Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-07-17
The Fourth at DrOxvnsil a 10.


BRowNsDALE, MIMI, July 5th, 1870.
EDITOR TRANSCRIPT: Our 4th of July
celebration has passed of so pleasantly,
and some Of the factors in making up its
excellence have acquitted themselves so
crcdi1ably that feel like asking q por-
lion Of your space to give some account
OF the same, knowing that your regular
correol,...a~.-., VIM, ~ inc minds OF many,
made the best Grafton ever yet listened to
at celebration in this village, would be
deferred by native modesty from making
anything but a passing alluslon to his
own perfo, m ,nce.
Despite ANXIOUS forebodings to the con-
trary, faircr skies ncyer-that is hardly
ever-smiled. Nature held up on the
soft water business and did her part
certainly a most essential one-in render
ing 1.-THE day we celebrate" success for
1879 The brass cannon at 3 A. NJ. added
its heavy bass to the tenor of the fire.
cracker and patriots rubbed their eyes
and tried to sleep again, but the lncessant
booming rendered this impossible. Early
IN the day, contrary to usual custom,
the X. X. X. made their appear
ancc--a very considerable one by the
way-but let that pass. The band also
deserve special mention, but let them
pass too. The big choir, aud the little
choir, with Mrs. Ella G. Thatcher as
organist, did exccllcntly we'll. But the
browning exce!lcncy Of the occasion, the
agreeable disappointment to those who
thought The DAY would be failure be-
cause no speaker from foreign parts had
been, secured, was reached when home
talent spread itself on the stage. G. j.
Short was the first speaker and l regret
that the length of his remarks is too great
for your columns. In his address he
mentioned three uses Of birth days: for
youth to rejoice in its increasing knowl-
edge, strength, and cxuberaace of life !;
for manhood to detect and reform its cr-
rors; and for old age to tenderly recall
the scenes of youth and virtues of the dear
departed. He combined the three as
suitable in the celebration of the nations
birth day. And accordingly gave con-
siderable spread eagle on our National
expansion, strength and prosperity; and
suitably described the suflerings and vir-
tues, the patriotism and valor, Of the
fathers. Among the evils they endured
were those flowing from the use Of fat
money Two hundred million dollars
were issued, and the States by law made
1t legal tender for all private and public
dues. When they had paid it out, fol
military service, food. clothing, and mu.
nitions of war, sl,oy novor contracted il
| any. except what was received for taxes
but kept over 100000 of it afloat t.
| "stimulate the industries of the country
till its depreciation gave rise to the ex
preston, mot worth continental. lie
described, as seen in his youth, the pile
Of soft earnings of his grand sire's early
years. This fiat money did not ever
serve the purpose of carrying us through
the war. To the hard money raised by
Robert Morris, and in the Dutch loans
belonged that honor. The nation recciv.
ed far less in services and material, fo
its two hundred millions of Continental
currency, than it would have received
for the same amount Of cash; and, il
arrangement of enterprises, destruction
of industries, prostration Of credit, ant
decentralization of the people, paid ia
much more for it, than it would, had i
been raised by the severcst taxation, O
borrowed at the highest rate Of intcres
for many years. The speaker ironicall,
SAID, ,"citizens let us hasten to repeat tn
folly!" He pointed out the improbable
ity of republican institutions surviving
a repetition Of the deep distress and dir
poverty following in the wake Of Cont
mental currency. In such seasons, thcr
were passionate moments in a nation
life, that proved birth points of its history
We had no such faith in men as on
fathers had in Washington, that enabled
him TO guide into right channels. From
our subsequent history. Congress denie'
the nations right to supervise its owl
elections, and claimed that the parts wer
greater than the whole, but there was n
longer danger in this direction.
| Capt. Hunt next addressed the crowd
giving interesting extracts from tho his
tory of the shines that tried mems souls,
He was followed by Rev. Mr.. Rounc<
who forsook the method Of his predt
cessors and spoke from stand point hal
American half English. Roars of laugh
ter followed his we'll appointed, witt
words and the assembly dispersed fo
dinner, most feeling that it was good
have been there, and delighted beyon
measure that the talent need not
searched for outside the limits of OF
own village to do abundant honor to IL
}, observance of our national birthday.
). BLAoK silk lace yelling, at +. King