, 1883-07-05

man, the virgin soil of the prairle turned
bv the DIowshare of civilization. and the
GREAT rivers of the west occupied by the
commerce of a nation. The tide of emil
grafton has swept southwark. westward
and northward until it has gathered IN
its resistIess grasp the whole of the terri
forv west of the Gulf of Mexico and the
Mississippi river, and also the Russian
possessions in North America.
From the institution of the government
until the breaking out of the rebellion
our increase in wealth. population and
all the material resources of a nation was
so great, so marvellous, that We felt there
was no human limit to our prospe rity.
But at that time there came the deep
sounds of discomfort from the southern
part of the republic. At the time of the
formation of the government the institu-
ton of African slavery, an incident of
colonial authority, was for the sake of
unity and peace between the different
tablished fact, and while the white col
Onists claimed for themselves the largest
Ii berty. the fetters of slavery were rivet-
ed upon the helpless blacks. Slavery thus
establ:s he'd grew in power and strength
until in its vanity and arrogance threat
ened the existence Of the government it.
self The southern section of the Union
undertook to withdraw therefrOm, and
,V.ar 10,
toned within its borders. The north
accepted the fiat of war sooner than con-
sent to dismemberment of the Union,
and the establishment of nation fouln-
ded upon the idea of slavery: and CIV
war most cruel, bloody and relentless,
for four long years ravaged the land and
despoiled the sea. But the fortune of
battle at last, under the guiding hand of
wise Providence, favored the Union
troops, and by the command of Abra-
ham Lincoln, then President, the shack
les fell from the last slave, and this land
became in fact what it had long been in
name, free.
The animosity the war engendered has
passed away and the compact of the
States is so firmly cemented that no
earthly power can shake or prevail
against it. The era of public
prosperity has just commenced,
for there is no great national cause
for dissension among us. The flood
gates of European emigration have
been and are open and thousands of i'm
migrants are tlOcking to our sh ores. And
they are welcome in their coming, with
all who desire to enjoy for themselves
and their posterity the inestimabIe bless
ings of a free and happy co untry. One
great cause of our unparalleled prosperi-
ty is due to our system of common
schools, Here education is within the
reach of all, and greedily do the Ameri
can people grasp it. Those schools
were instituted by our fathers and we
will transmit them mimpared and i'm
proved to our posterity, for they are the
pillars of our government and the palla-
dunn of our liberties.
Our own loved territory was but few
years ago uninhabited except by the In
dian and the fur trader, but through the
courage and persistence of the pioneers.
who undismayed by danger and unawed
by difficulties, crossed the American
desert and made for themselves homes
on these shores proving TO those who
were disposed to follow that it was pos
sible here to live, and here to found a
State which should be one of the bright
est stars in the firElament of States.
To the early pioneers of Port Town
send, we who have come after them to
enjoy the prosperity which they have
made possible, owe debt of gratitude
which we can best repay by public
acknowledgment of our appreciatio
of the sacrifices which they have made.
They came here and planted their
household gods, with the untutored
and at times hostile savage as their My
neighbors: without schools for the edu-
cation of their children; without houses
of public worship except as they them
selves founded them, without society ex-
cept among their own limited
numbers, without communication with
friends left behind except as accident
afforded opportunity denied of the
luxurics and many of the necessities ofciy-
ilized life and possessed of little save an
abiding faith that here would be in time
city in which commerce would center,
and manufactures would be the
occupation and business of an intelligent
and prosperous people. Theirfar-seeing
sagacity has been in part verified, and
to day we are permitted to meet on the
plat they have located as such Il town
and behold the beginning of the full
fillmGnt of their hopes and prophesic 5;
and the memory of Hasting, Plum
mer aud 81 Fowler, who have each left lis
for Il higher and IL better existence, and a
Pettygrove, Il Ginger, Il Hammond and a
Briggs with the noble women who shared
their dangers and privations, viii so
down in history as patriots who by their
industry, perseverance and pluck, have
as the advance corps of civilization rem
dered the wilderness habitable, and |
founded Il city which must exist and in
crease in population and wealth while |
commerce follows the seas, or vegetation |
grows upon the land.
Today. standing upon the most west |
ern verge of the continent we meet TO re-
joice over the creation and perpetuation |
of IL free government that is ruled by |
rulers of our own choice With its ter
ritory sufficient to afford homes and sus-
tenance for the civilized world; with its
citizen army able to defend it against
foes without or enemies within, and with
its commerce extending over every sea,