Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-05

the scenes of natures gr1ecest achievements, they
laid firm and deep the foundation stones CT liberty
tempe. With an energy, @ courage, and u sell
denial born OF the occasion, they subdued the
savage wilderness bv which they surrounded,
snd made it TO blossom with the choicest flowers OF
intelligent labor They gained q still greater VIC
tory over theic own setishness, love Of esse aud
comfort cUpdity and seVtionalism, and thereby
made possible the united struggle and heroic sacri-
fees which eventuated in their Independence. IN
l576 the thirteen colonies, believing that all at
fempts to make this the real home of freedom
under British rue would prove frutless, having
faith in their destiny, trusting to the righteous
ness Of their snd the justice of Cod threw to
the breeze the banner of rebellion. and dared to
hope TO pray, aye to fight for the liberties OF the
masses How long, how yaliantly, they fought, 1t
boots not now to tell. lis useless too, for every
schoolhoy knows the story well. They CID
not fight for the liberties OF single
colony or single section. Those men OF 20 came
from Massachusetts, and from Georgia, from the
green mountains OF Vermont and the piny oarrens
OF the CaroInss. They came from hamlet and vii
lare from farm house and Workshop in each and
every one OF the original colonies. They met to-
gether on common ground, band of brothers
united in common cause pledgng their lives, their
fortunes and their sacred honor in support of their
immortal declaration of freedom No spirit o.
envy or jealousy found lodgme the breasts OF
those men Of '76. No claimed any superiority
or PRECEDENCE over his neighbor, but each Wed
with the other as to who should make the greatest
effort for the common good. Strot g men and falr
women to the front to battle for an idea, ana
that idea was that man collectively as well rs IN
dividually WIS capable OF self government. Let US
for a moment take glance at the situation in &c
and we can then appreciate the true measure Of the
heroism which actuated the Colunists. In number
but q handful as compared with the power they
were about to defy, inhabiting vast but sparseiy
settled country with but seanty means OF intercom.
municatiou with no common treasury TO draw
from, but poorly armed and having on their
frontiers hordes of the most warlike and relentless
sayages that ever barred the march OF CIVILIZATION
the Coonists thus environed threw down the gage
OF battle defied the most powerful nation then
upon the face of the globe and placed themselves IN
the position OF traitors to their lawful sovereign.
They went not forth ID battle rs they go VINO are
fighting under a recognized banner, but as rebe
warning against constituted authority. They rlsked
all, egen life itself, upon the hazard OF the ne
The d0ating husband aud father snatched last
parting embrace from wife and little ones at home,
and with musket upon his shoulder started Tor the
field OF strife, and long and mournful was the watch
of the inmates OF that des0ate home for the return
of the manly form which was never again to
gladden. their vision.
The happy bridegroom Just tasting the first fruits
of welded bliss was summoned from the side OF his
blushng bride, and the blossoms that decked
her fair brow had dropped upon Their stem, found
himself amid the clash of arms and the shock OF
battle; and spring faded into summer, and sum
mer ripened into autumn, and autumn took
on the hoary garb OF winter, and
ers lent their fragrance to the gale, but
to waiting beauty there returned no lover, for Tar
from home ana bonny bride lhe soldier husband
had yielded his life sacrifice 10 the cause cele
brate, and the wind signing through the rank grass
over nameess grave was our soldiers only re-
quinn. Thousands upon thousands of the bravest
men and kindest hearts that ever lent grace to
poor humanity left friends and fireside, and
comfort, home and loved ones to make good the
Declare Ior OF Independence. They toiled on the
weary march they suffered every priyati0n known
to halffed halfciothed soldiery they endured all
the nameless horrors of the camp aud hospital they
faced the terrors Of the battlefield and side by side
these heroes OF the North and South rushed upon
the common foe and side by side in indistinguished
heaps they fell sacrifice to the cause of freedom.
Their yalor their proves, their devotion to liberty
has made forever memorable in their countrl's
history the fields OF Lexington and Bunker Hill.
of Bennington and Brandywine, Monmouth Sara
toga End Concord, Camden, Moultrie and the Cow.
pens, Eutaw, Savannah and Yorktown, and every
other spot whereon they fought or fell. And more
they did, my fellowcitizens they made il possible
for You and me, and wives and little ones to sit
beneath our own vines and fig trees, in our own
happy homes beyond the power OF kings or despots,
away from wars alarms and horrors, with none to
make us afraid and in peace and prosperity enjoy
the fulness of the liberty they so dearly purchased
Those men of might have passed away; their bones
have long since cfumbled into dust, and their
mortal parts have mingled with the clods OF the
valley; their spirits have assembled to the bosom Of
their God. Their graves are consecrated ground.
