Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-07-08

CELEBRATION Of the FOURTH
AT AUSTIN.
4 Coed Tine and Crowds Of People.
Saturday, the third Of July, the inhabi-
tants of Austin were reused from their
slumbers, in the gray Of the morning, BY
the ringing of bells, the firing of ma
tional salute, and the sound OF fife and
drums from a parading party, not to
speak of the noise from shrleking whis
ties at the depot. The threatening clouds
were soon dispelled by the cheering sun,
and a beautiful day followed. Many
people thronxed the streets early in the
morning aud the crowd was heavy
throughout the day. AT ten O'Clock a
grand procession was formed under di.
rection of Marshal w. W. Eugle and aids
and marched through the principal streets.
1t was very pretty sight indeed-re-
fecting credit on all connected with 1t.
The order of march was as follows:
Squad Of police, Austin cornet band,
president of the day, orator and reader Of
declaration, mounted aids, goddess of lib
erty, Miss Bertha DunklemaDn), repre-
sentatives of states, representatives OF
acknowledgements, Miss Alma Morrl-
SOD, Hibernia, Miss Frances Smith, Ger
mama, Fanny Kothe, Scandinavia, Miss
Oleson, Austin hook and ladder compa.
ny, Dexter cornet band, aud citizens in
carriages. Altogether the procession
was very long one-and SO much pains
having been taken to make it an impos.
ing one-the result was very gratifying.
The procession swinging round the pub
lie square, came TO halt, and the presi-
dent and orator Of the day, the reader of
the declaration, together with many Ia
dies and gentlemen, the representatives of
states and nationalities. the goddess of
liberty" and the Austin cornet band, took
seats on the grand stand.
The seats before the stand were nicely
arranged, and crowds of people filled
them, while many were compelled to
linger upon their feet.
After stirring music, Rev. Mr.. Morse
was called upon by president F. A.
Richardson, and offered an appropriate
prayer.
Mr.. Richardson, with a word as to the
occasion and the fitness Of things, which
required reading of the declaration of
independence, introduced Mr.. William j.
Fish 10 perform that Office.
After humorous allusion to himself
as coming before the orator of the day,
Mr.. F ish SAID, among other things, that
it would be an error to suppose that the
immortal paper which re was about to
read. was the only or first declaration of
American freedom. More than thirteen
months before, Thomas Jeferson's stately
periods were promulgated, the delegates
from Mecklenburg county, North Carroll.
ma, in convention assembled, resolved
"that these united colonies were and Of
right ought to be free and independent
states" They asserted also the certain
and "inalicnable rights of man." they
pledged their olives and fortunes aud
sacred honor" in defense of them, and
with the plain old fashioned directness of
our ancestors, voted supplies Of 600 lbs.
of powder, 800 lbs. of shot, and so flints,
for the use of the melit,a OF the country,
in maintenance to the death Of the rights
they claimed. Continuing Mr.. Fish said
that it was worthy Of note that the declar-
alton Of July 18th, 1776, was no "hot. hasty,
angry document" aud that the hands of
its immortal slgners trembled not with
rage, as we'll as not with fear, when they
traced their names Of sacred memory, at
its foot. That declaration, as lesson OF
GOODNESS under supreme provocation and
of common sense IN the midst OF su.
rreme difficulty, was legacy TO the
American people for ever more. Our
fathers waited TO throw eff the allegiance
of Britain until Warren's blood had
crlmsoned and consecrated the green sod
of Bunker's Hill, and until, at Concord
"by the wide bridge that arched the flood
their flag to April's breeze unturled-
there had the embatled farmers stood and
fired the shot heard round the world
He concluded with reference to memors
ble reading of the declaration Of indie
pendence 104 years before our Austin
celebration, when it was read at the head
Of each brigade of the Continental army
stationed at New York, and ct which
time, in the evening, the leaden statue Of
George the " was torn down and after
words run into bullets. After wa itini
for the subsistence of the applause which
greeted this short and eloquent address
the reading Of the ever memorable
document followed and Mr.. VIM. FISH
proved conclusively that he was master Of
the occasion. reading the declaration Of
independence in manner SO acceptable