligent American
citizen the danger of our Incidence and
extravaganza are apparent; and | feel
that would be false to you, false to
my county, and false to my own con-
victions did I neglect, fellow citizens,
ladies and gentlemen, to warn You OF
the great danger which besets our Re-
public. With nations, as with individ-
uals, idlencss is the road to ruin. Vixen
the sun Of American liberty goes down,
it will set in the decentralization Of the
people. When they have lost their i'll
dustry, they lose their honesty, and
then the loss of liberty soon follows.
Learn your sons and daughters to work
and be honest, and the coumtryt Is s"Je.
Among the Arabs it was deemed a
shame for any young man to grow up
without trade. A similar public SEN
timcnt would be the grandest blessing
we could covet. That nation aud that
people are to be pitied indeed, who
learn to despise honest labor, aud to
regard the working man and woman as
drudge. Such sentiment is born of
shoddy arstocracy, and is dangerous to
the perpetuity Of free government.
Let us hope that the intelligence Of the
American people will enable them to
comprehend the danger which threatent
them, and turn back before it is too late.
IT so, we may feel that liberty is indeed
heaven ordained in its birth, and that
in our nation it will be heaven protected
in its growth and development, and
heaven assisted in its spread and pro-
mitigation to the remotest quarters OF
the earth. If so, we may hope that
G. entennial after Centennial will come
and go while our children's children for
generations to come shall assemble to
rejoice in this day, the day which gave
people liberty and nation birth.
Hon. J. NJ. Fletcher then followed
in few happy remarks, at the con-
clusion of which three hearty cheers
were given for the Centennial 4th of
July, the orators, reader, singers, etc.
A magnificent display of fireworks
was had in the evening.
The Centennial ut Portland.