The mcmory OF their virtues, their valor aud their
patriotism shall live in The hearts of Aneri-
can freemen as long as humanity pays Tribute
to generous sentiment But some Of
my fair hearers may interpose the objection
that give all the credit TO the men OF 20 not 50,
fair DANES In al ages OF the world woman has
proved herself hep-neet for man, in every sense
Of the word, and in no time in the worlds history
did she stand forth so e5nspicueusly mans aid,
counsel and comforter as in those days that tried
mems souls hundred years ago. Think not that
she sslfsily sought 20 retain IN glorious at
home the husband the lover and the son. when
freedoms buie sounded the call TO arms, her busy
hand equipped the new-made soldier FOR the march
her sweet persuasive tones babe him 20 forth III
answer to his country call, although her heart was
breaking at the sacrifice
No one who has known a mothers holy care,
sweethearts ardent love, or the deep devotion OF
wife can fail 70 realize how much was suffered, hOw
much was sacrificed when the maids aud
matrons Of the revolution ssne their loved
ones forth 10 battle for the right There
ware brave women, too, in these days.
who upon the dread field OF carnage supplied the
place Of fallen husband, son and lover, and With
their own fair hands hurled destruction ca the foe.
Others filled up the weary hours of waiting in ihar
Impoverished homes in toll Tor the absent solder.
and others-ministering angels thai they left
home its comforts and its joys, TO nurse the sick,
minister to the wounded and soOthe the diving, in
hospital in camp and field, and through their kind
mnistratious many noble form was rescued from
the grave, and returned again To the ranks of the
patriot army, to survive the vicssitudes of the
and live out good old age-the central figure in q
happy home. And many dream OF nome and
heaven has flashed atiwart the dying soldiers brain,
as IN the hospital upon the battlefield, bis eye
rested for . moment upon his heayeu-sent nurse,
and many an eye already glazing in dissolution has
Frightened at her approach, aud many a lip in the
icy chill OF death has miIrnered thanks to heavenfor
womas holy presence there All classes, all sexes,
all conditions were drawn upon, and all contributed
their quota to freedoms acquisitions. Need re-
mind American citizens who have plucked the
flower freedom ard tasted the sweet fru Is of
liberty, how much was secured to us when the Dec
lsration OF Independence made living reality,
when it was in truth established; that there in
these States divine right to precedence, but that
all men were created free and equal that their
right was unquestioned to lie, liberty and the pur
suit Of happi ess that there should be no taxa
ton without representation that all Governments
derive their just powers from the consent of the
governed 1t may be that there are native-born
americans who fail 10 appreciate the political bless
ings they enjoy; but there are men and women
thin this very house who have elt the heavy hand
of Government they had no voice in creating have
felt upon their necs the iron heel other titled fellow
worms. These people know what it is to walk Gods
green earth free and unfettered, owing no allegiance
to hereditary monarch or born aristoerat.
This indeed favored land, ia extent stretching
from to ocean, and from the great lakes OF the
north to the tropic on the south. embracing
territory, the marvellous ie lily Of which is but
family appreciated at present; land, which Is now
and will be for ages the srluary OF the world, and
the great stoTehouse from which less favored peo-
pies shall draw their supplies a country Astounding
in all the products pertaining u temperate and
tropc cimes.
Here millions upon millions Of acre; Of golden
grain to gladden. the heart OF the husbandnan.
There, bursting to the sight, the snowy world Of
cotton to enrich sud clptle the millions of our own
and other lands. Here IN rich profusion
the apple, peach and pear, and all the
other luscious fruits and berries that in
the temperate zone can tempt mans appetite,
and there the g, the orange. the banan, the lemon
aud the lim aud all the rich fruit offerings which
the tropics pour into the lap of civilization and
commerce TIE Innate OF these States, collectively.
is not eXceled by any Other section of the habtabe
globe Here in California we can boast brighter
sky a miIder cline, than Italy may claim; the air
that comes 10 Us from old ocean Is more bamy than
the breeze that bore aloit the banner of the Caesars
and though the attitude OF cur surrounding mount.
aims gives TO our gize eternal snow yet our valleys
bloom with h1nt rs perennial. North America IS pc
cIliarly aJap ed to the very best types of manhood
indeed, dame Nature has scattered her fayors With
a most lavish baud and fashioned here very para
disc Tor humanity. Shall we not strive TO make our
Government to correspond with great
NAV be found the realization OF the
stai6smai's hops, the fruition Of the patriots
dream Ny friends, we have obligations resting
upon us and duties political To perform. 1t has
been said tat Eternal vigilance is the price Of
liberty" Dangers TO our institutions Turk in our
path continually: already has this devoted land
passed through the terrible ordeal OF civil war:
contest WI ch shook the fabric of government
TO its very center; struggle in which father
yarred against son and brother against brother,
and for u time the descendants OF revolutionary
Sizes seemed to forget the bond Of union which
their fathers signed in blood more than a hundred
wears a o. IL is worse than useless to indulge
In criminal on and recr.ininaii n to that unfor
tunate page our countrys history. Suffice II to
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