Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-07-12

tIls very nemOfaDIe uay sluce Vnat
great and firm body of IS men sign
ed that Declaration Of independence
from the yoke Of that British mon
arch, George the Ill, and his tyranni-
cal agents in the American colonies,
and mutually pledged to each other
their lives, their fortune, and their
sacred honor, that they would up
hold the same and their declaration
became triumphant, as we are here as
witnesses this day, thanks be to Di-
vine Providence. And we, the Amer
lean people, have progressed from
that day to this; and to-day the Amer
leans have no superior in the adj
vancelnent OF civilization on the
whole globe. Our arts and sciences,
learning and the grade of scholarship
Old World, higher than it is attained
ical skill to save labor, have learned
that we lead them and they are fol-
lowing our example every day.
What these national exhibitions are
is to compare the arts and sciences,
mechanical skill and agricultural de-
velopements. We may be proud of
that flag that represents free and
Independent people, although II has
been scoffed at and nearly been
thrown and trampled under foot by
its enemies at home as well as from
across the Atlantic, but it stood in
defiance on the defensive to protect
these precious articles that were
signed at Carpenters Hall in Phila-
delphia one hundred years ago to-
day. The spirit of Thomas Jefferson
am d Patrick Henry had not left the
American people when the days of
danger came on, and by their valor
and true courage the liberty and
pursuit of happiness Of the American
people were protected, and the last
charge was made on the old flag, she
came out triumphant and brighter
than before, spotless from old errors
of past ages, and to-day she expands
her folds over forty millions of peo-
pie without regard to race or color,
and to-day we can demand respect to
our persons and property on the high
seas and in foreign countries. Our
strength and ability can be equal in
twelve months to contest with the
the strongest power ON the globe and
meet half way if that were necessary
to preserve our country. our liberty,
and our institutions; but thanks be
to the Ruler of the Universe that we
are at peace and good understanding
with all nations but a few of these
unruly children of the forest, that
are on our northwestern border, they
are holding good portion of our ar
my to-day ;there are ten thousands Of
them contesting for the land and the
costume of their fathers, but necessity
demands that they should come and
leave an uncivilized life.
Fellow citizens, as this is our year
to choose our Chief Magistrate, it is
the most noted year we have had,
comparatively speaking, since l776,
and there is nearly as much weight
connected with it as there was then.
! You all know we have two parties in
the country and there is wide diff
ference in their policies in relation to
some points and great weight attach
es to both Of them concerning the in
terest and welfare and prosperity of
/ the people. l am not up to discuss
the interest or merits of either one of
these parties to-day, as this is day
to renew the old spirit of '76. Woe
to the tyrant and liberty for the pur-
suit of happiness to all mankind this
is a day to renew the old spirit of our
Fathers that founded our beginning
as nation. So friends and fellow
citizens we can not hold up too high,
or embrace too dearly that old flag
that represents the institutions of the
American people. We have no die
tator but ourselves. Our press is
not limited or governed by one fami-
| ly, and our Institutions of learn
| ing are not sectarian but. are gen.
eral, open to all classes and all creeds
that will accept of their precious
treasures. 1t does not require to be
of a certain family or blood, as in for
eign countries, to govern and to see
TO our general welfare. Capacity is
what we want to fill our high and re-
sponsible places, without regard to
race or color. But mind you, capacity
means or includes sundry articles of
important characters. Honesty is one
of the leading ones. Our governors
and administrators, if they are mi
nus of this great requisite that the
Republican government relies on, all
the balance is of no avail and has no
hearing. So be cautious when you
cast your votes that you are rightly
informed towards this coming cleo
ton and at all times to come. o, what
a great necessity there is to educate
the young American, that he may be-
come as leader Of the truth, and not
to be led by unprincipled vagabonds
of the day that you see flying through
the press and standing in our public
places TO delude the honest and limo.
cent working men of America for
their own private end and benefit
without regard to their country and
: its people But thank God we have
some good and reliable men at
the helm of our government this day
but we want them all that way il
possible, and it is possible with the
American people if they will wake
up from their slumber. The great
evil that besets some of our repre-.
sentatives is, that love of money is 81
strong that its inducements leaC
them out of the path of duty to worl
e in the interest of some individual
+ parties, and thus disregard the inter
: ests- of the country and the people
who elect them. How long is thi
state OF things going to last asl
every loyal American. 1t will exis
: as long as you are Indifferent. TO
: whom you cast your votes. Ever.
0 teacher of public school should teacl
each boy and girl to nourish ant
cherish the grand institutions of tn
4 Republic, and thoroughly instruc
them in the requisites Of being goot
and useful citizens.