Arizona citizen., 1879-09-19
WYE "A REPUBLIC!
Observance of the Sixteenth
 September in Tucson.
An Enthusiastic Celebration of
 Hidalgo's Legacy.
Eloquent Addresses by Sres.
 Velasco and Corella.

NA~O NSiCpldliOh was renewed yeSter-
 day at nighttall. Very early in the
 evening people began to move toward
 Levin's Garden, and by T 80 the Hall
 and the open space about were both
 hlled with crowds. At the hour Of commencing the exercises there was not even standing room in inc Hall.
 and many, both ladies and gentlemen.
 were turned away. The published programme was carried out to the let.
 ter. Srita. Maria Santa Cruz, very
 interesting young lady from Ures, was assigned the post of honor at the open
 Ing, and acquitted herself greatly to
 the satisfaction of her friends in a
 cavatina from Lucia. MT. Carlos Vel
 asco, of the Fronterizo, followed with
 short address in Spanish, and gave
 way to Srita. Jesus Carrillo, who, with
 her usual excellence, sang Non e
 Yer"
 Manuel NJ. Corella, Esq, then ad-
 dressed the audience in English, and this address was so well presented and contained such apt reference to so many matters of lively interest to this country that we publish it in full. Mir. Corella said:
 To-day is MeXico'S Fourth of July. You, our American friends, as lovers of your day of independence, will know how to appreciate the pleasure we take in this commemoration. The Fourth of July should not, perhaps, be called yours, for it belongs to the whole American continent On that day liberty was born on the Western Hemisphere. Not only is it the day that brought into existence all the happiness, grandeur and prosperity enjoyed throughout this mighty na ton, but it is also the greatest in the political world. Can the noble work accomplished by that cluster of brave men who gave the cry of liberty ever be forgotten? Will Americans ever cease to cherish the memory of the center figure of that cluster, of him who made the highest use of God given pOwcrs-the great Washington l? Those patricians knew, indeed, that the victory did not belong to the strong alone, but to the patriot, to the brave and to the just.
 We also had our cluster of brave men surrounding a venerable center figure, Hidalgo, who fell an untimely victim to the blows of an unmerciful enemy. Though cut off from the ranks of the deliverers of our country at time when most needed by the people he was striving to liberate, he left behind him the imperishable fire, of patriotism. He gave us the day which we now meet together to cele- brate, the day on which liberty sprang' to life in Mexico. Our struggle for freedom was likewIse prompted by noble aspirations, and the names of. the heroes who bought it at the ex- pense of their lives will live forever in the heart of every Mexican.
 The two days-the Fourth of July and the Sixteenth of September-had a common aim liberty; yet they diff fered greatly. Our Republic drew its first breath under adverse circum stances, circumstances arising from our previous social and political con- ditions. Americans were versed in political lore and understood the rights due them from the mother country. In Mexico ignorance of civil rights, as well as of everything else, prevailed. The United Colonies had Representa- lives who, in the calmness of deliber ation, chose the only honorable alter native left them. In Mexico the action taken was not the result Of the consideration of the peO- ple as a body, but of the few. In theI colonies the idea of independence was ripened by general conviction-in| Nayico bv blind patriotism.
 Our great mistake, then, and theI cause of our subsequent contests was the attempt to build a republic on so. weak q basis. The people had had noI civil instruction whatever previous toI the shaking of of the Spanish yoke. They were habituated to implicit obedience to both King and Church, and they were not prepared for the system of government thrust upon them. In their endeavors to adjust themselves to the new conditions a struggle for political reformation en- ,ued, which ultimately resulted in the of a school of revolu- lions. as it were, school that has been fatal to our national progress and pros perity.
 Tn spite of our overcoming inter nal convulsions. however, there has heen nolitical advancement. Through -be indefatigable efforts of what is