The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-03
Col. And rews' Address.

whose elOQuenCe blossoms ike WeH-kept
lower garden, whenever it is called into re-
QUESTION, was the American orator at the
Volksfest yesterday, and acquitted himself
with credit and contributed largely to the de-
light of the immense mass Of people assembled
on the grounds. The Colonel read from
bu: his excellent delivery over
came the disadvantage of reading his address.
After an appropriate opening commenting
upon the utility of mixing pleasure with labor,
and sociability with life's more earnest work,
the Colonel said:
What descriptions or kind of celebration
could have been arranged that in all its details
SO completely filled the requirement as to
make "a June day as short as December y
a Volksfest. Well what is Volksfest-it is
the peoples feast-not of viands alone, but Of
all that can interest the eye and cultivate the
tastes, and while affording pleasure, adding
instruction, presenting in most attractive
form enjoyments that delight the senses and
furnish rich feast for the mind. This festival
is confined to no class, no section, no sex, no
age, no political or religious division. 1t is Of
the people and for the people, and as it is said
that they are the source of all power, we say
that they are entitled to the lions share of all
pleasure. The churches have their days, but
the participants are limited to those of their
doctrines; political parties their seasons Of
amusement, generally terminating with an ex-
cursion up Salt river; private and benevolent
associations their celebrations, but they too
are confined to their membership. The nation
and each state by legal enactment have their
anniversaries and holidays, but in each and all
there is barrier that hedges around and de-
MES to some the full and perfect enjoyment and
pleasure of the hour. A festival of this char
acter opens wide the door that all may enter
and the tastes of all be grati6ed. The rich
and the poor-the occupant of the mansion and
the tenant of the hut-the merchant prince and
the tamale vender-the bloated railroad bond
holder and the organ grinder man who, in
following the pillow is supposed to represent the
beginning and end of civilization, leaves it in
the furrow and joins the son of Vulcan, as he
drops his sledge and leaves his anvil-the
mechanic quite his plane, the mason his trow-
ell, the miller his mill, the lawyer his brief, and
the doctor, acting on the advice of Shaks-
peare, throws physic to the dogs, and his re-
iieved patients follow his foot steps more
closely than they did his prescriptions-the
festive and broad-brimmed COW boy and the
dreaded tax-gather, together with the aged
mother and the blooming dau liter, all join in
the joyful throng that unites to make the Volks-
fest what it is and what it should be-and oc-
casion that levels all distinctions save that of
decent regard for the rules of society and the
laws Of Propriety. Here is platform upon
which all can stand, stalwart and soft repub-
lican, tariff and free trade democrat and even
the greenbacker will find his bills current even
if his views do not pass-no obligations, no
test, but an honest fealty to the God Of mirth,
and loyal homage to old King Gambrinus. We
can have no traitors in camp, no treason with
in. His Majesty, while commanding his sub
jects to be temperate in all things, recognizes
that in this land of liberty, freedom of thought,
freedom of action and freedom of tastes are
the main pillars that give confidence to the
people, and safety to the state. That peo-
pie can enjoy the bounties that provldent ma.
ture has bestowed, and yet be true to their
country, courteous and just in their inter.
course and faithful to their friends. An occa-
sion like this teaches that the citizen can in
dulge in the foaming tankard or the vintage OF
the grape and still pay just allegiance to the
laws, respect the rights Of their neighbors and
violate no rule Of conduct or principle o.
morality.
But some may inquire, "Why this demon
stration, this vast assemblage from this ane
other fair cities and the surrounding country?
1t is the day Of our prosperity and in the full
| ness of our hearts, we, of western Texas, de
sire to create and participate in scenes of en-
joyment, give peoples feast and to invite
our friends and neighbors to join with us ane
share in our hours Of joy and pleasure.
Behold our fair land, but few years ago al
most unknown, isolated and unsought; to-day
like some fair bride, it can claim the homage
and admiration of the most honored and crit
| cal in the land. The iron bands have bount
us to every portion of the United States anc
linked US commercially and fraternally with on
sister republic. Our fields are rich with thu
yellow harvest; the golden cereals are brough
into bright contrast by the dark green OF tn
waving corn. Our hills are covered with tn
lowing kline, whose large proportions anc
glossy hair tell of the rich verdure that cover
with mantle its very summit. Our valley
TEEN with thousands of the fleecy flock, upoI
whose forms are borne the interests Of capita
well expended. Our crystal streams whic
for years have been a thing of beauty, an
only served to adorn a tale or furnish them
for poetic fancy, are now being utilized, an
the busy hum Of the loom and the splash O
the wheel awakens the dreamer of forme
times to the reality of the present and tn
grandeur of the future. Our mountains an
hills, once the refuge and home of the In
dian, are now te ming with the, hardy prospec
tor, and their rich recesses are unfolding thei
treasures which for centuries have been hidde
in their dark and inaccessible womb.
Behold our bright skies, inhale our il
MIGRATING air, see our fair matrons, an
misses. upon whose cheeks the seal of healt