Arizona citizen., 1878-07-05
The Fourth in Florence.

 Icreditable to ihe new town of Florence MT. Thomas Mcclellan was most uu tiring in his efforts to raise sufficient funds 10 defray necessary expenses and to his efforts more than any other one man the success of the celebration is due.
 The procession formed at the Court house at 8 a. m., and was led by the
 Marshals of the day, Messrs. Chas Palmer and Thomas Mcclellan, mount ed on elegantly cOmparisoned nurses, followed by the Florence string band seated in large wagon neatly trim med with evergreens, and drawn by four handsome horses. Next came the triumphal chariot containing the young ladies representing the G"ddess Oi Liberty and the various States and Territories. The car of state was handsomely decorated with flags, branches, &c. The young ladies were very beautifully atlired, and the God. dess of Liberty was aorthily person. flied by the beautiful Miss Maiilde Douglass who occupied the central seat in the chariot with queenly dig. nity. The car was drawn by SIX elegantly decorated horses, which were manipulated by our skilled reins- man Mir. Wm. Sutherland. A large Cavalcade of horsemen followed the chariot and large number of promi- nent citizens followed on foot. The rear character Of the procession repre- sentei the United States Army astride of burrn, which was ludicr0us in the extreme, but perhaps not literally true character.
 The march was from the Court house up Main street, down Second and through Market to Bllicke's Pavil- ion. where the literary exercises took place. Judge II. B. Summers had been chosen President of the day, bul was too unwell to attend, Judge J. D. Walker was introduced and read the Declaration Of Independence in clear and pleasing manner. John P. Cum. the orator of The day, followed Judge Walker with brief, but appropriate speech occupying less than fifteen minutes time. The orator after few preliminary remarks and congratulai- ing the people of Florence upon their first celebration spoke as follows:
 Another year has rolled away into the deep bosom of the past. Win it have been swept into eternity some of the most brilliant characters of our age. The whitening hand of death has fallen alike upon the small and great Tue poet and the historian, the sage and the warrior who a year ago re- jOiced, as we now rejoice, are today numbered with those who are mar shaled in the silent halls of death. We have enjoyed another year of peace and prosperity, while in other lands the dIn of battle and the clash of re sounding arms have been the terrible opponents of strife and discord, and the thousand nameless graves and pil!aged, broken homes bear witness of wars sad ruin and hapless dessOla tion. Waffle we today with pomp and -plendor, and hearty acclamalions cele- brate inc 102d birthday of American liberty, lhe nations of Europe are de batting the mighty question of war or peace. America is al peace with all the world, and why should we not rejoice when around Us cluster ihe ripening fruits of that freedom which was de. clared for Us more than a century ago
 As individual members of a mighty nation, as community forming part of the great whole, we have abundant cause to celebrate, for in the distribu. ton nf national blessings Arizona has not been sighted. The rioier in the east, the communist in the west, and the Indian in the north, have each wrought serious internal evils. The souih is rife with party turmoil, New Mexico has her county wars and Texa, has her border troubles. out Arizona IS to-day free from the fearful evils of bloody sectional strife and party con- tlicl. The prominence which the won derful mineral resources of Arizona have assumed before the mining world during the last year has exceeded the hopes of her most en. thusiasuc friends. We are constantly 1 hearing of new mines and mills, the | iron horse has crossed our borders and | progress and prosperity beems bright [ on every hand. These are some of the blessings which are secured directly | to Us oy the Declaration of Indepen- ! dence, and it is with pride and pleas ure that we commemorate this day aS it returns with each revolving year It engenders spirit of patriotism in the breasts of our youth and renews Ihe fire of love for our country that burns within our own hearts"
 The speaker then addressed a few to the children explanatory of " why we celebrate" He next paid a tribute to the American flag and portrayed it's various emblems in beautiful style. His speech concluded with the following sentences: "I I,et ms