The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-07-06

ration of Independence i'm forciblt
manner. Hon. NJ. 5. Wilkinson, OF
Wells, orator Of the day, was then in.
troduccd, and addressed the audience
for about three quarters of IN hour. We
give below the outlines of his remarks.
Man should have some ideal upon which "a
bcStow his honor and Hdulations. Days OF
public tcstNity have therefore been Obscrv-
cd by the people from The beginning of time.
AMI .ts time passes, scenes Of impt rtancc ~
multiply that only the greatest can have pub
lie observation. No day commands through
ont this nation such general respect as the
Fourth OF July. As the sun this morning
dawnc'l upon our eastern shore ten thousand
canlons bclchcd forth grand salute To the
day al Independence, extending over the en-
tire country to the Pacific, making glad our
whole nation with the rcJoicings OF happy
people. There IL not a capital i'm any couIl-
Try on this globe where the American flag H.
not To day salutcd. And why! Because the
events which led Ia the celebration of this
day have become of such universal import
ancc. The PRONUNCIATION al the principles
which led Ia the adoption of the Declaration
oi independence was Il new departure in the
political world, They were 81 bold, and so
unlike amy previous political moves. There
was tor Il while doubt ;tS Ia tho results, but
time has proved the wisdom of our fore
fathers. ana the world acknow lodges the I'M
portancc al our nation. But that ucknowl-
cdgcmrnt WAS only after they had been fore
Ell !" give aii'siaIcc W our r mhultary power
anu our SIcu' ''hH.i,c' ih' "or" sp,M
aghast at the wonderful power shown 10y this
infant among iisttlohs; Ilihc sun Increased
It's wonder. Passing through 4 civil war, and
coming FORM richcr, purcr ana more power
lui IMAM ever pciDrc was hihg unprc-
c'dcntci' MOI one foreign mutton btt bciirN-
cd that putting down the rebellion would in
NoNc Silch Il sacriict that utcacS womb
lhf lao, at
avalil. me examples oi "thcr nations were
the guides th,y ioiioWcd h'it thcy look no
note oi the great Jaw oi human progress.
With the dead weight al slavery cast oil, this
people was able 10 lilln'uiiltely leap into the
arena oi national strife anu compete FOR SUI
prcmncy. Snc succe'sicu' All history SHOWS
that the matte which Is the purcst Is the
strongest Dcspotisin ana its attendant evils
is opposed To the great law of human pro-
vrcss.
| will not dwell upon the military glory of
our nation, for that has :i.ready been blister
cd into the hearts of the people. And be-
sides national greatness does not consist i'm
military strength The United States stands
to-day 1T the head Of the word. in commerce
and general advancement. Many men Of in-
tclliyonce contend that the world is going
backward The present is not equal to the
past in the greatness al nations. Greece and
Rome were supposed To have reached the
heights oi greatness. Those nations had
strength, but history does not show that they
ever reached the standard of greatness en-
juycd ut the present. Rome had many great
works al utility AMI art but the greatest OF
them, the Coliseum. WAS erected tn satisfy
barbarnuS desires. Vice generally prevailed
Vice and hirbarsm are the companions of
ignorance During these earlier times the
diffusion of knowledge was limited, only
In" wealthier being able to obtain il. Now,
through the agency of the press ii has IN
universal circulation, This alone in Amcri-
ca renders relapse into barbarism impossi-
bic.
The early men of our Republic were pro-
found students of the worlds history. With
their vast knowledge they could readily see
what the politicians can not understand, that
whenever the people lose sight of the great
IDEAS of truth and honesty, the spring of
national greatness will dry up. Riches alone
do not con ,titutc greatness i'm u nation Orr
ancestors realized this, and that success de-
pniidcI upon g.aisIt Nc; cqual rish.s 10
al. WINE ueciarIliS 'nis priiiclpie, We were
conlIoht,u ny u grca INCONSISTENCY III nav
ing the staln oI siaNcry upon our hhti9hui
honor; Bilt efforts were no, laching, anu IN
tiine inc eNii was criulcutSu, lIhe spcakcr
mere hcloien port,o,i vi n's ,,ic 10 'ne MS
t1ricai poin's coiiuc'icu WIN saNcry III the
uhitcu Statcs, anu thc u'tcIniincu war MaSc'
AGAINST ioreish cou,itri.S wien hau eIisiaN
ei our citiAchs, u,'irr ,iic .ecnnSs vi MA
h'lnr,aiiis,, ''' ,, ,, ,aiL ~ om.o.
's .n'" 1870, GU ''i. 81 . N.Y.. .
Europe tried 200 years ito do, in abolishing
E .,lS IiJ IN tIf,ccn Unnrs Her victorv
aehieyea.9th n nations speedily followed ana
Thus far the triumphs Of this nation have
the strength to thrust the knife into the can.
Sr riIY i w. own hodV. Eut I u NAV be asked
where are the signs Of national GREATNESS:
dous monuments TO folly and crime. no relics
ton ' Of cruel masters, no vast pyramid.
ny rnIs o and S r"nr ina wH tbns
scared into the hearts and souls of our PEG,
Justice ana truth, our pure judiciary, ON
ters peace and happiness: the Homestead
tb ," p o I its territory. aiIordnx home tt
those who will take il. And what is home
place of shelter, but where reside those W,
hr aS ,he million q" o such n homes is oi
grand army OF invasion ana msiensi h ~ VII
of The sea, To the rations of the Orient, an'
r r cities of our God Through its iniIuenc,
CROWNS Will of"p PIP; from r i orWS yic Of Mi
reign supreme.
AT the conclusion Oh the aunress' 'h'
WISHING IRE companies anu ""hos' 'h'
"Iilcers Oh the Gay, tie speaker 'h
mayor anu city c"uhcii, the nome hr'
companies, militia and bands, and TIN
members of the press were invited t,
,,,,,le Of the o,ooo,t ronoS, which wo
IN wo;,,,o for them cnre,d under FIN
frees IA tIo Norma, mark and nrcside,
over Inv tbc ,,d;cs If the CITY II /;
p.elIess to sov tho, oom,,.to ;,S,;c,
49, -.
WIS "'''' u '''' "i"'ef'
This being over the different com
panlcs formed in line. and, led by tn
Germania band, marched to the Cit,
Hall. Then came the contest between
the different hose companies for tn
urizes offered Inv the committee. Fou
.,'.,,,..;,a - - 80 c,u-
.'"'i"'"', '. ."',''"' 10 ''''o"S
o"" '' n,''. '-'.
hA'''S'o' t>o' anu '"i''io' N". - VI
'a'.',N"''. !" u. .d a"o' WI '''' MS. r'i%'
Vi S'o' ",''''''s wv '''', "''''' t'' ny
"'"''' anu 10y 'o0 wv vi '"''c'''e '''''e
was ~ "''''"s'
S'i". Nv re ''''
ExccIs;or No AZ
Albert Lea, All.
For the second prize of $50, dIstanc