The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-07-29
ANNUAL ADDRESS
DELIvEREN nv JUDGE JOMN nIRNEt1.
OF CORVALLIS. At TUE STATS FAIR
Al sALRsl, ON TUESDAY,. 81.
~ srM. 1854.

A =
~ srM. 1854. s
lHr. President and Ladies and Gen
hep,eu i: Having been invited by the
worthy President of our State Agrieul.
tural Society to deliver the aanual ad-
dress upon the present occasion, aP-
pear before you TO perform that pleas,
duty. The subject Of agriculture has
been SO fully discussed aad explored in
all Of It's different plans and bearings
in the addresses that have been deliver
ed on each annual meeting of the so
ciety, 10y the very ablo and distinguish
cd gentlemen who have proceeded nae,
that II would Is presumption in me 70
expect to say anything new or Of inter
est upon that subject; but l will make
few suggestions upon general topics,
that may be of some interest.
La the frst place, then, allow me TO
congratulate upon the fact that our lot
has been cast in this land OF peace and
plenty, whore we can build up our
homes in security and surround our.
selves with the comforts and conven-
fences Of life, and are placed in situa.
tion to enjoy all of life that there is
worth living for and the men and wo-
men and children that gather in each
year from all portions of our state at
our annual fairs for the purpose Of so
cial intercourse and interohage Of ideas,
aud to witness the exhibitions Of fine
stock, TO view the products of the farm,
orchard aud garden, as we'll an the
handiwork of the manufacturer, in all
the varied branches Of that industry,
dem onstrates the fact that we are rear
ing up race of men and women in
this Gland of tho setting sun" that
will vie with the world in point Of
physical development aud intellect
ual power.
The gH.nd aud beautiful scenery al
our state, that meets the eye on every
hand, is enough to stir the emotions OF
the human mind to their utmost dsptbs
and will, in the course of time, pro
duse in our midst poets and orators
unsurpassed in the world. "a thing
Of teanty il a' JOY forever" and as |
gaze upon the grand and lofty mount
aims that encompass our homes, with
ilood and Jefferson covered with etei-
al SHOWS, and standing like ssntinels
ON the rock liLbed mountains that di-
vide ouT State, looking down upon this
beautiful valley, my soul rises ia uh-
speak able rapture 10 the great Rnler of
tho Universe. Fog the possession Of this
| magnificent domain we owe a lasting
debt Of gratitude TO our pioneers who
bore The privations and hardships, and
| incurred the dangers incident 10 their
emigration. that they might spy out
this goodly land for us and for our
shildren for an inheritance forever
Like the Pilgrim fathers they were
animated by thatspirit OF bravery, truth
and Justice that ally men ts God, aud
though not driven from their native
land by the hand Of persecution, yet wo
find ia tho circumstances attending
their coming, aud in their traits Of
character many things that are similar.
Their suherings, their labors, their vir-
tues, their attachment 20 those princi.
PIES Of civil and religious !ibsity Of
which they lail the foundations deep
asd strong after encountering the dan.
gers of the ocean, the storms Of heaven,
the violence Of savages, disease and
famine, are as familiar To us as house
hold words, and have engraven their
names upon memory's scroll, with "Iet-
ters Of gold in pictures Of silver"
That band of brave men aAd women
are fast passing away--every year their
ranks are becoming thinned by the hand
OF death, and soon the last one will
have paid the penalty Of existence and
passed to their final rest. Let ua cher
isir them as our best friends, aud show
TO the world that we are not unworthy
of the great inheritance they have Civ
en- us; and though no sculptured mar
ble or engraven brass may proclaim
their worth, yet the humblest sod of
their adopted state bedecked by the
treasures Of nature and beautified by
the dews of heaven is prouder monu
ment than the mightiest monarch of
earth can boast.
Being blessed with one of the finest
countries that has ever been the. sub
ject of Gods alimony to man, we are
equally blessed with one of the best
Governments on the habitable globe.
Its foundations are laid deep and
strong on natural Justice and equal
rights by a written constitution which
has excited the wonder and admiration
of the whole world, aud is to-day a
beacon-light to struggling humanity, in
every place where the iron heel of
tyranny and wealth is pressing the
neck of the poor and down trodden.
Never can we sufficiently admire
those great men, healed by Washing
ton himself, who, by their ability,
patriotism and love of the human acre,
gave to US our glorious constitution
and thereby secured to us and our
children's children and their posterity
forever, if we are but true to ourselves,
the blessings of free Government !
Our constitution ought to be read and
studied more than it is.
It is probably less read and less un-
derstood than any other book except
the Bible.
1t ought to be made text book in
the schools our children ought to be
taught to read it and understand it as
they grow mp, and in view of the fact
that woman suffrage is fast becoming
factor in political science, the ladies,
no donbt, will take more interest in a
a..l ;aaL ...L.oh La. hnratcforn haon an,a